The running tenner

This ten pound note has been with me on nearly every run. It followed the loss of its predecessor, the five pound note that flew from my miniscule runner’s back pocket whilst I fumbled for my door keys. I failed to notice it was missing until it had long since blown across the neighbourhood (so occupied was I with stretching and gulping down post-run chocolate milk and bananas). I now grasp the ten pound note tightly in my fist as I unlock my front door. I can’t afford to be throwing money away with each run I undertake….and I confess it has come to mean more than just a bit of paper with monetary value.

Instead of being the safety net, the comfort that if I ran too far away from home by mistake, that I would still be able to get back, it has become a lucky charm of sorts. Somewhat ridiculously, I have started to hope that I won’t be overcome by overwhelming thirst or injury, not because of the pain or discomfort it would bring me, but because it would mean I would have to part with my lucky ten pound note (and possibly continue with so many coins in change that the jangling accompliment would render any further running annoyingly noisy).

Now, if I had that ten pound note in my pocket yesterday, when I was negotiating the stairs with the cat in the unusually huge travel box balanced in my arms, perhaps I would not have tripped down the last three stairs and landed in a twisted heap with my foot bent back underneath me. I cursed the cat for leaping around in the box, shouted at the stairs for being so narrow and grumbled at the rules that make it necessary to return the cat to the vet so frequently in order to get her pills.

Honestly, I was planning a 7 mile run this weekend until that happened. It would have been the longest run since I did the half marathon at the beginning of March. I’m not sure it is a good idea now. My ankle is sore. If I set off too far, I might need to use the tenner to get back. Too risky.

The biggest mistake

Spring eye candy

I read that one of the biggest mistakes for new runnners is to run at one pace. But trying to master run 6 minutes, walk 1 minute, has put me off running. It is so bloomin’ hard, and I feel rubbish about it.

So is it really such a big mistake to keep at the pace I like and enjoy? What’s the worst that could happen? I don’t break a world record? Surely there are worse mistakes….like using the wrong shoes, or forgetting to stretch, or running across the road without checking for cars? I think I can relax about being accosted by the running police – “Madam, step aside please. We have it on good authority that you are breaking running regulations by not pushing yourself hard enough.”

So today, I headed out for a run 4 minutes, walk 1 minute. And what happened? I had the fastest average pace in ages (according to my running app), faster than my attempts to run 6 / walk 1. I was surprised at the result. Happily surprised. It gives me all the ammunition I need to continue making the beginner’s mistake.

The sun shone, the skies were blue, strangers said hello, pedestrians moved out of the way, I tackled hills, the blossom tumbled from the trees scattering across the road in front of me, trees are sprouting leaves…..

Oh, I love spring. Especially at 4 mins / 1 min.

Yeah, yeah, yeah!

When it comes to running – I like it simple. My motto is minimal gear = minimal hassle.  Music means more button pressing and earphones to contend with, so I don’t do it. But inspired by MaybeMarathoner‘s huge effort at organising a complete playlist to fit every stage of her marathon, I thought I would give it a go.

Not me!

The faffing about began immediately when I needed to change the rubber covers on the ear buds so they would actually fit in my ear (the standard ones could have been used as stoppers in vats of beer). Then I realised the phone would not fit in my arm band with the wire attached. As I searched around for scissors to fashion a redesign I could feel my warm up cooling down. I was really hoping this was going to be worth it. I stabbed a new hole for the wire.

Finally I set off, already adding a minute of ambling to my tracking time as I wrestled with the phone to force it into the arm band. Fair enough, “Papa was a rolling stone” was a great start and I bounced off a little faster than usual. It was strange not to hear the sounds of people, cars, voices, trees rustling in the wind. I didn’t focus on my breathing. My thoughts were carried off by the lyrics rather than the freestyling thought acrobatics that usually accompany my running. So I felt as if I was running faster, but my head was going slower. I soon paid for the faster running, as my walk sections ended up eeking out longer than they should.  All part of the music/running experiment.

Morford Street loomed (I would have attached a photo but managing the music, running app and photographs simultaneously would have been a miracle). It is the hill that always makes me wonder if I should stop/start my running app to measure the gradient (really geeky I know). I NEVER run up Morford Street, but I knew what song was playing and I knew what lyrics I was about to hear….”And do I love you, my oh my, yeah river deep, mountain high”. The timing was great and I gave it a bit extra – made it about a third of the way up before walking and I sang out loud for the “baby, baby, baby” bit. Well, I mouthed it – I couldn’t actually breathe, so real singing was out of the question. I realised too late that someone was sitting in the parked van witnessing my Tina Turner moment.

Did I like it? The music and the running? To blot out the fact I was running, music was effective, and I may have run faster in  parts, plus I could actually hear what my running app blurted out to me every mile. However, the thunderous rumble made by the moving headphone wires (am I supposed to do something with them to stop this noise) was distracting,  I lost control of my breathing and I missed tuning in to the sound of life around me. 

Perhaps I need a different play list, or occasional sounds of the ice cream van, birds tweeting and random spoken words squeezed between tracks?

(Photo credit: stockimages/FreeDigitalPhotos.net)