I headed out for an early run today as I didn't get out yesterday and I was keen to get a run in before our holiday.
It was a bright crisp morning which seemed like the ideal conditions but as soon as I finished my warm up and started to run I became congested and had problems with my breathing. My asthma is triggered by cold air and this is a classic example of the symptoms.
I tried to clear my air way and to calm my breathing but in doing so I got agitated and threw up. This is the first time I have done so on a run and I am not best pleased about it.
I am not sure if this has something to do with the fact that all I had before I ran was a Twix and a glass of water? (We don’t have much in as we are going away).
I am sure this is psychological behaviour as I have been like this for years when walking to work early in the mornings during the winter months. I take my inhalers as prescribed but it never seems to make this situation any better.
Once I got going and I got warm air into my lungs I was fine and I proceeded as normal. I just have to overcome this initial horrible first reaction to the cold air.
I have been reading How to Run Faster by Julian Goater to see what experiences a professional runner has. He's got some fantastic advice and even though I don't specifically want to get off the blocks and run like Seb Coe or Mo Farah, I would like to learn from the experts and Julian has some good tips.
He talks of the key areas that affect a runner and psychology is definitely one of them.
Taking his advice to vary your runs so that you don't just run for a longer time to cover a greater distance, I decided to mix up the run this morning and do a new route. I made this decision on the fly which isn't a bad thing but my lack of planning meant I managed to put in a hill fairly close to the beginning which I sure equates for the heavy pain in my calves at the mid way point this morning.
I was sensible and gave myself chance to get the energy back in my legs by slowing my pace and walking for a short while. All seemed to work as I managed to find my energy again and proceed to get on with the run (much in the same way as I had done on Wednesday evening).
I have to learn though that whatever I do that may seem like I am stopping, stalling or bailing out of the run is natural and entirely up to me… I should not beat myself up about my running as any running is 100% better than nothing which is where I was not so long ago.
I keep worrying about keeping up with my friends when I run the MoRunning 10K in November but I have to remind myself that as Enda told me It's not a race… And sure it's not. I simply want to be able to keep up with him (not sure I'll manage to keep up with Janice or Endas mate as they are both super fit – although that is not to say Enda isn’t (back pedals there!)).
I did enjoy the different elements of the route this morning and they do make you think on your feet. I have gotten comfortable with the routes I have devised around New Braiswick Park and that's ok for plodding along but there's no challenge in those runs.
I was considering meeting Enda for a run around Greenwich Park in advance of the 10K in November so that I get to know the terrain and the course. Half of me wants to do this and the other half thinks there's no need…
As I appear to be running further I am going to start breaking my runs out of the Park where we live and go further. As you can see from the sat nav shots of my run we are spoilt with plenty of open countryside and roads to run along.
I also want to get my feet onto the Tarmac in London as I have the City and the Thames on my doorstep. I walked from the office to Gabriel's Wharf, across Waterloo Bridge and back up the Embankment yesterday and I am sure this would make for a great run during my lunch breaks. (I may even try to convince Paul to tag along with me for company).
I've also promised myself I will get to the Covent Garden Nike Run Club as that will give me some experience of running in a group – something I have not experienced yet.
Of course all of this will have to wait until we return from our holiday. I can squeeze in a run in Colchester and a couple in Plymouth but I am not sure about Cyprus. It's going to be very warm and I have not run in those conditions before but I am taking my kit so I can make a call when I arrive. There is a gym at the hotel so I could always squeeze in a run or two on the dreadmill 🙂
This is therefore possibly my last post re running before we jet off tomorrow but I have written a few smaller posts which will be scheduled to appear whilst I am away. I also have wi-fi in the hotel and can use my data package in Cyprus thanks to Vodafone passport so I won't entirely rule out blogging whilst on holiday!
So that's me for now, why not make my holiday start with a great boost and sponsor me for my first 10K?
Fastest song of this run was Don't Stop (Colour On the Walls) by Foster the People 🙂
Keith Tomlinson Photography 