Spent a whole 20 mins searching for important item of clothing that ended up being where I’d looked first and missed. Cross with myself for being so disorganised and scatty. Half wondered if I’d just spend the day tidying up and run tomorrow – but would much rather put off the former (as I have successfully done for weeks…).
My sister has given me a “hydration running belt” for my birthday in preparation for the longer runs she predicted I would be working towards. I don’t actually need it for my current distances, but I thought I would see what it felt like and filled up the two small bottles which fit snugly either size of a zipped pocket. It features “a soft gel-based interior to reduce shaking and bouncing” – if only that referred to the runner rather than the product itself! Her instruction was that it could be worn in a number of ways, and I should find what was comfortable. I attached it so that the pocket was at the front and it was so comfortable as to be almost unnoticeable. It has a very odd brand name LotFancy – I guess it must be some strange translation from Chinese.
First weekday without the pressure of a school day timing so my tardy start actually didn’t matter. That said, it is grey and uninviting and threatening rain and I change my mind about another coastal run. On the spur of the moment I go back to one of my most familiar early routes and plan to link it to a more recent one. I’ve decided to try adding 10% to my distance as recommended by MissUnderstanding. I think I am toying with the idea of 10k sometime in the future but I’m always a bit tentative about committing to numeric goals and I’m not ready to begin an official program of instruction. The issue is, I am not sure what I have run as I’ve only measured it twice. 5.95 km was the longer of the two which at a 10% increase would mean 6.54 km. I’m not really sure if I can set something in advance to tell me when I’ve reached it and I can’t be bothered to work it out or look so just go and wait to be told what I’ve done.
I enjoyed the run down a farm lane on my birthday so went back there – I had to remove an ear bud to work out if the sounds of loud mooing were being broadcast or not. They were not – but I couldn’t see any cows at all – it was quite surreal. The path joining that lane to another lane is slippery and wet and I slow down. Nevertheless, without warning, I trip on a tree root and go flying – well, that sounds quite poetic and athletic – I don’t fly anywhere – its more of an ungainly flop and roll, like a seal – effortful and uncomfortable. I have to quickly sort through a frantic list of thoughts – am I hurt? Why did I think this was a good idea? Can I get up? Is my phone damaged? Does this mean I should stop running? Are my earbuds still in my ears? Nobody knows where I am and I’m not going to found here, Are my leggings torn? (as that would be REALLY annoying – they are my favourite) blah blah blah. I get myself up – I am muddy, there is some blood trickling down my arm. My knee is sore. I lumber off at a slow jog feeling a bit wobbly and unnerved. The Km is clearly slower. I decide that I am not sufficiently hurt to stop running. My phone has gone nuts and keeps playing parts of different pod casts. Its good to have something else to focus on. I try and sort it out as I run on. Remember I have little bottles of water with me – hurrah – I can clean off the worst of the mud on my hands and arms. My leggings are colourful and patterned with a leaf motif. I can’t bring myself to see if they are ripped yet.
Surprised that I’ve done 5 kms. I have lost a km somewhere in the chaos. Another plus. However, the fall part doesn’t really count as continuous running does it? Or does it? Can I be excused as it was an accident? But don’t you have to keep going?? – I’m sure that Sarah used to say that you can slow down but have to keep going. While I am thinking about this, I have done 6Km. I’m not sure how I feel – mud-smeared as my washing and dabbing with tissues has not been 100% effective. Realise I should check my distance – its 6.67 km now and I’m still not home. Decide that I will remember this run for the right reasons and keep going until I reach 7 km – which I do. Walking the last few fields I also check my leggings – not torn – Hurrah, although I am fairly sure that the red bit on the knee is blood (it is).
So, on the plus side – I am bloody but unbowed and pleased with 7 km which feels like a bit of a milestone, and delighted with the running belt which is comfortable and useful – if not immediately for its intended purpose. The fall is a bit of a wake-up call though – I will revert to my more cautious approach. But best of all, it is the first run of my 13th week since starting C25K – and that means running is now a habit 😊 Onwards.
main question is did anybody see you??😂
Longest run for me ever plus first time running in heavy rain!
Plus point of missing Gosport
Side effects of running.
Week 4 ✅ plus surprise grandson
Asthma and heat, plus Stu's padding
