On a Tuesday I meet up with my Mam after work and we, along with the two dogs, go for a walk of a 3 or 4 miles. It's nice to catch up and the dogs enjoy the walk but tonight I was stood up! Hmph! My Mam told me to tell me she couldn't make it & suddenly my feet got 'itchy'. I'd been sat behind my desk all day and I just got the urge to run. A severe drought of running incentive has been present in my life lately so I decided not to ignore the urge and finished work early; god bless flexi time.
The weather has been changeable but although the sky was inky black I just pulled on a jacket. Grabbed the keys, dog, MP3 player and water & off I went. Now I like to be as light as possible when running so I posted my keys through the front door as I knew my partner would be in later to let me in. Got about 2 steps away from home and realised I'd forgot my running watch so turned around to realise I'd locked myself out! Groan! So I ran sans Nike watch which means Nike won't believe I've ran and therefore think I've missed my running target. I'll remember it tomorrow though when I actually get round to joining the running club - sighs with nerves. I hope my body plays ball & I can run properly at running club.
I did stepping stone again this evening and it was quite easy until 20 minutes in & I got a huge stitch, immensely painful so I switched off Laura & decided to carry on at a brisk walk listening to my own songs until a song came on my MP3 player and I just took off. I got wings on my feet literally and I couldn't stop running. The dog looked at me like I was crazy, a 20 minute run and then more running???? We ran for the whole length of the song and for the whole 4 minutes - and excuse me if I sound stupid here - I was alive! My whole body was tingling and I was super aware of everything. I was so happy and I ran with my shoulders back and a smile on my face, I ran because I wanted to run and I never wanted it to end*. For every bad run I've had lately, for every time I've had to stop or not managed to finish and wondered why I even bother this run just reminded me. I've never been so aware of the endorphins kicking through my body and it was amazing! I love it!
So my question is what was your best run & why? How did it make you feel?
* I had to stop, I'd reached my front door & as much as my run was lovely I was starving and there was no way I was running away from home & from food!
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laj1987
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We have a long straight road with a view of a lake,the tops of cliffs and the sunset if timed right.. then a left turn through the cemetery where i always give all my family members buried there a wave as i trot past.. and a special one for my dad..Love this run so much.. until i have to run past a Naval Base on the return and there's no way i'm slowing down until i've passed the main gates with men and guns all watching me!!
My best run was the eventful half marathon I did in May 2012. Me - who due to two slipped lumbar discs two years ago, couldn't WALK a hundred yards without sitting down, never mind RUN 13.1 miles! By Christmas 2010 I was pretty much better of the back injury and in September 2011 I started the C25k and went further.
The half might have left me hobbling for nearly two weeks after but it's my best running achievement so far and I'm very proud of having done it. Now in training for another!
It is true Laj, and my chiropracter never tires of reminding me just how poorly I was when I first limped over his threshold! His first words to me, before I even spoke were, "Lower back?" "Yes," I groaned.
Two and a bit years later I am a world away from that poor pathetic creature! As I've said before on here, the power of the human body to heal itself never ceases to amaze me.
I loved reading that Laj1987. Hope that you have many more runs like that. I saw a girl last night as I was driving in the car, running along the streets - she was the embodiment of a fleet and strong runner - she looked invincible! She looked like how you sound!
I haven't had a really good run yet - I get my pleasure from stopping at the moment and the satisfaction comes from having done it, rather than actually doing it!
But when I read your blog, I can see that at some point the joy in running can come to us all.
Aww thanks but I never look invincible, only in my head, in reality it's a red face and me panting for air lol!!
And even though sometimes I enjoy running there is some runs where the only pleasure is, like you say, the stop at the end. You'll have a good run soon though & you'll be chasing after that feeling more & more.
Lovely blog, Laj1987. You sound like everything just came together for you and worked some alchemy. Like you say, a really good run makes all the bad ones worthwhile.
I think my best run was w6r3, I found a new route which was lovely very early in the morning, past the Abbey runs and the river. The time worked out exactly right and although it was a real challenge I finished, something I didn't think was possible! And then Laura told me I'm a runner!
Your route sounds really picturesque (have I spelt that right?). And any route is always improved on W6R3 when you here those magic words 'you're a real runner'
That sounds fabulous, I hope that is the first of many more runs like that for you.
My favourite run was W6R3, I ran along the towpath next to the Thames, I felt great and I felt invincible. Actually, I felt like a runner.
I seemed to be hyper aware of everything around me, although the heightened sense of smell was a pain, as I could smell dog wee quite often and someone lit a fag slightly up ahead of me and then cycled away with it, so I took in massive lungfuls of that, but despite that, it was fantastic. I'm hoping my next run (W8R1) will be as good - I might even do towpath again, I reckon I can run to the pub by the weir in 28 minutes, so there could be a nice reward at the end of it
Actually, my only 'bad' runs (not counting the first couple of weeks wheezing, puffing and grunting) have been in the last week, since I had a bad cold and cough. I've really enjoyed most of them.
Illness is awful, but even worse when it stops you running! Ending the run at the pub seems like a plan, a cool crisp pint will help you 'warm down', for medicinal purposes only you understand lol!
It's a good question, mine was that 20 minute run in W5 R3 I finished just as the Olympic bell ringing got under way at the local church - what a summer to remember.
Wow - that must have been amazing. I bet you felt you were on top of the world. I don't think any Olympian has ever felt any prouder than us C25k'ers when we beat the dreaded W5R3.
Fantastic blog laj1987 really jee'd me up for my W6 R3 tonight after work. I can't say I have had a 'best' run yet, but I am looking forward to graduating and then attempting a park run.
My best run was last week. I've found a new route, round the outskirts of the golf club, down and round past the church, up the lane and back again. The sun was out, the leaves are starting to turn and there was that very autumnal smell in the air. As I was passing the church, a couple of guys on bicycles came the other way and waved to me, just like I was part of something, just by being a runner. It was the first time I've ever really felt like a runner, whatever Laura might tell me, I've always felt a bit of a fraud cos I don't run the way I want to, pretty much as you described is my aim, but I felt included and accepted. And realised that I AM a proper runner. Going out on a Saturday afternoon for a simple 3 mile jog actually qualifies me to say I'm a runner and I felt great! Ran the rest of the trail with a big grin on my face.
That sounds so nice Not just the beautiful way you described the autumnal weather but the being part of something because as runners we are part of a something special. BTW you must be a real runner as you go out for a 'simple' 3 mile jog
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