For the next few weeks a Wednesday night run means a Saints & Slimmers run, and tonight was no exception.
Given the recent weather conditions in Northern Ireland lately it’s a surprise I got out for a run at all. There had been a lot of snow over the last 24 hours and just enough rain to turn it to slush but not quite cold enough for it to freeze into ice, although I have no doubt that’s in store for tomorrow.
The scheduled classes were cancelled with alternatives arranged but myself, Judith and Danielle attempted a run anyway just to see how we’d get on.
Granted, the conditions were still quite tricky and I definitely needed to be careful when running on the footpaths. However, the roads were clear so we decided to try it, obviously facing the oncoming traffic.
We went on a loop, leaving from St. Patrick’s College, up the Fry’s Road, down the Cushendall Road and back along the Broughshane Road to the school. A familiar enough route in Ballymena running circles but also along three relatively busy roads, especially the Cushendall Road.
Fortunately, due to the conditions, the drivers were being vigilant and 99.9% of them gave us a wide berth, apart from one cretin who decided to get as close to us as he could and another who decided it’d be great fun to spray us with slush. Thanks for that.
It was a hugely enjoyable but challenging run. Pacewise we did very well, I thought, especially when you took the conditions into account … a 25 minute run, some of it on road but a sizeable proportion dealing with slush and snow on footpaths.
The route was just over two miles, the conditions were hard on my legs, it was brisk but I never struggled. Indeed, I found myself settling into the run the longer it went and getting faster, which was later confirmed by my split times.
A little run but a really good one. I’ve been working hard over the past ten days of the Saints & Slimmers programme and it’s beginning to really pay dividends, both in my performance, weight and mindset … and there’s still over a month to go. I’ll be a changed man by the end of it!!!
Virtual Runner 100km January Challenge (53.83km)
1st January – 8.28km
3rd January – 5.01km
5th January – 9.02km
7th January – 5.01km
9th January – 5km
10th January – 5.1km
15th January – 13.02km
17th January – 3.39km
HUFF, PUFF AND SHUFFLE 