Three hours in the open air today… running. Well two and a half to be precise after a 20min stop at a pub for a camomile tea where I met a little puddy cat ! My target was just to reach this pub with the idea of being picked up from here if I needed it….. However, without a phone signal in the area to make the call, plus feeling pretty good and feeling like I hadn’t run far enough, I decided to do the return leg too. Why not?
The route was not over footpaths, or in woods, or soft ground but road running. Often considered the most boring run of all… but today I didn’t find it so.
I had all my bright gear on, plus water and gels if I needed it. It surprised me that apart from the camomile tea, I needed only one sip of water plus one gel throughout. I suppose it was probably down to the intensity which was pretty moderate.
The thought of running for that length of time used to be complete anathema to me. Now I start to feel stronger the longer I am out. At first, we’re talking some 6 years ago, it used to be walk after quarter of a mile and run for another wee bit. Although, it’s only in the last two week-ends that I have ventured further than 5k since before Christmas! Alot of this has been down to the setback in Oct/Nov/Dec with both ankles, so I’m pleased that that little episode is behind me now.
It was nice being on my own too… I could go at my own pace, think about my own thoughts, not have to keep playing catch-up and generally admire the world as it went by me. I had all sorts going round in my head… songs… conversations… decisions I’ve got to make.. people I’ve got to see… and what did I see today? A rugby match, a number of horses, a few cyclists, only a couple of runners, a tractor, and a kestrel. Apart from that, hedgerows, fields and general country living….
I was thinking to myself would I prefer to be doing anything else right now? I did already have the bar lady say to me, “you’re mad” when I was about to set off for part two. It’s hard to explain how good running can be to people who haven’t yet experienced the wonders of getting somewhere under your own steam. Plus words like, ‘you’re mad’ are pretty average reactions by anyone who hasn’t yet experienced breaking through the elusive hate/love boundary of running – the point at which you go from completely detesting it and unable to think of anything worse, to just loving it.
When I wasn’t running just before Christmas I was actually fearful I would fall out of love with running especially when my sister-in-law kept asking me in January if I would go on a run round the village when I really just couldn’t face it. Then… gradually… something clicked and I know I’m back in the zone… and it feels really good. I’ve just got to work on speed now.
For anyone reading this who could never imagine themselves running more than 100m, remember I was that person, and they are imaginary barriers we are placing on ourselves every time we say we can’t do something. And like anything, if you want it enough… it’s all possible …
