Took Ade to work this morning as he is going to run some of the way home. I was going to meet up with him and then we would run together but I decided to run when I got back…….Today I wold have to carry my own water bottle! I filled it half way to make it lighter and also because I never drink the whole of it; so why carry that extra weight. Talking of which I did carry something else with me today. I used my ipod shuffle that Ade had given me speciifcally for this purpose as a Christmas present. He had already loaded it up with music and it was charged and ready to go….Ideal. I clipped it onto the top of my shorts band, not a great idea as I was later to find out.
Not having the Garmin with me I decided to time my run using my phone so I set the stopwatch, placed it on the stairs then dashed out the door and off down the steps. (This bit of the run was not in my other two days training I hasten to add and I feel the time it took me to get down the steps and back up them (much more of a struggle) should be deducted….It all adds up.
Any way I set off up the steep hill, somebody had moved that wheelie bin completely today. On my last run it felt like someone had it on a rope and as fast as I tried to reach it they were reeling it away. Not dismayed by it’s absence I gasped for breath as the hill started to flatten off. The music gently tickling my ear drums. I found it quite soothing and it took my mind off the run ahead. Every now and again the earphones popped out of my ears but this distraction was welcome as I was soon rounding the corner to face Takutai. It loomed in front of me but today I was feeling confident. No twinges and my breathing had setttled nicely. I faced the hill, not the pavement and my goal was the second lampost as I had stopped at the first one on my second run. I gritted my teeth and passed this albeit slowly and then set each and every other lampost as my goal until I was up and over the top. ‘I can’t wait to tell Ade I had done it’ were the first thoughts in my head as I headed down to Bucklands Beach roundabout.
I was feeling really good and like Forest Gump I just kept running. Every now and again I would meet another fellow runner. They always seem to look fresher and fitter than me but I know one day that will be me.
My pace wasn’t fast but I had passed all my stops on the previous two days runs and I hopefully have got over these psychologically now. The big descent into The Parade brought with it Nat King Cole’s ‘What a Wonderful World’. What could be more perfect I thought. The beautiful view on my left hand side and to be running with the wind in my hair and the warm sunshine on my face. The run felt really easy.
The last few steps up to our house were easier than the last few days but I knew that I had to get indo
ors and put my finger on that stop button. I charged through the front door and for a moment couldn’t remember where I had left my phone until I saw it on the side. STOP……46mins 30 seconds. Not my best but I had achieved my personal goal of getting round without stopping. I just need to speed it all up now…………………that’s after my kip cos I’m knackered now……..
Oh and I now have a burn on my side. Definitely not a good place to clip my ipod.