I laced up my running shoes yesterday for the first time in over four years and did a 10Km run. I didn't set out with the intention to do 10km necessarily. I'd have been happy with 5km or even a bit less.
The plan was to get the gear on, do some stretching and head out and see what my body could handle. The plan was to listen to my body and turn back when I was feeling it a bit. I also wanted to run the whole thing, so no stopping for chats with neighbours or resting for a minute.
I must say that I was pleasantly surprised and the body felt good, the breathing felt great and being out in the fresh air running felt fantastic! I had a few points where I could have turned back, but I kept going. I had a rough idea of distance from walking the dogs, and kept going past each. There was one that I knew was past 4km and I kept going as the thought of doing a 10km on my return to running really appealed to me.
I've never been a massive runner or ran competitively but I've been blessed with a good base level of fitness all through my life. With life getting busy over the years since we had children, the running virtually stopped, but before the kids I'd done a few 10Km races, a half marathon in Edinburgh and a sprint triathlon. Those were mainly in my late twenties though when my fitness levels were higher.
I tend to play golf every Sunday morning and it is one of my favourite parts of the week, pitting myself against the weather, the course and the other players. The weather this Winter has been dreadful though and the course has been closed more Sunday mornings than ever before. Frozen greens or soft ground conditions due to heavy over night rain the main culprits.
Yesterday the latter was the issue, and my 7:20am Sunday morning alarm clock was in vain. I spent the morning tidying the house, and in the afternoon I brought my 7 year old to his soccer blitz, I coach his team, so that was enjoyable and he scored both goals in their 2-0 win, two great finishes too.
When I got home though, I was not content, whenever golf is cancelled on a Sunday, I get that feeling. That's when the idea to lace up the runners and go for run popped into my conscience. Running and getting fresh air is always good for the head. So after I came home from my son's soccer blitz, I got the gear on, did my stretching and off I went.
Now if you saw what I made us for dinner last, there's no way that you'd think that I'd gone for this run an hour earlier, but there you go. Let's call it a balanced lifestyle! Bacon Cheese fries 馃い馃い
Right enough about Bacon cheese fries, this is supposed to be a healthy post! I was expecting to feel tired as I ran, but I didn't at all, I went at a fairly slow pace to start with and everything felt good. Around half way I started to feel my calves a little bit.
I managed to do it in 49:51 too, which I was very happy about. I was unsure how my underlying fitness was, but it turns out that it's in decent shape, albeit my calf muscles are a bit tight this morning!
To be fair though, even when I play five a side soccer with the lads, I feel it a bit the next day and get out of bed with the old man limp.
It's early days and I've only got the one run under my belt, but I'm really looking forward to getting back out again already, as it was actually great for the head too. I'm not sure how many days rest I should give it before going for my next run, but I do know that the next run is most certainly imminent and I'm looking forward to it.
Interestingly, I was having a few of these with a good friend last week and he was asking if I'd ever done a marathon. I told him that I hadn't and he was telling me that I should give one a go, so I might just do that some day.
For now I'll take it one step at a time and the next target is to get back out for another 10km run soon. I'm not sure how long I should wait before getting out for the next run? Maybe Wednesday or Thursday?
Only I could sit down to write a post about fitness and getting back into running and end up talking about Bacon cheese chips and pints of Guinness!!
To be honest though, life is all about balance and although I do enjoy my Bacon cheese chips and pints of Guinness from time to time, I offset them with plenty of exercise, with coaching soccer almost 7 hours per week and golfing around 4 hours a week.
I don't know whether I will ultimately have the motivation or the time to train for a marathon, but to be even thinking about it and talking about it feels good.
Now, any for a pint and a bag of chips????
These photos are all my own
