Back in motion

6.7km - 28:07

Happy to get back into it. Was giving the knee a rest as well as having no real motivation for running. I think I just needed a break really...

cycling everyday now between work & a course I'm doing during the week, so I'm quite fit on the bike now - sometimes have to commute from the course to work (as I work some evenings too) also so that's 4 cycles per day in some cases.

Was tough last week but I'm getting used to it. I had a night off tonight, so I decided to get a run in, I felt it was time for it. I felt really good on the way back from work on the bike last night & felt that the run would take things up a notch.

so yeah, 3:10 on 1st time check, & then got faster from there, 6:02 where I'm normally 6 mins & 7:18 at mile 1 (once across the road) was 11:52 at Joyces so already an improvement from where I left off about a month ago (12;15 would be a usual time at this point although the goal is normally to be under 12 mins)

then 13:15 at the turn & 18:52 (all the way up to this point the run felt effortless & I was very aware of how slow I was actually moving (even though overall I was going sub 7min/mile pace) - once again a good sign) at the roundabout - back to where I was in December at that rate - but at that point I was beginning to suffer, "big time" (not really, just a little out of breath - I knew I really wasn't tired, the body was just a bit shocked/stressed) - total lack of conditioning on my part beyond the 5-6km mark really - I could do with a few 10kms in the next few weeks to rectify this... throw an 8 miler in there in early May to soften my cough too.

21:55 at the hill & 24:36 at the top before descending onto Kellaghers petrol station. then could've easily gone in under 27:30 if I pushed it but I was well & truly gassed so tried to get in under 28 which I could've done but I did the sensible thing (I don't have a race coming up so fuck it) & pulled up & then slow jogged it in (once past the halting site - so lost 25-30 secs easily).

Was absolutely shattered at the end - I wasn't really I just hadn't done that intensity for about 5 weeks so the body protested, the usual protective mechanism we all have, the body tries everything to conserve energy/takes the path of least resistance for survival/longevity purposes - live to fight another day type thing...

This always happens when you havn't ran in a while, just goes to show that there really is no comparison than a good run. It's just such a tough sport. It always humbles me.

what I'm doing currently is great. might try & get a second run in each week but I'll stick with 1 run for now as I am currently exceptionally busy. It would be grand if I had a car, it's just that I have no choice but to bike it everywhere, which I honestly don't mind as it's marvelous for fitness & the weather has been so kind in recent weeks -have only gotten wet twice in the last 3 weeks (& I cycle multiple times everyday now like I say, so that's amazing really, given the fact that we're on the west coast!).

I could certainly run again friday, as I have the time, but I might leave it - don't wanna overdo it...

felt a little bit of a sore throat coming on afterwards but it went away about an hour or so later, another reason why I'm glad I didn't max out at the end or I could've increased the risk of developing a head cold.

Great to be back running - always refreshing, but didn't feel like I was gone anywhere at all! happy days. ^& of course no knee problems so that's great. Mind you, on my time off, I've had various knee discomforts anyway, so maybe I have dodgy knees to begin with - I'll perhaps never know, all I know is that the cycling is phenomenal - everyone should do it regularly, & it's so easy, once you've got a good bike & decent gears to get you up those hills on days when you're not feeling 100% - which is quite often. Cycling gets easier, master your commute to the point where you arrive not tired at all then add extra distance into the ride for the craic & build from there with an extended commute on the way home & a long sunday cruise (50-60k for endurance - & even that's quite short when you get used to it...)

it's April & the fine weather is upon us - It's gonna be another good year.