22 – 28 June 2020 “13 Reasons Why.”

Why do I run? I’m not sure, but these might be some reasons why:

1. A fun activity than can be enjoyed just as much solo as with others (whether that be with one, a group, or 39,999 others!)

2. While it’s fun to run with others, it’s also great to race against them! Granted, it can be taken to negative extremes, but in moderation, it’s exhilarating.

3. The belonging within community, whether in clubs, parkrun or Strava. A community spanning the globe where you can have much in common with a stranger you give a simple “runner’s nod” to.

4. Getting to explore neighbourhoods and the local area. I tell ya, sometimes there’s nothing quite like getting lost on a run and using it as a new route!

5. The clarity of mind it brings. Yes, some concentration needs to be given to dodging cars, navigating routes, and minding the pace, but otherwise, it’s a great time for receiving inspiration and working out troublesome thoughts.

6. Weird that this only occurred to me as number six, but it’s a good form of exercise! Free, not dependent on time, gets you fitter each time. Unless you get in an accident. And it wears down your knees (so I’ve been told!) Other than that, awesome for getting healthy.

7. “What’s your PB?” is a question asked when newly meeting other runners, as typical as asking what their career is. But aside from mere bragging rights, there’s something inherently useful as striving for new PBs as one of the measures of progress.

8. The “Runner’s high,” that flood of endorphins which rushes through your system after – sometimes during – a run. Weird how something that wears you out can make you feel good!

9. From when humans are toddlers becoming bipeds to when they’re no longer able to walk, it’s an activity that can be enjoyed at any age, throughout a lifetime.

10. 3.1, 6.2, 13.1, 26.2, 50, 100. There’s something very human about the urge to seek out challenges, travelling great distances until they become commonplace.

11. Running can be done anywhere. Indoors (on a treadmill, or running a marathon around a coffee table), outdoors, in the garden, or at a gym. Heck, I think they’ve even done it in space.

12. A city guy born and bred, I love running amongst concrete. But it’s also great to experience the variety of trails, parks, reservoirs and countryside. Not limited to one environment, running is everywhere.

13. Food, glorious food! When I first started, I would pig through 10 donuts after a 5 miler. I’m a little more sensible now, but knowing I have some liberty to what – and how much – I can eat is liberating!

15 – 21 June 2020 “Farthers’ Day.”

This week seems to have been more about trying to avoid heavy downpours than trying to get decent mileage in! I failed spectacularly on Wednesday, when I’d set out right in the middle of a storm! My cap doing remarkably little to keep me dry (as well as my t-shirt) I wonder why I even bothered with it (t-shirt as well). Still, there’s something about running in the midst of lightning and thunder which makes you feel more hard-core. Well, more hard-core than usual, of course 😉 My other bugbear this week was my legs simply not co-operating. I’d have thought that the lack of races and serious distance might have energised my legs, but they’ve felt really drained and achy. So much so that I gave up on a training session within a minute of leaving out, and again two thirds of the way through an attempt the following day! Perhaps a real life example of “use it or lose it?” Conversely, I’m positive I could pull out a good 5k time now, I think I just need the right motivation.  I suppose that’s what it all boils down to; motivation. With a definitive answer on London Marathon still elusive, there’s little reason to dedicate four months of training to something that may not happen. Particularly as another four months would be required shortly after for an April marathon. Nevertheless, it’s great to just keep going for the fun of it, and to see so many others out there. 

8 – 14 June 2020 “The Independent.”

Gotta tell ya, I’m glad I run. Between the frustrations of lockdown (emanating from everybody else; me, I was practically doing the “Blame it on the boogie” dance when I was told to work from home), the 24-hour news cycle portraying doom, social media feeds venting us-vs-them mentalities, it’s great to just unwind in a way independent of everything going on.

That said, the abrupt change in weather has given me pause on occasion! As I prepared for a run on Tuesday, I glanced out the window to see a heavy downpour with strong winds. Nah, I thought, I’ll pass. A shower and change later, the weather suddenly changed for the better! Let that be a lesson; if you want to run, then run regardless.

My weekly mileage suffering of late, I pushed myself into a 13-miler on Sunday (in which I got lost three times!). It’s weird that I have to pretty much force myself into a run that a couple of months ago I would just do casually, but I guess that’s the combined effect of no concrete decisions yet made about the future of racing and my routine of a short lunchtime run rather than a runcommute. On the plus side, with the easing of social distancing, my club (as well as many others I imagine) has begun arranging small group runs which I may partake of in the near future.

Talking of my Sunday run, it was crazy to see how many runners were out there! I hadn’t kept count, but I’d estimate seeing about 20 runners during my 100-minute run – particularly in one park stretch which was pretty congested with us. I’m unsure if face coverings would become mandatory – for races or private runs – as currently required for riding on public transport, but it’s worth being mindful that they might trigger underlying ailments.

So, if like me you use running as a way of keeping sane, remember to keep safe. But hopefully, unlike me, you’re getting a lot of miles in!

1 – 7 June 2020 “Ebony and Ivory.”

Last week’s blog seemed to resonate with many of you, with a massive spike in viewings and positive comments from people across many hues. Whether you’re a new visitor or a long-time reader, thank you for returning! I would be remiss to do some sort sort of follow-up, so this week’s blog is in two parts; one as a sort of epilogue to last week, and the other as business as usual.

Jogging while black – part 2

Following conversations I’ve had with readers of last week’s blog, it dawned on me that there was an area of this battle I’d failed to acknowledge; the white allies who have actively fought racism rather than turning a blind eye. I can only speak for myself, but your efforts are seen and appreciated more than you may realise.

This has been a pretty powerful week, with demonstrations taking place across the world and media of all types expressing outrage over an unjust and systemically oppressive system (in case it needs to be said; no, I do not condone violence). It’s been encouraging to see church leadership, businesses and citizens raising their voices to call out racism for the evil it is, in spite of the minority of dissenters; not as a zeitgeist or fad, but simply with the mindset that enough is enough.

With such winds of change in the air, I’d like to think I’ve personally begun to see the first-fruits of this movement. On one of my runs this week through Sutton Coldfield – a relatively affluent, majority-white town – I had quite a few people give a smile or positive acknowledgement, in contrast with negativity in exact circumstances at any other time. It may be a minor thing to them which they might have forgotten about seconds later, but to me, suggests the potential to have faith in humanity.

Speed work makes the dream work

Heading out to my first speed session of the week (5 reps of a kilometre at 5k pace with 3 mins rest), I’d had to return home after just a mile for a visitor. And you know what it’s like when you get yourself psyched up for something but get interrupted; meh, maybe another day then.

However, since the route suggested by my coach was unfamiliar to me, I decided just to check it out afterwards and try it another day. What happened when I arrived? I saw my friend/nemesis-I’m-determined-to-beat, the first I’ve seen since lockdown began! As he was doing the speed session I decided to follow him to get a feel for the route; good job too, as I would have gone totally in the wrong direction! Then somehow, my reconnaissance turned into a full-out session!

Using him as a pacer for the first four reps, I immediately felt the impact of training with someone; the instinct to push harder and longer than if I was alone, ignoring pain and fatigue. Well, trying to, at least! For the final rep, I paced; potential for embarrassment, but thankfully I kept it reasonably on target.

My second speed session of the week was similar, 5 reps of 800m at faster-than-5k pace. Checking Google Maps for quiet roads away from the likely busy park, I found some perfectly-suited streets for it.

At least, it seemed fine until I saw a not-insignificant hill there! Although I tried to position myself in such a way to avoid the hill on each rep, I still ended up facing it a few times. Well, no pain no gain.

The final rep was nearly a disaster, with a sore leg muscle forcing a stop. A good example of how training with someone is a good thing; I would have just pushed through otherwise! After a couple of mins rest, I encouraged myself to persevere, finishing the rep.

However, I definitely felt it for the next few days. It always feels frustrating taking my jogs slower than normal, as though if it feels like a struggle doing it, then I shouldn’t bother. Nevertheless, it all counts; slow jogs are as important as fast sprints.

And even better, I can actually take days off now that my run streak days have ended; man, it feels good to have a rest!