Easy Run

I'm trying to get back into running after a small break, so up I got Saturday morning and met a friend for a nice easy 5km run.  It was a cool, breezy morning and we set off at a slow and easy pace.  The first 3km was at a nice easy pace and then I picked up the speed for the last two kilometres, finishing at a sprint.  Nice outing.  Now to start building up the distance again.  It was good to be out.

Lazy Days

I haven't been very good lately with exercise, food and blogging, both reading and writing.  I took about 19 days off not so long ago.  I didn't run, I didn't blog and I ate badly, it was a nice break but towards the end I needed to get back on the road.  I'd like to put it down to the fact that my Achilles tendons were sore and I was resting them, but I could have ran.  Maybe I was tired but that wasn't really it either.  I guess I got lazy and didn't really want to run.  I needed a break.

It is amazing how a little break like that can set you back in your training.  My first run back was supposed to be a nice 6km run.  I felt after running 21km in my last run before my break that 6km would be doable.  Not so.  At 5.26km the old ITB issue struck again and I had to walk the last 750m back to the car.  I went home and took out the foam roller again and rolled out the legs.  The next run was better and I finished the nice 6km run at a very good pace.

Since then I've only completed two more runs a 5km and a 2.5km run.  The short one was because it was all I could squeeze in and rather that skip a run, as I would have before, I ran what I could and ran it fast.  I think the break has been good for me and I'm enjoying running again.  Time to set a new, flexible, plan for the next month or so.

Beautiful Day For a Run

The women's fit for life group went for a 12 mile run on Good Friday.  I wasn't free to go with them and as they had planned a 10km for Saturday morning I decided to go go my own way as I wanted to do at least 16km, but the aim was 18km.

The group normally meets at 9.30am but as I was going by myself today I gave myself the luxury of a lie in and began my run at 11am.  I decided to take it easy and bring my phone with me to take some photos.  After the first 1km I stopped at the local tennis club to stretch.  From there it was out to Oak Park.

Entrance to Oak Park

This arch in olden times was the entrance to the Oak Park house and estate of 700 acres of woodland and lakes.  The arch was also someone's house and as you pass under it you can see the door which was the entrance.

I kept running out the road and aimed to link to the route that I had been running the past few weeks with the hope that this add-on would give me enough to hit 18km.

Colours

I love the colours of the fields this time of year and it is great to be able to run with these views.  I reached the long mile and was feeling good.  There is a lovely downhill at the beginning of the long mile, but what goes down must go up...

The Long Mile

The rest of the run was nice and I did stop on the way back to the car to refill my water bottle as I had misjudged how much I would need and how far I was running.  When I got back to where the car was I was just over 2km short of a half marathon distance.  The block where my car was parked was a 2.4km loop so I kept going.  The speed workouts I've been doing are really starting to pay off and I finished the 21.1km strong, in 1.54.09, a new best and a really enjoyable run.  I did stop the watch twice for the initial stretch and when I refilled my bottle, but not for any photo taking so I'm really happy with the time.

My Garmin

Quick Workout

I didn't have much time to run today but I did have time for a quick 5km.  We are having beautiful weather in Carlow and I really want to get out and run in it as much as possible before the rain returns.   I'm going to get out tomorrow morning for, hopefully, a longer run.  Loving the weather.