The Highs and Lows

So I had a break, a few weeks where I just managed a few treadmill sessions and they hurt. A lot!

But ultimately I knew I needed to gear back up or I’d never see that half marathon distance and I don’t want to be crawling over the finish line!

First up, treadmill run after a decent break away. I set the intention of running a varied speeds ( training because there was no structure or plan to it) and gradients to distract me from the boredom of running on a treadmill for 15 minutes. It very quickly became 20 though as I thoroughly enjoyed it.

This was good news and really buoyed me back up.

Then I planned a Sunday long run again. I planned to hit the same 5.5 mile route I’d done a few weeks ago and enjoy it. BUT, on the morning of the run, something changed.

My husband suggested a different route, it was 6.8- how could I possibly make such a jump!? Was he crazy! Was I? But, I did feel like a change of scene might be nice so I decided to go for it, I’d set the intention of jeffing the route and told my husband if he’d done it in 1 hour 3 mins, I’d probably be about 2 hours- don’t come looking!

Off I set, he’d said it was hilly, he wasn’t wrong. But I just kept going! I walked a little, but not much. I found a playlist I liked and sang along a bit. There was seriously a point where I was beaming from ear to ear realising how much I was enjoying it! I barely saw a soul, and aside from stopping for the 15th tractor and at the top of a fairly large hill, I just kept plodding. I was so incredibly proud of myself. So much so that I thought, now’s my chance to really prove to myself I can crack 7 miles, so I did! I carried on to 7.6 and arrived back at home absolutely buzzing!

What’s more, after a good stretch followed by a fairly chilled day with the kids, I didn’t ache! I had expected to be in agony after this run, but I was fine. ‘Must be the new trainers’ I told myself, immediately deflecting the fact that it’s probably the training paying off. It felt so good that I decided to go out for a small run the following day and that felt equally great. I’ve finally cracked it, I’ve finally become ‘a runner!!’

However, two days later, on my next intended interval day, I was exhausted. Now this is largely due to a toddler who doesn’t like to sleep much, but I wrestled all day with what to do. In the end, I decided to practice what I preach and listen to my body. I went for a walk. And it was 100% the right thing to do, I felt re-energised, re-centred and raring to go again later in the week. Mind and body felt rested and I’m planning a longer run again on Saturday. I’m going to hang onto that buzz a little longer, I’m still so pleased with myself and even more happy that my intuitive running journey is working!

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Any help is really appreciated,

Jules xx