This lockdown thing is starting to scarily feel a bit too normal now isn't it? Maybe it is just me, but my life seems to have slipped into a routine of waking up, lying in bed for what feels like forever not particularly looking forward to the day ahead, but then somehow getting back into bed that evening and wondering where on earth the day has gone! Needless to say this week has passed quickly, which I know is due to the fact I have been busier 'at work' (aka my kitchen table). It is bittersweet really, as my extra workload comes from the fact we have had to furlough other staff and I am now taking on other's roles. There have been points of struggle though do not get me wrong; I am worried about a few friends who are finding things tough and yet I feel helpless to reach them. This week was also due to be the London Marathon and the influx of 'memories' I had popping up on social media from past events made me a little wistful. Berlin Marathon also announced its cancellation this week, and this was due to be held the week before the rearranged London Marathon date in October. This made me fearful of further cancellations ahead, and whilst I spoke last week about not minding races being off for a while, it was more the feeling of not having anything to look forward to which hit me - I guess it would just be nice to have something in the future to feel happy and confident about! MONDAY: home exercise classes TUESDAY: I am enjoying creating new running routes at the moment; all too often when I know I am waking up to fit my run into a precise schedule before getting ready for work, I revert to similar pathways to save time and out of ease. This morning's 10k was therefore a joy; a new route and my legs just happily ticked along at 8 min/mile pace which felt so natural - if only it was London Marathon week after all! WEDNESDAY: easier miles today, again winding through Lincoln on different roads to cover nearly 7 miles. THURSDAY: with the motivation of a planned Run Club session I seem to be using Thursday's as my chance to do more of a 'session', usually taking the form of intervals. This week I ran 5.5 miles with 12 x 200m reps and 200m recoveries. My paces were good again and maybe that sense of being outside and freedom right now makes pushing myself to go quicker feel more natural, rather than a chore or something which has to be done. FRIDAY: Rest Day | SATURDAY: I am not sure what came over my legs this week but I ran my fastest 5k time for over a year at my 'not Lincoln parkrun' attempt. I have been off pace across the past however many weeks of lockdown when I have tried to go 'all out' for a 5k, but this time something just clicked. My first mile was quick, as was my second, and I then fought really hard to hold on for the final mile, sensing a good time could be had. I finished in 20:40 which I was very pleased about! SUNDAY: obviously today should have been the London Marathon, but instead of feeling sad about it, I took on the 2.6 challenge the organisers of the marathon and other race companies have promoted to offer support to charities during this time. I work for a charity and I know the struggles we are facing, so it was logical for me to do something on the day I should have been testing myself over 26.2 miles. After a lot of brain storming I came up with the idea of running the 'Lincoln 26' which would be 13 miles with 13 of Lincoln's toughest, steepest hills included. I was worried when I planned the run that it may not be enough of a challenge and not fitting of asking for donations from people, however I was very wrong! I planned a 6.5 mile loop which I repeated to incorporate my chosen 6.5 hills twice. The centre of Lincoln features a number of steep and quad killing climbs, notably the famous 'Steep Hill' but also some hidden gems like 'Motherby Hill' and 'Carline Road.' After the first loop my legs were already tired and running back to tackle some of these hills again I knew would be a test. The challenge really motivated me to keep plugging away though and ticking off the inclines. Weirdly it did not feel like I had ran that much distance, but I felt those hills for sure, and arriving home my legs felt spent, pretty much like stopping at the end of a marathon! If you would like to put a few pounds in my fundraising pot then please visit here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/my-2-6-challenge-e6889c19-5ba9-4c2b-a7a0-27922ed57d7d What does next week hold - who really knows! I just keep trying to take it all one day at a time. |
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Alice's Adventures In Running LandRead about my adventures in running land...
December 2021
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