But training continues regardless. According to Runkeeper, I managed 14.4Km in September, and am up to 32.4Km so far in October. The longer run I hoped to do on the 1st ended up being a quicker 5Km where I managed to get back to an average pace of 6mins/km. This isn't all that quick, but it was the target for the day and quicker than I had gone for some time, so I was happy with that. I ran again on the Tuesday, managing to go every so slightly faster, but only by 20 secs or so. But faster is faster, regardless of the gaps and I'm not looking to become Usain Bolt overnight! Due to feeling a bit down and being busy (excuses, excuses I know) I didn't end up running for 6 days, and it was Monday the 10th when I was out next. This was another 5km run, as I intend to build up my fitness before going too much further, and I prefer to run the same route so I can gauge how I'm doing by how I feel rather than just how fast I'm going.
Having said that, on that Tuesday I decided to try a different route with an eye to taking the short sharp uphill off the start of the run and a means to giving me longer routes without going too far from home for now. This route was also a touch longer at 6km, and felt much better as my lungs got into the swing of things a lot faster without the uphill struggle. As this was my birthday week, I chose not to run Thursday or Friday. As I had my son on the Saturday, I couldn't run then but we do go splashing about in the pool so that was something at least.
Come the Sunday morning it was time for a long(er) run again. The plan was to try for 8km, using the 6km route as a base and just extending the run down the back road where I turn round and run back on myself. As Miss Not-So-Anti-Running and I had a lazy morning, I went out mid afternoon as it was a nice sunny day and she had stuff to do. The aim of this run was not to go quickly, but to do a nice easy pace and complete the distance. As I starter out nice and gently, this run was feeling pretty good. For once I wasn't sweating my ass off or feeling like my lungs were trying to exit stage left either. Where I had slowed to a quick walk/very slow jog on the 6km version, I was able to keep going this time, which was a good little morale boost as I hit the top of the rise and the A5. From here there is a nice flatter bit as I run back to the village and brave crossing the A5. At this point I knew it was a trawl up the hill top Cold Higham, along the back road to a certain farm track turning and then back home for 8Km. But when I got to the turning point, everything felt pretty good so I kept going! I managed to keep running all the way to the top of a hill to a cross roads that had almost killed me a couple of months ago when I was following Miss Running. I was really pleased with this, even if I was now going rather slowly! Turning round and heading back down the hill to head home was a welcome relief. From here to home felt fairly flat, as the rises are more gentle and the sun was still shining. As is usual and despite my vague attempts to stop it happening, I sped up a lot on the way home, even going uphill. When I got back, I felt really good with how the run had gone, and that I managed 10km non-stop for the first time in ages. So that's the first of my distance targets ticked off already!
Unfortunately, I did one more run this Tuesday. This was only meant to be a quick 20-25 min run as I was expecting a guy from eBay to arrive. It looked lovely from the window, and felt OK for the first 1/2KM, until I hit an open field and the cold wind hit me. This pretty much screwed my breathing up and it felt like someone was pouring iced water down the front of my top. Despite trying to keep going to get warmer, I just wasn't having much luck, so I decided to abandon the run and head back for home. I think I cocked it up from a combination of going too fast when I was cold and not wearing the right tops. If I'd had a thicker top or one with long sleeves I might have been OK at a slower pace. Regardless, at least I know not to do that again as it was the first time in over a year that I have needed to use my inhaler! I was still squeaking hours later, which is a sure sign I've made my lungs grumpy.......
