Happily Ever After
Life in The Rural Retreat with a beautiful wife, three cats, garden wildlife, a camera, a computer – and increasing amounts about running
Earlier posts can be found on Adventures of a Lone Bass Player, where this blog began life. Recent entries can be found here.
The Power Of Music
by Russell Turner - 16:52 on 30 October 2017
Today was a milestone, of sorts: four weeks since I learned of my place in April’s London Marathon and three weeks since I began the couch to 5k programme to help get me to the starting line. This morning I completed the first half of the schedule, braving almost sub-zero temperatures (Garmin informed me it was 2.8ºC) and a brief flurry of light hail to run four sets of five minutes, with three-minute walk breaks, ending with a six-minute run to get me past the 5k finishing post for the third time. Progress looks good.
Despite the forbidding temperature I stuck to shorts – I’m not yet brave enough to venture out in running tights. Anyway, the mantra of Paul, husband of Cathy the Runner, is “Be bold, start cold”, and I’m happy to accept advice from The People Who Know. A brisk walk to my start point proved him right, although I might have felt differently if the wind had been howling around exposed legs. Doubtless that time will come.
I also put into action a tip picked up from Matchgirl, who admits to singing along to her iPod during runs (something she’ll never do inside The Rural Retreat). I’ll be digital music-free on runs for the foreseeable future, through choice, but humming along to Colonel Bogey, The Dambusters, 633 Squadron and, for some variety, Seven Nation Army helped keep a steady pace and controlled breathing.
I’ll know my pace has picked up when I can trot along to punk and thrash metal, although that’s a long way off. If ever.
Add your comment
© Russell Turner 2008-2024