Well it's the big one today, 25 minutes and QuadroVEINia had already provided a salutary warning. I thought I was prepared. I was going to go slow, and I was going to avoid big inclines, because that just seemed too stupid to contemplate.
Accompanied by Mr JCR, Fibi Fardashian and Bobster the Monster made our way to Alien Abduction Lane, which was suspiciously warmer and sunnier than home. Did I have water with me? nope...
Did the dogs have water with them - yup! Was I going to drink from their water bottle - nope.
Sunny, no shade, no water - way to go JCR you really prepped well on this one.
Warm up walk with Mr JCR and I said my goodbyes to the dogs and set off about 10 seconds before Jo Cool told me I should, I don't know why but I get nervous if she doesn't talk, so I pre-empt her instructions.
Said hello to a little lucertola who was dashing across the road to do some sunbathing. After what seemed like an eternity Jo Cool informed me I'd racked up the astonishing run time of two and a half minutes. Mmm this run maybe somewhat harder than expected. I also monitor my run with Map My Run and the mechanical voice lady often outshouts Jo Cool, so sometimes Jo has to wait until MVL shuts up.
Today MVL delighted in telling me split times, and I had a negative split yay - except of course it's negative against doing a walk interval. Then I got another negative split, that was a real problem, because clearly I was going too fast. In the interests of preserving what little semblance of pride I have , I am not prepared to reveal the stats except to say I'm at least 25% slower than five years ago. Nonetheless, when going for your first 25 minute run, being 'fast' early is an issue.
At this stage, Jo informed me I'd soon be half way on the run interval and I decided to take the orchard spur trail, which is a bit lumpy and bumpy but does have some very welcome shady trees.
In my head, the theme tune to The Stripper started, as I peeled off my running jacket and ungainly tied it around my waist. Actually I was running to Vienna, one of my all time favourite songs, reached the orchard and turned back when Romeo and Juliet started playing.
In the distance I could see an excitable marimano puppy - as puppies they can be as big as a labrador, and it was energetically pulling its owner along. I really wanted to cadge a dog ski, as I was heading for the 10 minutes to go mark and now it was not pleasant. Not that I was out of puff, I just seemed like one of those cartoon characters when their blood drains from their face, the room goes dark, they go cartoon white and faint with butterflies fluttering above their heads...
No fainting, no butterflies just Mr JCR and Fibi and Bobster in the distance, I put up my fingers to show how many more minutes and Mr JCR gestured for me to go away from them, as Fibi gets worried if she sees me disappear. I 'ran' back and forth on the same stretch of the Alien Abduction Lane, as the distant slope would have meant a rather nasty incline on the stretch home and I really couldn't face that.
I slogged back and it was done, not pretty, not fun, too hot, no water, but an immense sense of satisfaction that I'd actually done the 25 minute killer run. Jo Cool said I could consider myself to be a runner now, but I have a feeling she'd already told me that in Buenos Aires a week ago.
I'm not a runner yet imho, I'm a pootler wearing Pootler pink lipstick - but for graduation I move onto Runner's red.
QuadroVEINia does his landmark runs and this time we had to guess the wildlife. I was way too slow to catch the lucertola but I did see loads of egrets in the vineyard and thought I'd take a pic
Well, clearly I'm no photographer either because I defy anyone to find the egret in this one - oh and it was a bright white colour too - just like my cartoon face...
Week 7 and your 25 minutes runs, I'm a little better prepared now , but heaven alone knows if that will last next time out
Week 6 Run 3
Week 6, run 3
The land of the hidden fluoros - Week 6 Run 3
