Ouch. Can you say pain?
I've been ill for 5 weeks. Today was the first day that I managed to get myself to go for a run, and I felt up to it, really I did. I got home about an hour ago, and after sitting on the stairs for about 5 minutes, I walked into the room, opened the drawer and took out the clothes, half fearing that some moths might have found their way into my running gear.
I put them on and ventured downstairs to find my running shoes. I found them, still without laces or inner-soles, left like that after I washed them 5 weeks ago after our soggy run in the Worthington 5 Mile. I found the inner-sole, and pushed Andy to find my laces. He found them in the living room. I laced up my shoes, wondering why the holes were so small and then tied my shoes tightly.
Outside I waited a little while. My NavMan isn't used to being used anymore. A minute later it beeped - the signal was received and I was on my way. The first five minutes went okay. Then my breath started feeling heavy. My feet automatically fell in front of one another.
A lady pushing her bike was walking up the hill, facing me. She smiled at me with a smile that said 'You fool.' I nodded and carried on. I passed a man and his dog. His dog barked and ran after me for about 50m until his owner called him back. I found a turn in the footpath and headed up the hill again. I saw another man and his dog. Everyone owns a dog but me!
At the top of the hill I got the crazy idea to turn around and go down it. Once again I found another dog and his owner. The owner was bopping his head to the beat of the iPod that occupied his ears. He smiled and waved. I grunted and waved. 5 minutes was left before my pain could end. Only 5 minutes.
I ran home the way I went, but no longer did it feel like it came automatically. I had to work for my distance.
23 minutes 22 seconds after I started I stopped. 4.01km had been run. The jello that is my legs wobbled up the hill to our house. I walked straight through the house, out the back and collapsed at the back of the house, wanting to stretch. Andy handed me an understanding bottle of Lucozade Sport.
I'm running again!
Leave a comment