Since Global Running Day my runs have been restricted to three two-mile outings, a couple of which were a means to take me to a 45-Day Fat Loss Accelerator bootcamp-style (FLAB!) programme I’ve signed up to with the other a stodgy outing that I didn’t really enjoy. None of them were particularly good runs.
So, since it’s Sunday, I felt I needed to get out for a proper run just to get back into the swing of things. Latterly on a Sunday I’ve been running around four miles but today I felt I had to go that wee bit further, so decided to push it up to 10k, a distance I haven’t tackled since February other than during The Big Half in March.
Of course, I decide to do this on one of the warmest days of the year and on a fairly hilly route. Nothing like making it easy for myself, is there?
Given my lack of quality running lately, the aches and pains in my ageing body from FLAB, the heat and the distance ahead of me (not normally an issue but, as mentioned, it’s been four months since my last run this long) I took it easy, just running within myself and enjoying the weather.
And, to be fair, it wasn’t too bad really. My route included the long climb up to the Doctor’s Road, not something particularly easy on a roasting hot June evening!!!
What goes up must come down so the return route was, by and large, a pleasurable experience until I got to the last km. I could have called it a night at 9km since I was almost home, or I could have meandered for the last bit to bring it up to 10k.
I wanted to go home, but I knew I’d be annoyed with myself getting so close but not pushing on so, despite arguing with myself that I couldn’t be bothered, I ground out those last few metres, including running around my block to make up the distance!
I really don’t like squeezing out a run like that but it was all worth it in the end. I had completed my first 10k since February, and a few minutes faster too in tougher conditions and along a more difficult route. I’ll take that!
HUFF, PUFF AND SHUFFLE 