It’s been a difficult week.
A family bereavement meant that I haven’t been in the right frame of mind to even think about running let alone actually go out. It was a mentally exhausting few days, I just felt lethargic all the time and wanted to sleep.
The weather also hasn’t helped. Whether it’s been Storm Caroline or just your normal run of the mill December conditions there has been a considerable amount of rain and then snow here in Northern Ireland.
However, something clicked in me overnight. I was expecting to wake up this morning feeling absolutely awful. I normally do the day after a funeral but maybe it was all the overnight snow that lifted my spirits.
I had a parcel to collect from the local delivery office, and I knew it opened at 6:30am so I decided to get up and go for a walk in the deep, undisturbed snow safe in the knowledge there’d be very few people around so it’d be a good chance to gather my thoughts.
It was lovely. So peaceful.
As I was walking a thought came into my head, “I could run in this!” … walking was easy, the snow was still fresh therefore conditions underfoot were quite stable.
So, I rushed back home after collecting the parcel, quickly changed into my running gear and went straight back out again for a few laps of the football pitches beside my house.
I would have liked to say no-one else was around but I can’t, there was one other chap out who clearly had the same idea as me. I suppose to be a runner you do need to be a wee bit bonkers!
It was fantastic. It wasn’t fast and it wasn’t easy but, my goodness, it was so much fun. I was a kid again. My cares and worries evaporated for a few minutes as the virgin snow sprayed around my feet. I was almost tempted to do a snow angel!!!
I tried my best to run as normally as possible but given the depth of the snow it was difficult … but it was a good workout actually. I had to work harder, and it felt a bit like a trail run.
Today’s run also added a little bit more to my Run Up To Christmas total. My watch died after 2.9km so I decided to end the run there (I mean, if it’s not on Strava it doesn’t count, right?) – my fault for not charging it. However, despite not having done much this week I’m just a little off schedule for the 50km medal, a shortfall I’ll make up easily enough.
Run Up To Christmas progress (15.9k)
2nd December – 5k
4th December – 8k
9th December – 2.9k
HUFF, PUFF AND SHUFFLE 