Run 5: a pictoral account

For something a bit different, I thought you'd like to see today's run in pictures. The sun is finally shining and it's much nicer to run without rain blasting into your eyes. What a great way to start the day...

Run 4: what's with the weather?

On Friday, my friend made an observation. Starting to run in November is not an easy task nor is it something most people do. This morning, not only did I have to contend with it being Monday, but it was was raining sideways. Now I'm not intending to make all of my talk of running be also all about the weather (though it makes me feel rather British) but I'm rather proud that I got up and did it despite the weather.

As the start of the second week, my running time has increased so it's now 1 minute running and 2 minutes walking. You do it 6 times, so 18 minutes total. I did a bit more running then in the plan - I found running in that weather much better then walking in it.

Going through Clapham Common I had an entire extended family of geese settling on the path in front of me. Like a little goose crossing. They scattered and didn't fuss too much when I went by which was great - geese can be a bot snappy and tempermental.

Unfortunately once I was done I couldn't do my yoga - during my internal debate what I should do about the weather (while um...lounging in bed), I didn't leave myself enough time to do that and get to work. So off to work I went.

Run 3: sore legs in the rain

This is the third day of running and the rain was beating the window when I awoke. Too early and the rain is not making me want to put on my trainers and hoodie and go out there. So after procrastinating (ie pressing snooze), I got up and forced myself out the door. In some way, it was great that I waited because the rain stopped but it made me feel rushed for time. Legs were sore today which was a first this week so I thought more stretching was the perfect remedy.

I thought I'd try out the yoga feature on Wii Fitness training. I thought it may be a couple stretches after some cardio but it was all yoga. I didn't realize that (maybe I should read manuals in future or actually try out all the features.) It was a great way to finish off a run and I'll be doing it for the next one.

Run 2: a blustery morning

This morning I awoke to the wind rattling my windows and my body groggy with red wine memories of the night before. This wasn't going to be a fun run, I could feel it. Well more accurately walk/run as according to the plan, I actually doing more walking then running.

The wind hit me as soon as I crossed to the common. Happily it wasn't raining and most of Monday's puddles had cleared up. Today's No Doubt soundtrack brought me back to the 90s: all of the songs are upbeat and surprisingly motivational. I did my little loop of the park and instead of walking the last 3 minutes as outlined in my plan, I ran them. Woohoo! Run 2 complete.

Run 1: Running in the Rain

Of course it’s raining on the first day of my new running regime. All the other weeks I thought of running and then didn’t, this would have stopped me. Not today. On went the workout wear, the trainers and out I went.
Rain actually feels nice when running – if it’s not too cold or windy. Today was not too bad. One minute running. Slightly out of breath by the end of it. Embarrassing. Three minutes of walking I can do...then I round the corner to walk down a path cutting through Clapham Common and a woman collapses in the middle of it. Walking was cut short as I ran to help.

A man walking a dog beat me to her and was on the phone to the ambulance. She mumbled incoherently as she came to. By the time the man convinced the ambulance (yes, he had to convince them!) to come, the woman was trying to stand. She suddenly said she was fine and thanked us for the help but she had to go. We tried to convince her to wait but no dice.

Nothing more either of us could do, I continued running. I finished and felt not too bad even if the rain got heavier near the end. End of day one. We’ll see how my legs feel tomorrow!

Photo by mnomono