On My Way Back

I'm Back with a vengeance

I had planned and had looked forward to, doing an outdoors run yesterday. On Friday night it looked as though we'd broken the back of the sheet/black ice which has covered our village for the last 8 weeks. I was quite excited at the prospect of getting out there, feeling the fresh air fill my lungs, and have the cool crisp air stinging my cheeks. However, Saturday morning brought torrential rain, and though this has never bothered me in the past, it did look pretty dark out and I was slightly concerned about lightening.

Blew off the run, and prepared for an effort today. The wind had picked up through the night to around 25-30mph but so what - a bit of wind never hurt anyone.

I knew it was going to be tough. I was going to have to stick in and accept that I'd be nowhere near the level I was last summer. Saying that, I wasn't really prepared for just how much fitness I have lost.

I planned to run to HR. This plan was binned off after only half a mile. The wind was far too strong for even a conditioned runner to control their HR, let alone one who hasn't ran for the best part of 3 months. I ran to feel, and I felt bad.

I did struggle, I did wheeze, I did cough and splutter, I plodded rather than ran, and my calves hurt. I even stopped a couple of times to catch my breath (note to self to restock my inhalers next week) and to stretch out a bit. But, I loved it. In the eye of the wind, my pace dropped to around 11 min/miling, elsewhere I was clipping along at around 9.30. Overall, my average was 10:03. It wasn't comfortable, but it will get better if I stick with it and increase frequency and distances gradually, and sensibly. I intend to do just this. I want to be healthy again. Races and results aren't my priority this year. I'm not sure they will be ever again. I just want to feel healthy, and this morning was step one on that rope ladder of running. I've no doubt I'll fall off more times than I'll enjoy, I'll swing on the same rung occasionally, even sliding down a few every now and then, but I will make it to the top - that is, my top, and nobody else's.

 It's whetted my appetite again - I feel alive - I feel in love