Month: Jun 2023

Things I Learnt at Last Friday’s Race

  • My hip/groin strain is still not right – 5k running and my hip goes no.
  • Swimming is easier.
  • I am not quite as unfit as I thought I was considering time off running (again).
  • Curry is NOT an ideal race fuel, even korma. At one point I felt a bit sick from pushing so hard – the thought of being sick after curry for tea wasn’t great.
  • Runners are chatty pre-race. Went on my own, found people to talk to. Even spotted people I knew at the end and had a good catch up.
  • But racing when friends are racing is a bit more enjoyable overall.
  • Running 10k in nearly new, no drop trainers wasn’t my best idea really. More practice needed. Calves feeling it.
  • Socks that worked great in my Speedcross, do not work in my new Altras. I do have a great pair that do work with the altras though.
  • Club run/organised 10k races are some of the best races.
  • That particular trail race is one of my favourites.
  • Week day evening races in summer free up the weekend!
  • Running is less faffy than cycling but still not as fun (to be honest – this is NOT something I learnt last night – more it was reinforced).
  • I like NOT getting a t-shirt at the end – medal is a bit take or leave but nice momento.
  • Races never have enough toilets.
  • Cycling is more fun.

So even after many years of running/races, there is always something to learn!

After a long respite….

About a week ago I got a notification that my hosting and web domain needed renewing – which has, it part, prompted me to write again. I have been reflecting.

I’ve wanted to write but equally not wanted to write as well but life has a funny way of getting in the way of things.

I’ve already mentioned it to a few friends, but in all honest, I suspect I have spent the last 18 months with a mild, low level kind of depression. Just going through the motions, knowing I should be looking forward to something and being excited while at the same time not actually feeling anything, almost flatlining emotionally through life. It’s taken me a long time to actually realise and properly notice it too and it’s only looking back, and the fact that I am feeling more excited about things that I know something was amiss.

I’m not going to compare it to the level of depression that I know some people have to deal with. It’s been a low lying, sitting in the background for me, that i suspect has been brought on partly from longer last impact of covid and shift of routine as a result and but from also working too hard and trying to do too much.

Anyway, coupled with a new job, and a determination NOT to over work myself – I have purposely not booked in lots of races, cut back on training for a bit and generally cut down on trying to write ‘to do’ lists I feel like I might be coming out the otherside. I’ve also done things I fancy, and not done things I don’t want to and refused point blank to feel guilty about it. I suspect I have been demanding too much of myself and trying to fit too much in.

I have spent the last two weekends away and this weekend just gone I actually felt a bit excited for – and I am actually genuinely starting to feel excite again about things. This bodes well.

I’m looking at races again – and with my Y11s going, and starting to find a routine with the new job -well. Things are looking much more rosy than they have for a while.

May normal(ish) service commence.