Hi blog readers.
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| Me trying out the AfterShokz #ItriedAS |
I know, I know! It's been, like forever since you heard from me! What can I say!? July just kind slipped on by and merged into August! As for August, well, here we are at the end of it! Have I been running? I bet that's what your next question will be! Well yes, I have been running! But it's the blogging that have have neglected. I know I am going to miss those weeks where I hadn't written anything. I will be thinking later on down the line, "Why wasn't I running, why didn't I blog".
I could quite easily blame the pandemic, everyone else does. But, I really do think it has had a profound effect on everyone. Whether it was to stop their running and exercising, stop their visiting friends and family, for me it was to stop my blogging. I will make a, quiet, promise to myself that I will try and blog everything again.
Did I mention in one of my blogs about a chap called Ben Mudge. I am sure I did, I often think about that quote he wrote in one of his Q&A sessions that he does. Someone asked what kept his motivation going, his answer made me smile and nod, and made me feel better about my 'lost mojo', my 'lost' motivation, I will quote it here
People: "Ben how are you motivated all the time/How do you motivate yourself?"
Ben: "I am not. I am rarely 'motivated' to do what I need to do. Motivation is the spark that starts you. It is not the right fuel source you want to rely on for a long journey though'.
He went on to say that he was asked that question regularly, and that after the motivation, what keeps you going is discipline, routines, regularity. It just made me realise that mojo is always there, motivation is always there, because what got me motivated to keep on running was my mum! She is in my thoughts every single day, every single day. Sometimes it can still bring the tears. She is why I started running, and she is with me every time I go running. But getting me out of the door is discipline and the routine of club runs, parkruns, beginners course and of course the odd racing....well in my case participating in racing events.
It's good to have parkrun back, although I was a bit apprehensive about going back and I missed the first one because of it. But Normans Angels had a few Normans runs together which was really good.
Last Sunday I had my first run with a new headphone set. I was offered a chance to try The AfterShokz Aeropex headphones #ItriedAS. I like trialing things and these headphones felt good. I think using them on some of the races is allowed, rather than my in ear phones. I do miss music when I am running racing, it helps me keep to a rhythm but having cheering crowds is a huge pick me up when you are feeling tired. I am sure this headset is a perfect compromise for all. I had my glasses on and I felt that maybe I was pushing them back on my nose more often. But I couldn't decide if it was because I was hot and sweaty so my glasses were not perched properly on my ears! I will try them again, this time while wearing my hat too. See if that makes a difference. The sound quality though, I was totally impressed with and it was so easy to connect to my phone.
Of course the only thing that has been totally continuous, since the last lock down, has been club runs. There has been the booking system, but that will be ending soon, we hope. It's good to see all groups together in one park now, although there is still two different times people can choose to run. Not quite back to normal, but we're getting there.
This evening was a club run and yes, I was leading. That is the routine and the discipline that I need right now to get me out on a Tuesday. All through August, working from 7 in the morning and getting home sometimes after six in the evening, I was totally shattered. But I did it! I got off my (expanding) butt and got myself to club runs. We had some new comers too, all those that been on the beginners course joined us. Some of them went straight into the higher groups, but others came along to group 1.
It's been light enough to be going through the woods, although for the last three times now I chose the same route as it's through the park with not too much of the route going through woods. Just nice open pathways. My group today was reminiscent of days gone by, 12 of us. I was wondering if Lucy was going to turn up today. She joined my group a few weeks back, she's been a member of PWR for some time, but right now she is 'growing' another little PWR. She kept her running up till the last 4 weeks. So now she is just going to relax ......and enjoy the last of a nice tidy home she will have for years to come!.....I hope she don't see that! Babies are wonderful little miracles......messy, but wonderful.
Here is some pictures of our group runs that we have been having through this blog drought season. Fingers crossed I will be disciplined to write more blogs, after every run, like I used to
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| RefMichael doing cool downs |
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| Putting them through their paces |
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| Group 1 |
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| it was a bit muddy |
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| Another group run |
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| See, we've been consistant |
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| And todays group 1 run! 12 of us ( I am behind the camera) |