Day 4 of holiday and I’m yet to run any miles. I did set my alarm yesterday for 6am with every note tin of running before going off on a day of safaris however if I am honest waking up in pitch blackness completely put me off so I turned over for an hour extra sleep.
So I knew today would have to be the day. With a day in town planned there was no rush to get off for set busses etc the morning so I set the alarm for 7am knowing by the time I had a drink and a banana it would be plenty light.
With the endless trails and woodlands there really was noting preventing me running apart from me. Now some of you might be saying crazy lady your on holiday relax, I would have been one of those people at one point. I knew with only 6 weeks to go getting out for a run was so vital even if it was just a few 5k runs this week.
So looking at the pre run pictures taken from the veranda of our accommodation it looks like the start of a nice morning, however don’t be deceived it’s actually quite nippy out and I’m wishing I had packed my tech t shirt instead of vest tops, not sure why I didn’t but hey ho I am sure I will warm up once I get going. Maybe they are with the water bottle I was suppose to pack? Never mind one of Suzies juice bottles will have to do.
Not sure if it was lack of fuel (only a banana compared with usual porridge), lack of running over the last week, my Iron levels being low or poor diet since being on holiday (please don’t judge, I had tried to control my diet as I feel rubbish when I eat rubbish but lack of items in the on site shop led to poor choices or starve, I am not one for starving! It’s not a pretty picture when I am hungry) but today was tough going and I’m so mad at myself. With only 6 weeks to go and having covered 12 miles just over a week ago I should not be struggling with a pesky 5k run, but I was!
I set off from our accommodation and headed towards the trail. My plan was to run down to the main entrance barriers. I had no idea how far this would cover but if needed to extend it I’d just run the other way, So I left down the trail road. It was still early but people were starting to move around the site and the sun had really started to come through so I was now happy with my choice of vest after all.
I knew straight away this was going to be a push my body seemed to want to give in from the start, legs just did not want to move and I felt like all my energy had gone. I felt my arm buzz telling me that was my first 1k, how can I feel like I’d run so long and yet not even really started. I past the shop /club area and continued on following the canal and lake. One good point in this mornings run is the views were fantastic. I crossed a pretty little bridge and decide instead of going straight forward I was going to turn left and explore. Turns out there wasn’t much to explore it took through a little wooded area and around to the water sports dock where the boat that took you across to near our camp was docked. I’m positive it was further away than I’d run when you looked across the water from the other side.
I had come to a dead end, it would appear you can’t go all the way around the lakes which is a shame so I decided instead of returning to the patch and continuing to the gates I would turn around and go the way I had come back to camp. (It turns out when we later drove out of the site the entrance was just a few steps away)
As I turned back towards our row of vans I could see Stu sat enjoying his morning cuppa and have to admit he thought of pushing another 1k out of me was just not happening today.
As I pulled up a chair on the decking I was angry with my self only 4K covered today and that was an effort. I vowed I would venture out again in the morning determined to cover 5k.
5/8/19 second run of the week! I will not be defeated and run 5k today!
After yesterday’s testing and disappointing run I was determined today was going to be a better one. With no plans of going out today there was no rush to set the alarm and get up early, so I woke on my own and ensured I was fuelled better with a bowl of porridge over an hour before setting off.
Decided to go opposite way this morning I knew looking at the map it wasn’t as long as as yesterday’s route so had already planned to turn round and run yesterday’s route as well.
the first 1K was sluggish legs felt stiff but not as stiff as yesterday so I tried to slow pace with today’s intention being distance not speed related.
It wasn’t long before I came to a fork in the path one way went through double gates which were opened, but had some foreign writing on them so I decided maybe that wasn’t the way to go, so chose the other soon to be met with an underground subway. I did ponder going through to be nosy but unsure of where I would end up, maybe I’d be eaten my a tiger we were in the wood land after all, or maybe that was a slight over exaggeration. I decided against it. I’m now considering going that way on Saturday just out of interest.
Turning around I went back the way I had come and continued along the rail instead of turning off for the camp area.
There was more people out today mainly on bikes or catching the land train, why didn’t I think of that! Wheels!
I actually passed a bike and didn’t re pass me as I made my way towards the club and shop area, in fairness it probably turned off down one of the little camp turnings but that’s not the point I ran past it! So it’s a win for me, yay me! I was later passed by several other bikes, in fact so many I lost count but that’s not important.
Today I stopped just before the bridge turning around and heading back to camp, just as my arm buzzed informing me of my 5k victory.
Still not feeling as confident as I had been over a week ago but better than yesterday. We shall see what Saturday’s run shall bring, who knows I may even get a Sunday morning one in as well before having to pack up.
9/9/19 – last holiday run
Last day of the holiday today but determined to get in one last run today, before we head to the pool to spend spare time whilst we wait for the ferry.
Alarm was originally set for 6am, who was I kidding when I set it, when I woke the room was so dark, I turned over for a cheeky extra hour in bed. I really need to rethink these dark nights and mornings.
As much as I could have rolled over and settled on two runs this week I knew I needed to make my butt get its self out of bed. I remembered my commitment to my training plan and to my self for my goals, no one else was going to do it for me so out of bed I got and off I went after a quick glass of squash. (Unfortunately no time for breakfast this morning, that would just have to wait till post run)
I’m pleased I decided to get up as it was nice to see the lakes and surrounding areas one more time so peaceful and the run its self felt so much better. I even passed another runner out this morning, when I say pass they were going the opposite way to me.
I’ve enjoyed my surroundings this week, my distance may not have been loads but I kept my commitment to three runs to keep me going and I know that will have made a difference and kept my joints going.
