Running = happy

Hurdling Sri Lankan style

I've been rather busy over the last few months GETTING MARRIED (yey me).

But I'm ashamed to say that after storming through Ealing's cracking half marathon in September I had not run once since as I sidelined it in favour of the small matter of organising and attending my own wedding. Tsk.

That's two months of no running.

Admittedly we did go for a sort-of run on a Sri Lankan beach and had a chat with a Sri Lankan hurdler (as you do on honeymoon) but otherwise nothing.

Yesterday I began again. I huffed and puffed my way to work - 4.5 miles. Usually I get #rangry (my twitter hashtag for runner's road rage*) when I get stuck at a crossing or behind some slow moving pedestrians but yesterday I was secretly relieved I could stop.

I got overtaken as well. Bah.

Anyway, sod the plod. I loved it. Running is excellent fun. Perhaps taking a short break from running is a good thing for your mental state, as it revitalises the desire in you to run.

I've now just signed up for the Serpentine 10km on New Year's Day. I'm not going for a pb, I'm going for enjoyment.

I'm also going to sign up for a few trail runs over the winter to keep up the enjoyment aspect. Again I'm not in it to win it, I'm in it to get muddy, burn some calories, and have a nice cuppa tea and some banter at the end with fellow offroadsters.


*see also #rungry - the ravanous hunger you get at some point post long run

First week of the training plan. Done.

I've successfully navigated through the arduous first week. Run in or out of work every day (4.5 miles) meaning a total of 20 measly miles. I'm pretty pleased with this though seeing as I've being doing sod all recently, though other blogs do concern me a little. Take this guy two years worth of training, or this one - another two years. Um... will six months be enough?? Let's hope so. Started off this week really well. Thought about running in to work. But didn't. Thought about running home from work. But didn't. So it's 9 miles today. Here is the route I'm going to take. (I can't seem to work out how to embed maps like this onto blogs - if anyone has any bright ideas let me know!)

First run of the training plan. Done.

4 1/2 miles jog home from work. Yeh it counts! Chancery Lane to Crouch End. Not the most pleasant of journeys - the wonders of Holloway Road - but still beats the bus. Felt good. Caught the last few rays of summer sun before they disappear forever. Am trying to slow my pace down to MDS shuffle pace to get used to it. Truffle shuffle!



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