Alaskan River
Hurray I hear you say! All that Monty Pythonesque title really means is that I am not going to mention cross training! Or, at least I won't mention it again in this post!..much.
Some may have noticed that my journey towards 10k in 7 days time has suffered a hitch. Back or hip trouble? That is the question which I will throw at my physio when I see her on Tuesday morning. That said, following a few days of "good mornings" and single leg dead lifts and lunges, it is feeling much better today. (Note; this is rehab, not cross training👍). This is new territory to me, I have been working my way steadily through the beginners' guide to running injuries over the last almost 7 years, but this is my first venture above quad/hamstring height.
When I had to abandon my run at the beginning of last week (that almost never happens to me) I was straight into "is this it?; has time caught up with me?" Which counts as a major meltdown for this soon to be 73 year old. As part of my attempts to get a grip, I took time out to think about why I run at all; what would I miss, what was I so bothered about? I noticed that Coach Bennett was nudging me down the same thought path in this Marathon Plan, although his idea was that I should think this through as I ran, rather than sitting in a chair looking glum. He has an underlying theme that running is about far more than the numbers on your watch.
So what was the result of all of this introspection? Certainly the drivers have changed over the years. At the beginning in May 2018 it was about recovering from a spinal fracture. I was required to sit still for a couple of months whilst it healed; no problem there, moving was agony. I went through lists of possible pastimes which I found on line, and narrowed it down to running. My selection criteria were simple: get fit and do it outdoors. So apart from my age, C25K was a shoe in , if you will pardon the pun. Against all odds, I made it and have kept going, injury apart , at three runs per week. My eyes were glued to the watch in those days; pace and distance to go largely, but over the years, things have changed. I can do much of that run management stuff in my head these days.
Nowadays, I really take in the environment on my runs. I run alongside and through lovely woodland which starts only a few minutes from our front door. Even though we have had a really cold spell, the birds are back. Gold Crest, Gold Finch, cheeky Robins, Buzzards, Red Kites, Water Rail, Little Egret, Tree Creepers, Great Tits, Blue Tits, Long Tailed Tits, Owls, Kingfisher. Animals are around too, but they are more elusive: Foxes, Stoats, Hares, Rabbits, Deer. I never know what I will see, but I often see something remarkable; certainly much more interesting than the face of my watch. The changing face of the forest appeals too. Leaves reappearing on the trees and shrubs in Spring and the changing colour in Autumn.
Then there are people in the forest; other runners, walkers, riders on horse back, forest rangers and, of course, the staff of my beloved café; home of the best Flat White in town (my desperate need for a coffee post run may enhance things a little)!
Finally, but most importantly, there is everyone I have met, actually and virtually through the running forums. Sources of support in time of need (running and otherwise) digs in the ribs (virtual and actual!) endless fun and shared expertise. I want to say thank you for all of that.
All of the above is built upon that initial need to recover from an accident, and it keeps me going, and certainly diverts me from being a serial watch watcher!!
So what about you ? How did it all start? what keeps you going and what running ambitions have you in mind for the future?
Failing that; just tell us how you are getting on and what is happening in your neck of the woods; this is your chat after all. I just sank into that period of introspection thanks to my back twinge, so it would be unfair to inflict it on you!.
Hopefully you are good to go in our warm up runs starting next Sunday 23rd February (but with leeway to run them at any time in the following week of Monday 24th February to Sunday 7 March). You can still sign up, and remember that we have added a 5k option for those who are being held back by the various ravages of winter.
Whatever your chosen distance, just head here to sign up: healthunlocked.com/marathon...
So; over to you. Pull up a mushroom, spill the beans and don't spare the misplaced metaphors!
From your team: Irishprincess , linda9389 and me
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
🎽Let us know about your February races here: healthunlocked.com/marathon...
🌟For a shiny new badge, let us know here: healthunlocked.com/marathon...
