Alice's Adventures in Running Land
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact

Finding Happiness

5/31/2020

1 Comment

 
Friday 13th March was when I entered a ‘lockdown / non-normal’ way of life (a whole week earlier than most!) and after eleven weeks I can safely say this one has been my most enjoyable. Life is not perfect, but I find the small ease in restrictions that allow me to meet a few people and get out the house more often are a massive boost for my happiness. This is possibly why it makes me feel very frustrated when people are blatantly disregarding the fact we are still living in a pandemic, and I worry about repercussions down the line… I am still shopping each week for a vulnerable lady on a Saturday morning who has not left her house in all this time – it is not fair on people like her who are quite frankly becoming scared of the outside world and the behaviour of others. But I can only do what I can and try play my part.

Ignoring my Covid grumbles, this week I can say I have felt happy, the weather has been beautiful, and although it does make running a bit tougher at times, it has meant I can enjoy seeing friends outside and just generally being outside (which is good, as after so may weeks at home I have well and truly exhausted the tidying, cleaning, sorting, painting etc. I can do!) I have managed to log 35.5 miles and enjoyed a nice mixture of running experiences.

MONDAY: online exercise class in a hot living room

TUESDAY: I had planned to meet a friend for a run this morning and explore some local trails. The excitement setting my alarm the night before for an early morning run was real; it was great to be looking forward to the next day arriving. We met just outside Lincoln and proceeded to run a 10.5 mile route through some lovely local landscapes. I am not overly experienced on trails (I practically dust off my trail shoes each time I do have to wear them!) but I do enjoy them. It is running with no pressure, taking in your surroundings, concentrating on navigating along intricate pathways and just enjoying being outside and running. We were treated to some great views back across towards Lincoln that simply made you stop in you tracks – and the beauty of trail running is that stopping does not really matter.

WEDNESDAY: after yesterday’s slightly longer mileage and with the knowledge I had a rather tough looking interval session planned for tomorrow, I tried to keep today’s run easy, reverting to a familiar 10k loop.

THURSDAY: I had more plans to run with a friend today and we had agreed to meet in the evening to attempt a Run Club session of 14 x 400m. I would not have opted for this on my own that is for sure, especially on what was a warm evening of around 20 degrees. I loved it though, and although I was pushing myself and it did feel tougher at times, there was that shared experience and the chat we shared during rest periods which, some may say weirdly, made it pleasurable. As we ran up and down the same stretch of road we even made friends with the woman whose house we were resting outside and who seemed to rather enjoy chatting to us each time. ‘Are you training for the marathon?’ she asked (by which I guessed she meant London!) ‘Supposedly’ I said, practically rolling my eyes ‘but can you see it going ahead?!’ That’s another story…
Picture
Picture
FRIDAY: Rest Day

SATURDAY: after a good week of running so far, today was less great. Another ‘not Lincoln parkrun’ but it was tough on a warm morning and with a hidden wind which caught me out along the river. I finished running and instantly thought – I miss parkrun!

SUNDAY: after finishing running today my instant thought was ‘I need to get myself into gear much quicker!’ Although I was out running fairly early, it was nowhere near as early as I would have been if my mind was fully in ‘training mode.’ It was 21 degrees by the time I was finishing and just too hot. I knew as soon as I started running it was warm so kept my pace nice and easy, stopping in the shade for a couple of water breaks. I ran 10.7 miles, which I planned to round off my mileage for the week at an even number, and the run served to remind me of just how testing long runs are during training in the summer months. Getting up early may seem strange at the moment when I never really have much planned for the rest of the day, but it will make running in the heat much more bearable!

Next week I am looking forward to joining another fellow Run Club member who is taking on a challenge to raise funds for the NHS by running seven half marathons in seven days – I am joining him on day five and am hoping for a slightly cooler day for us both! ​
1 Comment
KR
5/31/2020 10:53:00 pm

A good week all round! The sun has been fantastic and no strong wind to battle with, it just makes the miles so much easier. Agree about the relaxation & repercussions that may result. Keeping to quieter routes & trails certainly keeps us safer & increases the pleasure. Once again keep looking forward.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Alice's Adventures In Running Land

    Read about my adventures in running land...


    January 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014

    Categories

    All
    2015
    2016
    2017
    2018
    2019
    2020
    2021
    Ashby 20 2019
    Bassingham Bash 2015
    Bassingham Bash 2016
    Bassingham Bash 2017
    Bassingham Bash 2020
    Berlin Marathon 2016
    Berlin Marathon 2017
    Boston Marathon 2017
    Brighton 10k 2015
    Brighton Marathon 2019
    Cambridge Half Marathon 2018
    Cambridge Half Marathon 2019
    Cambridge Half Marathon 2020
    Chicago Marathon 2019
    Clumber Park Half Marathon
    Doncaster 10k 2017
    Doncaster 10k 2018
    Doncaster 10k 2019
    Finsbury Park 10k 2015
    General Running
    Great Newham Run 10k 2016
    Great North Run 2015
    Harewood House Half Marathon 2017
    Hedgehog Half Marathon 2018
    I Am Team GB
    Leicestershire Half Marathon 2018
    Leicestershire Half Marathon 2019
    Lincoln 10k 2015
    Lincoln 10k 2016
    Lincoln 10k 2017
    Lincoln 10k 2018
    Lincoln 10k 2019
    Lincoln Colour Dash 2015
    Lincoln Half Marathon 2016
    Lincoln Half Marathon 2017
    Liverpool Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon 2015
    Liverpool Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon 2016
    Liverpool Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon 2017
    Liverpool Rock 'n' Roll Marathon 2018
    London Marathon 2015
    London Marathon 2016
    London Marathon 2017
    London Marathon 2018
    London Marathon 2020
    Manchester Marathon 2016
    Milton Keynes 20 Mile Race 2018
    Newark Half Marathon 2017
    Newark Half Marathon 2018
    Newark Half Marathon 2019
    Newton's Fraction Half Marathon 2019
    Normanby 10k 2020
    North Lincolnshire Half Marathon 2018
    North Lincolnshire Half Marathon 2019
    Nottingham 10k 2016
    Oxford Half Marathon 2015
    Parkrun
    Park Run
    Robin Hood Trail 10k
    Round Sheffield Run 2016
    Round Sheffield Run 2017
    Round Sheffield Run 2018
    Round Sheffield Run 2019
    Royal Parks Half 2016
    Santa Run 2014
    Santa Run 2015
    Santa Run 2018
    Santa Run 2019
    Sleaford 10k 2019
    Stamford 30k
    Sydney Marathon 2018
    The 401 Challenge
    The Royal Parks Half Marathon 2016
    Thoresby Half Marathon
    Winter Run 10k Liverpool
    Woodhall Spa 10k 2018
    Woodhall Spa 10k 2019
    X Runner 2015

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photo used under Creative Commons from marksteelenz