I ended up basically taking a full week off running after the Half Marathon, in fact the only exercise I did during the 7 days was a gym session on Thursday, a normal amount of walking, and a swim on Sunday. So today, after a full week of rest, I got back into my trainers and heart rate monitor, and headed out for an 'easy' 5km before work. I have to say, it's really overwhelming that this morning I could comfortably run a steady 5kms at around 12:20/mile sort of pace - not once wanting to walk, not once feeling panicky or doubting myself. I just generally plodded along, watching the sea, or spotting little hopping bunny rabbits in the grass.
Is this what it's like to be a runner??
Ah, of course I'm just plodding along, and I have a lot of work ahead of me now as I embark on the next leg of my journey. But it's nice to be able to just run 5kms without walking, with no pressure, and no expectations. And it was a lovely way to start the day today - with the weather being nice, and me wearing my new EMF race tshirt in size S.
I'd had another clear-out of clothes at the weekend, and with a great deal of effort I'd finally thrown out my two baggiest, shapeless, and holey in places, jumpers. These were comfort items of clothing - I'd worn them regardless of every size I've been over the last 6+ years, all the sizes between a (UK) size 12 and 20 inclusive - that's the size of the tops. Of course, as I'm now roughly a 12, they hang loosely, hiding what's beneath, and offering a comfort blanket. One I don't need. As long as those two tops were in my wardrobe, I was giving myself permission to put all the weight back on, so they've gone. And wow, that was harder than I thought it would be. I'd left them in the wardrobe during each other clearout I've had over the last couple of months, but I had to do some serious thinking, and I think I'm stronger for it.
So then I brought out more 'smaller' clothes from storage, and now I have a whole load of tshirts with daft slogans on, hahahaha. Some went straight into the charity shop bag, because I'm never going to wear them again. I no longer have to choose what to wear based purely on what fits or covers me, or draws attention away from some part I don't like - I can wear clothes that suit me. Whatever the hell they are... :-)
Q: "Is this what it's like to be a runner??" A: Empathic YES :-)
ReplyDeleteBeing able to go out for a run, not worry about pace, walking, getting out of breath, but instead just watching the world around you and enjoying the moment, and the motion.
It's great that you've now got to this point. You've put in the hard work loosing weight and gaining fitness, and now running your are fit enough to just cruise along and enjoy the time out. Turning this corner means that more and more you'll just find real pleasure in just being out running.
Sure there will be tough runs to be done, but you'll know that it isn't because running is intrinsically tough, it's just some days are bit mehh much as with normal life. You'll still know that come a sunny day, a caught sunrise, or sunset, spotting wildlife or just something funny you wouldn't have seen had you not gone out, there is are better runs just around the corner waiting to be discovered.
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Throwing out clothes and buying new clothes sounds like it will quite cathartic. You will of course end up with a cupboard dominated by running attire if you keep things up :-)
Plus, as I do speedwork, runs will be tough just because of the omg-owwwwww element, haha. Thanks for this, though - I definitely feel a corner has been turned, and although it won't be smooth sailing ahead, I'm ready for it. (I'm sure that's mixed metaphors, can you even turn corners in a sailboat? Still, at least it's not a 'maelstrom of emotion', hehe. x )
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