After 30min of pondering how to ride to the park and then run around it, without getting my gear nicked and without carrying 5+ kilos of crap on my back..

I gave up. It’s impossible. I decided to throw everything in my bag, ride there and deal with it once I arrived.

Rode slowly towards Richmond, noticing stuff I just don’t see travelling on bus 65, like the Steam Museum with its huge tower out front. I was riding slowly as a test to see if I could arrive at work without being drenched in sweat.

I could. What’s more, I could do it in only 25 minutes! Let’s recap: 1 hour on the train, 30-40 minutes on the bus and 25 minutes riding S-L-O-W-L-Y by bike. DAMN THEM for not having showers! So, I COULD ride to work, but that whole ‘holding back to stay dry’ and putting good clothes on sweaty body thing. Blah! New job!

I’d forgotten my A-Z so I couldn’t find the gate I was after. It started to rain.

Attempting to keep the weight down in my bag, in case I had to run with it on, I was only wearing running shorts and a t-shirt. Was I cold? Hell yes! Time to bail. Running the park can wait.

I’m not sure how to get around the lack of gear storage space and I hate carrying stuff. If I run when the Serpentine people run I might be able to leave stuff in someone’s car? Worst case – I catch the bus in running kit.

On the way back I found a cute little bunny rabbit. What I mean to say is: I found a roadie to chase down mwahahahaa! This dude looked kinda serious, ie. he was riding fairly hard, he wasn’t wearing a scarf, a huge jacket, jeans or an overcoat and he wasn’t riding a 50yo shitter, an mtb (threw that one in for the a.b peeps ;)), a hybrid (ooh stop me!), a folder or anything embarassing like a GT fitted with mudguards. I chased and “holy crap” I could actually keep up!

Usually with time off the bike my legs seize up and I run out of air trying to ride hard. Not this time. I eventually lost him at a red light – but that was only due to him taking what I thought were silly risks through the traffic to get green. I might not win any races but it’s good to know that I can still ride.

Oh, I can still trackstand too. Good thing riding a bike is just like, um, err, riding a bike? 😉

Feeling in my hands returned quickly thanks to the super-heated nature of this house. I wasn’t going to run (I thought “maybe later”) but it didn’t take long before I felt the urge.. I was warmed up, after all..

Out into the rain, somewhat annoyed about getting my shoes wet, I shuffled off. It might be petty but I’m no longer in the position to buy expensive kit so I can’t afford to have these ones ruined. “I’ve got FIVE kids to feed!” or at least bond and rent to pay.

Note to self: Get arse into gear and get a better job!

I’m also not in a position to buy warm cycling gear – I should’ve kept the jacket from Courier Systems! It was so much easier in Melbourne – even in winter I could usually get away with just a jersey, knicks and warmers. I badly need a funky riding jacket and some long-arm and long-leg options. Short-sleeve summer kit doesn’t cut it.

Anyway, run was normal EARL loop. Clock stopped at 39:18 which included some walking. Yes, walking, shuddup! My legs felt trashed. When I woke up (thanks for the call Mum but my alarm beat you ;)) I could still feel the after-effects of Friday’s run so I expected as much. Lactic acid buildup in my shins was pretty bad (guess there is muscle there) and my calf muscles were copping quite some burn too. I went out a little bit pumped up but quickly slowed to a trot and then a walk. Wait for the burn to subside and then run again, repeat thrice. Quite sore.

In other news: “Lucky” the cat has returned safe and well to its home.

Okay, not backwards, like ‘tripping over because I can’t see where I’m going’ backwards but ‘opposite direction to normal’ backwards. Enough backwards?

I had an awesome run (never though I’d say that!). The first half was slowed due to running towards car headlights and dodging Friday-night shoppers through Ealing but the second half was ‘motivated’ and went quite quickly (for me).

I don’t know why but I suspect it has something to do with my good frame of mind (thinking of silly sh1t to run in) or the hills shifting positions 😉

I’m already thinking about making the London 10k a bit of a joke run (yes, yes, of course it’s just so I get on TV!) and then doing another 10k ‘seriously’ to get a better time. Hell, if I can crack an hour without cracking a knee/hip/ankle I’ll be happy!

EARL Reversed: 35:35 (automatic PB being the 1st time I’ve run this way :D)

The annual British 10k London Run has quickly grown to become the third most significant mass participation road race in the UK. It is staged on the world’s greatest route, which no other road race over any distance can match. The race route passes many of London’s most famous historic landmarks, and is run on some of the most famous street names in the world! Click Here for more information. from: www.thebritish10klondon.co.uk

Enough of this whiny bullsh1t from yours-truly, I’m over it!

I’m going to make sure I hurt and hurt lots, from now, until July 2nd!

10k baby, 10k!

(see what happens when you take away a dude’s bikes?)

It was horrible – mentally and physically. Didn’t feel normal until 3/4’s of the way around the loop. Slowest time yet of 44:01.

This was made extra fscked because I lost valuable sleep to do it and set myself up for a day best-forgotten.

The silver lining on all this? It was the last straw. I did some reading and I’m going to see a doctor about my possible depression. Just as soon as I work out this fscking health system. Lucky me.

Update

Apparently my symptoms are more like grief, not depression. It gets better and better doesn’t it!?

It was raining when I left work, last night, but there was no question about heading out for a run. It had to be done.

The rain had stopped before I passed the front gate to do a little (200m) warmup jog, though it remained quite damp underfoot.

Hung a U-ey and then it was into EARL (EAling Run Loop) proper.

Starting a little quick I was shocked and horrified (okay, maybe not) to see three women running towards me (this needs to happen more often!), near Northfields Tube. This was about the same number of people I’d seen running my loop every other time I’d done it – in total. Very Odd. Yes, Odd with a capital ‘O’.

Into “ooh, too fast, now I have a stitch” mode on the slight undulations of Pope’s Lane. I slowed down, telling myself “it’s not a race” and I should “ease back into this silly activity”. Then I spotted another two runners heading towards me. I’m thinking “this is the wettest day I’ve been running on and there’s more people running than ever, what the hell?!”.

It wasn’t until I spotted the third pair and dismissed the notion of a gym or club run that I realised..

These were all suckers, just like me, guilty of over-indulging during the festive season!

Ha! Guilt strikes!

This amused me and I continued, checking the time: “Hmm.. doesn’t look too bad.. maybe I can beat my PB?”

I upped the pace a fair way out, knowing that I’d still run faster in town because “people are watching!”. Through the centre of Ealing was good fun. I like being the lone runner, passing all the diners, commuters and shoppers. It makes me feel a little bit superior actually, like I have a higher purpose.

While they wander home in a post-spreadsheet daze or gurgle down wine I am focused on my breathing, where my feet should land and which direction I need to head to avoid peds and maintain my momentum. All the pain is gone now. I’m in control. Very “yoga”, very “zen”. Where’s Mr. Miyagi?

Clock stops at: 36:57.

I almost started a second lap but didn’t want to push it. What were those three rules for newbs?

Run slower than you think you should.

Run shorter distance than you think you should.

Run more often than you think you should.

The time might not have been a PB but was still pretty good considering the weeks of punishment I’d just dished out on my body. I decided not to get fussy and take off the 15 seconds I lost waiting for traffic. I’ll need that later, when getting faster becomes much harder! 🙂

The good thing about setting a quick time on the year’s first run? My yearly-average pace looks much quicker than it should! 😀