Well.... who would have thought it? Here we are on the first meteorological day of Autumn. Now how did that happen?
Pinch Punch First of the Month!
Slip off those running shoes and come on in! Hello!
Here I am, and, I hope, here you are! The cushions are plumped... the coffee is on and I have some super smoothies and some very yummy, quite healthy snacks ready!
So good to see you here after my Summer break and you are all, as ever very welcome.
So.... how is it all going? Have you had any time away...? I have had a breather from the corner and I am feeling recharged and refreshed and raring to go.
I do know, from reading your posts, that many, many of have you been achieving great things with your running, and are making some really great progress too.
Well, the Autumn is upon us and I was thinking... Uh oh...nothing changes!
The seasons for me, have their own little routines attached... Spring Cleaning, Summer Solstice and Winterval wonders; and my very favourite season.. which is this one. Full of colour, sights, sounds, smells and sensations.
Mother Nature's Autumn palette; copper and cadmium, Green-blue and gold. Roseate sunsets, misty mornings.... crisp leaves, crinkle and crunch... Nature's musical accompaniment to my steps. Just bliss. Out comes the warmer wear.., the long sleeve t-shirt and maybe a gilet, for those cooler days...
I could go on, but I risk boring you... so what was I thinking when I rambled off on a limb?
Well. I was thinking... let's shake it up a bit. Summer's over and it is a while until Spring... but why wait... lets have a sort out, now... an Autumn organise...!
Why not? So first off;
Routine
Let's put the sand shoes away...forget the beaches, holiday locations, the lazing around the pool, the BBQ, the summer parties and picnics, maybe a tad too much hedonistic pleasure and let's take a good look at ourselves. Our eating regime, our sleep routine , our gear, and of course... our running!
Small solutions, big benefits.
Variety: the spice of life.
Now, if you are on the C25K programme... you know the plan.... and each run, each week is there for you ! But; you can change routes, you may even be able to change locations. Perhaps you fancy trying to run at a different time of day? Is what you are doing now, working?
On some of your rest days, where you are putting in that strength and stamina work...vary it! Try an exercise you have never done before; focus on a different body part.
Indoor and outdoor cross-training and exercise... a hike in the hills, a forage in the forest a swim on the sea or a ride off-road! All this making you stronger, working out , without the boredom. Shake it up!
Rest and sleep
Summer can take it out of you...unaccustomed heat, the children at home, strange places , and food that may be very different to your normal choices. You want to get back to your routine and you need some good rest and some decent amounts of sleep to help with that. If you are a poor sleeper, then make sure your rest time is just that. Read, relax, paint or potter...music, and musing.
Slow down to move forward.
Target and goal
You are on the C25K programme... you have the goal and the target right there. Follow the plan... your pace, your way, with enjoyment.
But, if you have finished Couch … what next? Find the target that is the right one for you. It may just be , to keep on running... as and when you feel like it, for as long as or as far as you wish. Or, you may want to progress to 10 K, HM or further. Look around check out all the support here on Bridge to 10K and then Beyond. Deciding what is right for you and what you want is the key to all further advancement !
Take a good, long hard look at yourself and your runs
Is what you are doing working for you. Is the way you are running bringing you delight or disappointment,, is it painful or pleasurable, do you endure or enjoy ? Be honest.
When you have answered those questions. Act on the answers.
Lastly, be kind to yourself.
We are all runners. All of us started our running without knowing where we would get to. All of us will have successes and setbacks. We can be our own harshest critic and our own poorest friend.
But, that can change, we can become our own best coach and our own finest running companion. So let's do it. I have this morning, already made a start!
Let's get Autumn organised … to help us face the cooler days and the shortening hours with positivity, with expectation and with enjoyment.
Sit back,. Stay a while and share .
Looking forward to seeing some of you here, and reading your replies.
Oldfloss x
