Time to say goodbye.....

[doggymum]

To the treadmill for a bit….

And welcome back my mojo!!

Having done the entire C25K plan on the treadmill in my garage (due to crippling self consciousness), as well as any subsequent runs, I was starting to lose my enthusiasm for ‘running’. It was getting too easy to say ‘I’m bored’ ‘I’ve done 20mins’ and just get off and go and have a cup of tea. Even re-doing the podcasts (faster) was becoming a chore.

But today, well, that was different.

I snuck out the house in the dark at 6.05am and walked to the top of the hill at the entrance to our village for my 5 minute warm up, set endomondo going and off I went, back down the hill. Just me and my flashing armbands through the village, round the crescent where I live, back on to the main road and then turn off down the country lanes.

As dawn started to break, the birds were coming to life and the odd tweet pierced the stillness of the air. Beautiful. Wasn't sure how far or how long I'd been going so I turned round and ran back along the lanes to the village saying ‘hi’ to a horse that had come across his field to the road edge. Although I wimped out of running up the hill that is the village entrance, and used it as my warm down walk. Still, it was well over half an hour out in the fresh air, with only 3 cars to disturb the peace. Including warmup/cooldown walks I did nearly 5K. I know I could have gone further away from home now but it was dark and I couldn't see my watch to keep an eye on the time!

It wasn’t fast, but hey, I was out there and loving it. That had to be the best run of my ‘career’ to date, other than my Parkruns which I love!

Roll on Sunday, I already have a route in mind!

[Chewy]

Great blog DoggyMum. I like the early morning runs when you feel almost as if you have the world to yourself because everyone else is still asleep. Sad to say though that I didn't get up this morning so I'm just about to get myself out for my run.

Good luck with the running away from the treadmill.

[doggymum Graduate in reply to Chewy]

Thanks Chewy. I much prefer to go in the morning, like you say, you have the world to yourself and I find I'm normally lethargic after work!

Hope your run went ok

[swanscot Graduate]

What a lovely positive blog, doggymum! Well done you! I didn't stick my nose outside until about 8am, decided it was too cold and left if another couple of hours!!

Here's to more happy outdoors running.

[doggymum Graduate in reply to swanscot]

Thanks swanscot. It was surprisingly warm at 6am here, just had my C25K tee on and was getting warm in that!

[Ade_Dennis Graduate]

Well done! I loved reading your blog. It's fantastic running in the early morning, best time of day.

[doggymum Graduate in reply to Ade_Dennis]

Thanks Ade, the mornings seem to work best for me. Congratulations on graduating too

[ceefin Graduate]

Yes well done!! I think it's far better for the soul to run outdoors, especially if you're lucky enough to live in a rural area (except for those darned hills lol) and I always run before 6.30am because of the stillness. Waaaay chilly this morning here,

Enjoy the Sunday run

[doggymum Graduate in reply to ceefin]

Thanks ceefin, definately better outdoors. Its taken me ages to pluck up the courage though! (other than Parkrun) I have to go early as I need to leave for work by 7.30 and loved the way the birds got up after me today The hills need addressing though lol.

[Legion Graduate]

That's brilliant doggymum. Glad you had a good run outdoors. I hurt my knee last Sunday, started new job on Monday and haven't run all week. I think I'm going to give the treadmill a try this evening, but I'm not feeling keen as I love my outdoor runs so much. I've got to get my knee back into the swing gently though so the treadmill seems the 'sensible' option. If it goes okay today I can go to the woods on Sunday.

[doggymum Graduate in reply to Legion]

Thanks Legion. Sorry to see that you're having knee trouble. I would consider giving it a couple more days if it is still niggling you though... unless you are just planning on walking (faster) on the treadmill?

Hope you are enjoying your new job too

[glendam52 Graduate]

well done what a great feeling just you and nature.

[doggymum Graduate in reply to glendam52]

Thanks Glenda, it was gorgeous out there this morning, I can't believe I've been missing out all these weeks to be honest. Although in the middle of my C25K we did have a very humid & airless spell so that might have put me off if I'd tried then!

How's the ankle?

[gdeann Graduate]

Sounds like such a beautiful run!!

[doggymum Graduate in reply to gdeann]

It was a beautiful morning which helped! Thank you

[vixiej Graduate]

Fab news that you found your mojo! Well done. I know what you mean about being self conscious running in public, I felt a bit of a prune running around the local park (several times), especially in the beginning when it was soooooo hard to just run for a couple of minutes. I don't get the same buzz from the treadmill (although handy when it's raining), but I don't do hills, at least not yet! I ran (slow jogged) a towpath the other day, that was good (for 'good' read 'flat').

You get a bit fitter running outside too (and burn more calories) as you have to push yourself forward (rather than the treadmill doing some of the work for you) so benefits all round!

I'm loving reading all the inspirational blogs on here, it will keep me going to the end of C25K and beyond, thank you.