Today's run for day 396 was an unmitigated pile of cack. Steaming, ugly, smelly, repulsive cack. The pavements have acquired a whole new level of lethal as they're basically sheet ice which means I get to do my patented octopus wearing rollerskates impression whilst running. Plus, every so often I had to stop to cough up a lung as the cold air aggravated my chest infection.
It really wasn't pleasant. I ended up having to run in the road a fair bit, which is mildly scary on New Year's Eve when drivers aren't at their most reliable as they're off to parties etc. My choice was either run in the road and risk being run over... or run on the pavement and risk slipping into the road... and being run over. Of the two, just getting run over without the added falling on the ice seemed, in my warped logic, to be the better bet. So that's what I did. Can't say I enjoyed it!! Please, please, please melt overnight!!! I want tomorrow's run to be a fun one to start the new year!
Anyway, the thing that struck me as I was running home was that with this being New Year's Eve, I've managed to run every single day of 2014. That's not bad going, is it! I've run when the weather's been nice. When it's been foul. I've run when I've felt well. I've run when I've felt pretty awful. I've run when I should have been running. And when I shouldn't. *whistles innocently* I've done my first ever race and my first ever parkrun... and I've run 3 half marathons. I've made a bucketload of brilliant running friends. I've had months of physio and yet never injured myself running (oh the frustrating irony!). I've run over 1300 miles and always been glad I ran, even if each mile wasn't necessarily easy.
And I've loved being part of this community. Thank you for a year of inspiration, motivation, knicker and cockwomble discussions, giggles, support, achievement and being all round bloody brilliant. 2014... you have been run. Bring it on 2015... I'm ready for ya!
Wednesday, 31 December 2014
Tuesday, 30 December 2014
Runstreak Day #394 - not the most sensible thing...
Well, a run in the daylight is sensible. A run in the daylight when the frost hasn't cleared all day and you're on the verge of the lurgy. That's probably not that sensible. And when later in the evening you're *still* shivering uncontrollably and everyone else is going 'I told you so' and 'you shouldn't have run'. Which isn't that helpful because at the time I went for a run, I really didn't feel that bad.
The problem with not feeling 100% was that despite being in a lovely part of the country I couldn't go for a very long run or particularly enjoy it. I ran part of the way to the nearest town, then back into the village, down into a frosty icy hamlet and back to the village. I wish I'd been more able to enjoy it, but when you're visiting family, trying to squeeze in a run doesn't exactly go down well.
I know people think I'm obsessed with running, but I just enjoy it. I really do. I love the way it makes me feel. I love the quiet of it. I love the freedom of it. It makes me feel happy. Even when it's shorter than I'd like and I'm not feeling as well as I'd like... I still feel happier afterwards than I did before I went.
So why wouldn't I want to do that each day? Now that I *get* running, I wish more people could get it too!
The problem with not feeling 100% was that despite being in a lovely part of the country I couldn't go for a very long run or particularly enjoy it. I ran part of the way to the nearest town, then back into the village, down into a frosty icy hamlet and back to the village. I wish I'd been more able to enjoy it, but when you're visiting family, trying to squeeze in a run doesn't exactly go down well.
I know people think I'm obsessed with running, but I just enjoy it. I really do. I love the way it makes me feel. I love the quiet of it. I love the freedom of it. It makes me feel happy. Even when it's shorter than I'd like and I'm not feeling as well as I'd like... I still feel happier afterwards than I did before I went.
So why wouldn't I want to do that each day? Now that I *get* running, I wish more people could get it too!
Runstreak Day #393 - fitting it in...
Some days are harder to fit in a run than others. Some days you just can't picture where you'll find the slot to get that run in. Like today. The day started scarily early as I had to get down to Gloucestershire to do a sponsored 10 mile walk at 10am. I couldn't be late, so we had to get ourselves sorted and out of the house by 7am. No mean feat with two children to get going!
Plus, I was going to be occupied most of the day by the charity walk. And then a visit to my mother. And very little chance to escape for a run. So... I decided to go for a 'walk' in the evening. A running kinda walk. And it was FREEZING! And dark. It's very hard running along country roads which aren't lit when all you've got is a heavy torch to help light the way. And as you run, the torch light is wibbling and wobbling all over the path. And the lights from oncoming cars is blinding you. And none of it is easy. At all!
Which is why my run was only just over 2 miles. My hands were absolutely frozen by the time I finished. Carrying a torch is hard work! And not much fun.
My first properly dark torch-lit run. Remind me to buy a head torch! I'm not hand holding a torch ever again!!
Plus, I was going to be occupied most of the day by the charity walk. And then a visit to my mother. And very little chance to escape for a run. So... I decided to go for a 'walk' in the evening. A running kinda walk. And it was FREEZING! And dark. It's very hard running along country roads which aren't lit when all you've got is a heavy torch to help light the way. And as you run, the torch light is wibbling and wobbling all over the path. And the lights from oncoming cars is blinding you. And none of it is easy. At all!
Which is why my run was only just over 2 miles. My hands were absolutely frozen by the time I finished. Carrying a torch is hard work! And not much fun.
My first properly dark torch-lit run. Remind me to buy a head torch! I'm not hand holding a torch ever again!!
Runstreak Day #392 - *that* look
If you've ever fancied having lots of people give you *that* look, I have just the recipe for you...
Ingredients
1 runner
1 pair of candy striped socks
2 bright green trail shoes
A handful of thermal running clothes
1 woolly hat stolen from husband
Several streets full of snow, slush and ice
Method
Apply clothing to runner
Open front door and release runner
Gingerly run round the streets in an attempt to get running but not fall over
Run past people who are walking like they've pooped themselves
Witness *that* look
Run past people who are driving like they need to poop themselves
Witness *that* look
Wait at traffic lights
Get *that* look from every car that passes
Ta daaaaaaa!
Simple! You are guaranteed to get *that* look from everyone. Mainly because the pavements are flippin' lethal at the moment. We had a couple or so inches of snow overnight and the combination of that and freezing temperatures / morning sun = slushy, frozen, icy, snowy crazy conditions. Thank goodness for trail shoes and a pig headed level of stupidity which means I'll run in any weather!
A very slow 5k this morning. I didn't fall over. I made a point of grinning like a fool at everyone I passed. And although running in snow is knackering... I did it! YAY!!
And my cuppa cha tastes mighty fine after that.
PS If anyone else would like to give me *that* look... form an orderly queue... :D
Ingredients
1 runner
1 pair of candy striped socks
2 bright green trail shoes
A handful of thermal running clothes
1 woolly hat stolen from husband
Several streets full of snow, slush and ice
Method
Apply clothing to runner
Open front door and release runner
Gingerly run round the streets in an attempt to get running but not fall over
Run past people who are walking like they've pooped themselves
Witness *that* look
Run past people who are driving like they need to poop themselves
Witness *that* look
Wait at traffic lights
Get *that* look from every car that passes
Ta daaaaaaa!
Simple! You are guaranteed to get *that* look from everyone. Mainly because the pavements are flippin' lethal at the moment. We had a couple or so inches of snow overnight and the combination of that and freezing temperatures / morning sun = slushy, frozen, icy, snowy crazy conditions. Thank goodness for trail shoes and a pig headed level of stupidity which means I'll run in any weather!
A very slow 5k this morning. I didn't fall over. I made a point of grinning like a fool at everyone I passed. And although running in snow is knackering... I did it! YAY!!
And my cuppa cha tastes mighty fine after that.
PS If anyone else would like to give me *that* look... form an orderly queue... :D
Runstreak Day #390 - Christmas Day run!
Happy Christmas beautiful people!!!
It's Advent Streak Day 25 (a big fat yay for everyone who's just completed it - you're all amazing!)... and it's Day 390 for me today. And I've done my Christmas Day run, complete with massive food baby on board.
I don't recommend the latter bit though. It's like shoving a huge Christmas pudding down your running tights and then attempting to be graceful as you lump it up and down the streets. It ain't pretty. Especially not when your stomach then growls and grumbles with just about every step.
You know what though? I didn't give a monkeys. I enjoyed my run. Properly enjoyed it. The streets were almost as empty as they are in the evening... but I was getting to run in daylight. Hardly any traffic... anyone I saw smiled and said hello / Merry Christmas (although I did get a couple of 'you are insane' looks!)... and I ran with a massive stupid grin on my face, rocking my candy striped socks as I went.
Running is magic. If you switch off caring about pace, distance and all of that stuff, and concentrate on enjoying yourself, it's ace. All boingy, happy, pittery-pattery freedom. It's the best Christmas present you can give yourself, I reckon.
Even if you are running about with a ginormous roast dinner bouncing in your tummy while the Christmas brown turtle of doom threatens to say hello... ;)
Merry Christmas all - I hope you got all the running goodies you wanted!!
It's Advent Streak Day 25 (a big fat yay for everyone who's just completed it - you're all amazing!)... and it's Day 390 for me today. And I've done my Christmas Day run, complete with massive food baby on board.
I don't recommend the latter bit though. It's like shoving a huge Christmas pudding down your running tights and then attempting to be graceful as you lump it up and down the streets. It ain't pretty. Especially not when your stomach then growls and grumbles with just about every step.
You know what though? I didn't give a monkeys. I enjoyed my run. Properly enjoyed it. The streets were almost as empty as they are in the evening... but I was getting to run in daylight. Hardly any traffic... anyone I saw smiled and said hello / Merry Christmas (although I did get a couple of 'you are insane' looks!)... and I ran with a massive stupid grin on my face, rocking my candy striped socks as I went.
Running is magic. If you switch off caring about pace, distance and all of that stuff, and concentrate on enjoying yourself, it's ace. All boingy, happy, pittery-pattery freedom. It's the best Christmas present you can give yourself, I reckon.
Even if you are running about with a ginormous roast dinner bouncing in your tummy while the Christmas brown turtle of doom threatens to say hello... ;)
Merry Christmas all - I hope you got all the running goodies you wanted!!
Runstreak Day #395 - chest infection, icy = stupid
Didn't manage to run this morning - despite having arranged to meet up with an old school friend - as I've gone and got the lurgy. Gah. I'd arranged to meet him at 8 and at 6 o'clock in the morning, despite running a temperature and coughing up a lung, I was still really hoping I could manage it. I know, I know... ridiculous. By half past six it was apparent that I wasn't going anywhere. So, I cancelled. Chest infection vs frosty early morning run = chest infection wins.
And with it, my runstreak finished.
The rest of the day I felt dreadful. We travelled back from Gloucestershire where we'd been staying with family, and I managed more wheezing, coughing and generally moping about.
Fortunately, or unfortunately(!), my in-laws have been staying with us for the past few months having moved back to the UK from Australia... and because we've still got a fair bit of snow in Nottingham they didn't dare brave going out while we were away. So, we needed some basics like milk etc. Because my back had seized up from being in the car and not moving very much during the day, I volunteered to amble wheezily down to the shops, dosed up with cold and flu tablets.
What's a girl to do when the pavements are lethal but to put on her trail shoes so she doesn't fall over? And obviously she's already wearing her leggings because it's been a cold day... and with a thermal running top popped over the ordinary bra and jumper... well... a little voice whispers 'why not try to run it? A bit...'
And the runstreak was resurrected and limped on through day 395. A VERY slow, icy, wheezy, stupid run. 2 mile minimum in full effect! And this time, I didn't attempt to run carrying the milk!!
Geeky stats stuff
And with it, my runstreak finished.
The rest of the day I felt dreadful. We travelled back from Gloucestershire where we'd been staying with family, and I managed more wheezing, coughing and generally moping about.
Fortunately, or unfortunately(!), my in-laws have been staying with us for the past few months having moved back to the UK from Australia... and because we've still got a fair bit of snow in Nottingham they didn't dare brave going out while we were away. So, we needed some basics like milk etc. Because my back had seized up from being in the car and not moving very much during the day, I volunteered to amble wheezily down to the shops, dosed up with cold and flu tablets.
What's a girl to do when the pavements are lethal but to put on her trail shoes so she doesn't fall over? And obviously she's already wearing her leggings because it's been a cold day... and with a thermal running top popped over the ordinary bra and jumper... well... a little voice whispers 'why not try to run it? A bit...'
And the runstreak was resurrected and limped on through day 395. A VERY slow, icy, wheezy, stupid run. 2 mile minimum in full effect! And this time, I didn't attempt to run carrying the milk!!
Geeky stats stuff
Friday, 26 December 2014
Runstreak Day #391 - snowy slowy runny
Things to do on Boxing Day? Oh, I don't know. How about... running in snow? You know, big fat flakes of snow. Flakes as big as the palm of your hand, you say? Well, don't mind if I do!
Well, I did mind a bit... but mainly when massive flakes of snow did one of three things:
1. Land in my eye
2. Land in the teeniest gap between my top and my neck and melt into my bra
3. Some how manage to land directly on top of my trainers and end up shivering their way into my socks
Of the above, snow in the eye is the worst. It bloomin' hurts! It stings, it's cold and your eye ends up watering - which obviously makes contact with the freezing air temperature and hurts your face even more. And then when you try to wipe it off, you can't because your gloves are soaking wet!
Other than that, it was pretty good fun. Hardly anyone about, but those who were either gave me *that* look, beeped their horns at me or heckled in disbelief. Although there was about an inch of snow on the ground, it really wasn't slippy (new snow never is) and I took it steady, plodding my way round my normal short route to stretch my legs and get my run done before the snow got any deeper. It's also kinda nice to make new tracks in the snow. You get to feel like a child, happily scrunching along, softly pattering through the snow where no-one else has been. Snow is also an incentive not to stop - the moment you do, inevitably you get snow down your neck. Again!
By the time I got home, I was toasty warm, thoroughly soaked and relieved that I hadn't fallen over!!
Happy Boxing Day all! A snowmungous Day 391... done!
Geeky stats stuff
Well, I did mind a bit... but mainly when massive flakes of snow did one of three things:
1. Land in my eye
2. Land in the teeniest gap between my top and my neck and melt into my bra
3. Some how manage to land directly on top of my trainers and end up shivering their way into my socks
Of the above, snow in the eye is the worst. It bloomin' hurts! It stings, it's cold and your eye ends up watering - which obviously makes contact with the freezing air temperature and hurts your face even more. And then when you try to wipe it off, you can't because your gloves are soaking wet!
Other than that, it was pretty good fun. Hardly anyone about, but those who were either gave me *that* look, beeped their horns at me or heckled in disbelief. Although there was about an inch of snow on the ground, it really wasn't slippy (new snow never is) and I took it steady, plodding my way round my normal short route to stretch my legs and get my run done before the snow got any deeper. It's also kinda nice to make new tracks in the snow. You get to feel like a child, happily scrunching along, softly pattering through the snow where no-one else has been. Snow is also an incentive not to stop - the moment you do, inevitably you get snow down your neck. Again!
By the time I got home, I was toasty warm, thoroughly soaked and relieved that I hadn't fallen over!!
Happy Boxing Day all! A snowmungous Day 391... done!
Geeky stats stuff
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