I was a bit concerned about my ability to pick up where I left off with running, it's been sporadic at best for me lately and I've not really done any proper long runs since October. There have been a few maintenance runs, the sort that are really not that enjoyable because I've been slotting them round life out of pure necessity--a few k at lunchtime, just to get my eyes away from a screen, a lap or two round the park when I'm already feeling tired. That's not why I run, I'm an open space runner, the joy comes from pelting in an inadvisably uncontrolled way over brae and muir, not trudging round the beige houses near work, and I was in danger of losing some motivation. I've been fretting about it to be honest, as this is my favourite running season and feel I've been wasting it. For the first time the guilt has definitely kicked in.
But I got out yesterday, tissues in pocket and head whirling, and immediately remembered how important running has become for me. Over my hill--which acts as both friend and foe--with the cool air prickling my skin and the breeze in my face, just me and some shouting crows and the gentle candy coloured sky. It felt perfect. Nothing had really changed, I got a bit stiff at around the 10k mark and slowed a little, but it's been so long since I went further than 5k I didn't worry too much.
I was so happy when I came home, my head felt settled, it was lovely out and I was still fit enough to move the way I wanted to. I felt very proud of myself, with the close of 2018 I had completed my first year of 'proper' running--from my first ever 5k race on the 13th January right through to accidentally doing 2 half marathons within three weeks, and now I had started my next year the right way too. I got in the door and put on my 2018 medals like an idiot, and clanked about the house for a bit before having a triumphant epsom salt bath, whilst eating some 15p mince pies (Tesco Finest with Courvoisier--a post-Christmas bargain).
So, the moral of this waffly tale is not to put too much pressure on yourself, if you can't get out to run don't fret. It will wait for you. And when you get back to it it will be even more lovely than you remembered
Here is a wee relive, I'm still not tired of watching these. It always makes it look such a long way! relive.cc/view/2048691971