Tuesday, 26 July 2016

Why I run - variations

Me, I run because I’m a runner, and I’m a runner because I run. I run because I know what I am. I run because I’m a human – we evolved these springy legs and feet to run with. I run for the same reason cats snooze – it’s what we do. I run because I’m me, and running is a big part of what I do.

I run because I’ve never been happier than since I started running. With more encouragement to run as a teenager I’d have had a much healthier, happier time of it.

Now, 6 months into a bout of plantar fasciitis I don’t feel so much like a runner. In a good week I get to do 25-30km at a gentle pace. In a bad one I might get to walk 10km. I can feel the anxiety that dogged me through my teens and early adulthood returning. I can feel the confidence and independence and mental resilience lent me by the ability to run a marathon and more draining away.

I’m still a runner. Somewhere in my head, and my feet, and my heart and lungs, I’m still a runner.

A few more months…






(Cross posted from a comment I made here: https://pursuingthevoid.wordpress.com/2016/07/26/i-cant-run-today-day-2/)

Friday, 8 July 2016

Fell running is insane (but I still love it)

I have a new job. This is a very very exciting thing, and I'm bouncing about like a small child. I'll write about that elsewhere though. The important thing here is that it has an effect on my training.

Most of my training fits around work - I used to run at lunchtimes (not possible now unfortunately), but my main long intense run is (or was - I'm still on short commons because of the plantar fasciitis) on a midweek evening, homewards from work.

The new job is in Leeds, which is about 20 miles on the train. 20 miles is a nice doable distance once I get back to normal fitness, one or maybe two evenings a week or so, but there's very little ascent on the direct route. So I was thinking "OK, I can run on the towpath out to Shipley, do that at a brisk pace and I'll get a good workout in. THEN I can head up onto the moors for the rest of the journey".

This is obviously gruelling and stupid. I'm really looking forward to it.