Hello blog readers.
It's me again! Only one run this week, I must try harder to get to a Tuesday club run. I think the dark and the cold are really not inspiring me to push myself harder to get to club run on time. Procrastinating! I am the queen of procrastination! I procrastinate so much that it's almost bedtime when I get home from work, I then talk myself out of rushing to get changed and rushing in the car to the park to join group 1 at 7 pm. I remember I did it once but I drove the whole way without putting my lights on my car! Scary!
Anyway, here I am again procrastinating instead of writing up my bog! How you put up with me I don't know! So, I was again 'solo' running Bromley parkrun. Naggy was saving her legs as today (Sunday) she did the Darenth 10k, apparently that has a hill that makes PWR 10k hill look like a bump! No thank you, that has put me off applying for that one....in the future....! SnappyHannah still had some things she needed to do so she ran earlier in the morning.
I arrived early at the park as I didn't want to miss out on parking, I know what I am like. I would drive around the roads looking for parking then not find one and then go home! Would I run if I did that...? Right now I probably wouldn't. I would just beat myself up and then moan at myself for being a lazy 'meadow lady'! So getting out early it has to be which is why I was sat in my car for a good fifteen minutes I would say.
When it was time I walked along to the start of the run. I put myself in the middle of the crowd, I was thinking the penguin effect would help keep me warm! It was blimmin cold! I only had a short sleeved tee on and my running jacket! And yes Mrs K I had my knickers on too as well has my running pants! I should have brought the gloves from my car though. I just thought once I started running I should warm up, being early as I was, I was just chilling down! There were some mile stone runners at Bromley yesterday too, my next one, 200, is still about 40 or so weeks away!
When the count down started I was still in the middle of the pack I didn't want to move from the 'heat' in the middle. Of course I would be getting passed as the mass of runners thinned out to a long column of runners. I found it fascinating when I passed the second building of the left side of the park, just how fast those at the front are! I looked over to the right and I saw runners already going down the short straight, not just one or two either, there was a long line of runners!
I was still running 1 - 1 Jeffing all the way. but again I still ran the first three minutes. I know it too, I kept looking at my watch for the next walking section! I was feeling pretty tired yesterday, I didn't think I would be breaking any records......don't laugh!
I just needed to stay on pace and watch kilometres go by. By the time I thought about it I was on the second lap, "Just twice more to this spot" I thought to myself as I ran on down the long straight. I couldn't spot any particular person that I wanted to 'catch' up to. I am thinking, now, that it was probably phycological that I didn't choose an 'opponent' to race against. Yesterday was all about trying to stay consistent. Consistent with parkrun run. Trying not miss any Saturdays. Trying to stay consistent with my pace, trying to stay consistent with the Jeffing! I must admit, I did miss a couple of running minutes, of course I beat my self up about that!
The last short straight down to the finish funnel I felt like it was a challenge. I was knackered! I didn't think that I pushed myself any harder than I usually did (again beating myself up because I didn't). This chap caught me up on my walking section "Come on" he said "Don't let this 81 year old injured olympic race walker beat you" he said as he over took me! "You usually do" I called after him as he started to make space between us. My 1 min of running started again, "Go on Old girl, get back up to him, you can do it" I started to say to myself. I pushed a little bit harder, doubts started to come in my mind as I saw the orange cones getting nearer. Voices in my head saying "He's an Olympian, you ain't gonna catch him up" I stopped running. "Oh come on old girl, move it!" I think I said that bit out loud! Did I swear? Hmm I don't think so, but another telling off as I slowly started to catch him when I started running up again but I didn't quite make it as he crossed the line just before me! He turned around in the funnel and said "Well done" as he shook my hand!
It was well done. I got out of bed, I got my running gear on and I got to the park! That at the moment is all that is needed! One minute running, one minute walking. It's moving, it's getting the heart rate going, it's getting the cardio going and it's burning off the couple of pints I had on Friday night!
Me, in my car feeling accomplished