Date: Saturday, April 11, 2020
Distance: 8 miles
Listened to: Jack Johnson playlist (he’s basically music’s answer to yoga)
Never have I been more thankful to be able to run than I am now. With coronavirus spreading across the world, and the UK on lockdown, that once-a-day exercise allowance has become a very precious opportunity.
As a runner (I’ve said it twice now), I can generally go further in the same amount of time as people who are walking. This means I can go in search of natural beauty, peace and quiet, and truly lovely views. Lockdown has made me try out routes I have not run before. It has made me keep going up hills because I know what awaits me at the top. It has made me appreciate my surroundings: the spring flowers, the green leaves, the lambs and calves, the open skies, signs I have not found funny before, and so much more. I did appreciate them before but they mean so much more at this time and running has given me more regular access to them.
My new favourite takes me to the little village of Goveton and a footpath across the top of a field that gives me a gorgeous vista across the valley down towards Kingsbridge. It also means I get to run down from the top!
Now that I am working from home all the time, I thought I would set myself a little challenge. I am going to try to run the equivalent of a marathon every week while we are locked down. The first two weeks were empowering and made me feel free. This week was tough.
It started positively enough with eight miles on Monday evening. Wednesday’s run was a different story. It was so tough and my body and mind were definitely done by three miles. I was breathing hard, my legs were unbearably heavy and my ankle was hurting. It was the same again on Good Friday but I walked the hills and took multiple stops in the sun to battle on to 7.5 miles. I felt defeated and bemoaned the fact to my husband John.
He must be sick of my running moans and giving me advice that I seemingly ignore. I did listen however. This is what he said (in an abridged, non-educated form). My legs are heavy because I have trained hard. Two 26.2-mile weeks is a lot for me. He told me to enjoy the heavy legs as evidence of my hard work. He suggested a week of less miles so I can feel the benefit on my next long run. He told me to test the ankle and not to push it. I had a tiny fracture in that area when I was going through another stressful situation, so I did not wish for a repeat scenario.
As it happens, we both got up yesterday morning to run out to meet our friend Cath who was testing out an injured ankle after several weeks of rehab. My plan was to do a flat three-miler. I sent John ahead when I got to the first of the hills that defeated me earlier in the week. This hill is often an indicator of how a run will go for me. If I get up it, then I will do 90% of the hills for that run. If I don’t? Well, I am just grumpy and very hard on myself.
Once John had glided up the hill ahead of me and I had fired up Jack Johnson on my phone, I started my ascent. I made it to the top, so I thought I would see how far I could go. The Goveton view was calling me! (See below)
I pushed on to complete my 26.2 miles for the week and was chuffed. My runner’s high always comes after my runs and this one was particularly satisfying as I did not think I would make the distance this week.
As I turned my legs over, I thought back to John’s words. Although my legs were tired, I slowed down so I could keep going and I stopped to enjoy the views and take photos. I appreciated the run for what it was, what I had achieved and the opportunity to be outside in such beautiful surroundings.
I also contemplated my ankle. It was fine really. It hurt a bit when I got up on my toes, so I did not get up on my toes so much! I had been using those toes to help me run for longer on hills in the past few weeks, so it would make sense that they were feeling the strain. The last time I remember feeling pain here was when my Dad’s dementia had begun to ramp up, John was away with work and I was driving lots of miles to see friends with the girls. It felt like my ankle was where my stress was giving me a sharp poke.
Most of us will be feeling some stress at the moment. You may be missing family or friends, worrying about money, struggling to fill your days with something meaningful, anxious about getting to the shops, etc. Let’s face it, coronavirus is not fun! I was using running to make my stress go away and it definitely helps. However, when the high (or moan) is over, the reality of coronavirus is still there. It reminds me of the run I did after Dad’s funeral. I wanted the run to fix my grief. It couldn’t, of course. No run can bring back a beloved father, but it can help you (well, me at least) cope. I just need to make sure I do not rely on it to fix everything otherwise the pressure on the run becomes too much.
In other news:
- I ran my longest ever run at the start of the coronavirus crisis. I whipped out a 14-miler on Mother’s Day just to stick two fingers up (sorry Mum) at the situation and to do something positive amid tough times.
- I ensure I run as far away from people as possible, so my routes tend to snake to and fro across roads to make sure everyone has the space they need.
- I have also seen people I love and like on my runs…and people I do not know at all. I give them a big wave and a smile. The world needs more waves and smiles right now.
#runningfordad #letsbeatcoronavirus #localadventures
Running for Dad 