After a couple of dodgy club runs – caused by a combination of new trainers, lack of practice and stepping up a group – I’ll admit to being a bit hesitant about tonight. That said, when am I *not* hesitant about a run?
Walking up tonight I wasn’t sure whether to stay with the 45 minute group or drop back to the 30s. My thighs felt a bit heavy after my five miles yesterday so I erred on the side of caution and decided to go with the 30s. I suppose I’m extremely careful (even paranoid?) at the minute trying to avoid injury considering it was around this time last year that it hit.
In the end, only six of us went with the 30s and that was the little group I had been chatting with beforehand, most of the others I normally run with decided to stay with the 45s – and even right up to the very moment we set off I was torn as to what group to join.
As it turned out, I quite enjoyed tonight’s run. My legs felt very fresh and I felt I had an awful lot left in them.
That surprises me to be honest. This is my fifth Monday night run with the club and tonight was the fastest paced yet … and it included a run up Princes Street which, if you know Ballymena, you’ll know is pretty steep and then another run up Wellington Street which, again, isn’t exactly flat.
Yet, I felt good. There was definitely plenty left in the tank at the end. It was thoroughly enjoyable, our wee group was relaxed and we had a laugh all the way round.
Part of me wishes I’d have stayed with the 45s but another part of me is glad I went with that group tonight. It was a lot of fun and helped me get my confidence back – and, for me, confidence is a huge thing.
I’ll have to admit, though, that perhaps I do need to step up from now on. I need to be challenged ….. but maybe not next week. I’ll be flying back from Bristol next Monday afternoon so it might be advisable just to take it easy and go with the 30s one last time.
But, for now, I’m just going to be content with a decent run and performance tonight.
HUFF, PUFF AND SHUFFLE 