DCM Week 12: 6.5km Run Part 1

Today was hot.  It was my own fault as I couldn't drag my ass out of the bed so it was 9am before I was ready to hit the road.  Out the door, turn on my Garmin and low battery shouts back at me.  I'm wondering if my Garmin is dying. It doesn't seem to be able to hold a charge past a day.  Back into the house and I put the watch on charge for 30 minutes hoping it would be enough to cover the 6.5km I intended to run today.

I had bought a new pair of Ray Ban sunglasses yesterday for normal wear but hoped they would be ok for running too and I aimed to try them out today.  30 minutes later I began the walk to the track.  At 9.56am I began my run.  Did I say that it was hot?  I know running in this heat will benefit me in the end but it was hot, hot, hot.  Well done to those who go out in this weather on a regular basis.  In Ireland this is not something we have to worry about much.

7.54km done today including warm up and cool down.  A nice run out.  The sunglasses were fantastic and didn't move at all.  I forgot I was wearing them most of the time.  Delighted with my purchase now, I was worried yesterday as it was a lot of money...

A nice rest now and off to the beach in the evening.  Gotta love holidays.

Last Stretch

Long day in work today and I wasn't sure if I would get out for a run.  I was hoping to get in three short runs before Sunday's race.  I got home starving and had some food and then lounged around for about two hours until finally I left the house. 

I don't like running so close after eating and I needed food, but also needed the run.  I did a bit of gardening on Sunday and my legs have been sore since so I needed to get out and stretch.  I guess gardening uses different muscles than running.

A nice 5km stretch in the cold and I was back home to begin the packing for Lisbon.

Bedtime Reading

Since I've started blogging about my running I find I'm reading books less at night.  The reason being is the time I would normally spend reading books I now find myself reading running blogs.  There are some great blogs out their full of information, tips and real motivation.

The last book I read was on my holidays at Christmas and is the reason I developed an injury.  It wasn't my fault running through a searing pain while my knee screamed no more, oh no I'm not to blame it was the book I read. The book was "Once a Runner" by John L. Parker Jr.

 (Image from amazon.co.uk)

This book was such an easy read, I flew through it cover to cover.  It helped me reengage with my running that had stopped after the half-marathon in September.  I had been so happy when I finished the half-marathon that I just stopped running for a few months.  I read the book and felt, once again the need to run.  In my wisdom I decided I was still as fit as I was three months earlier and felt I could push myself hard to make up for lost time.  Unfortunately it doesn't work that way.  Three hard runs in three days saw me do damage, which now seems to be on the mend.  As it is on the mend I can look on the bright side, which is the valuable lesson that I learned and I hope I remember.  Listen to my body when I run.  If it is fine and feeling good an extra kilometre or two is nice.  If it is tired and sore be careful and if there is pain that doesn't feel right slow down and stop if necessary, there is no point in injuring yourself because a good day will be just around the corner.