A long tunnel, a very long tunnel, I have been jogging down. Every outing resulting in a slower and slower pace. Ok, I was having a go, it was better to be trying than to be doing nothing. But, it is so demoralising to seem to be making no progress what so ever. I know there are many factors involved and for me my Meniere's always seems to rear its ugly head when I am just getting into the swing of things. A two or three week break and there I am, right back at the beginning.
I even braved a wet and muddy park run ignoring my previous evening's high temperature attempting to beat this decline in performance. Soaking feet and working in a bug laden environment and there I was with a hacking cough and stinking cold. No running and back to square one. Do not pass go, do not collect £200.
Half term, come on let's get back on track. A 5 km run with Donna and suddenly my pace was better than it had been in weeks. I had to walk some of it, Donna didn't, seeing her get away from me kept me going. There was no way I was going to catch her but I was going to keep going.
The very next day I was back out there, almost the same route but I made it a little longer. No walking, slightly slower pace but I ran the whole way. I was so happy. Had I got my mojo back? Three days followed that were full to the brim with socialising, eating, drinking and generally sitting down and not moving much.
So, this morning, with some trepidation I set out on the same route intending to make it even longer and not allowing my head to think for one second about walking. Whilst pounding the pavements I was mentally composing my blog, I was convinced it would be doom and gloom, woe is me. I felt slow, I kept plodding on, I made it all the way out to East Reach, figure of eighting the various roads and avenues. I saw quite a few runners, all striding out and making quick progress, I continued to plod. I made it up the hills. I was almost back to my car when I decided to add the final loop, I could still breathe, my lower back sore but my legs were still moving. I turned away from my car and added another trip down Stoke Road, back uphill, well, slight incline, on, on, on, turned the corner and increased my speed! A very strong tail wind helping me enormously but I was determined to see a rise on my line graph instead of the usual dip, dip, dip. Last turn, another up, I can see my car, keep going, I did it!
7.5 km with an average pace of 7:04, hallelujah, even better than my outing with Donna.
Julie Booth, I have that smug smile on my face!
