Every long distance runner I know is familiar with the phrase “good days, bad days”. Some days you go on a long run and everything works, you’re in harmony with everything and the miles seem to tick by almost effortlessly…and others…well…not so much…It could be one of, or a combination of, a million different things – there doesn’t seem to be any formula.
Saturday was my turn (again) for one of those challenging days. Everything was going well up until about 10 miles into a 17 mile run. Possibly the pace was a little fast at the outset, but with good company and a bit of banter, you hardly notice such things…
Fast forward to 10 miles on…my legs are getting a little tired and maybe my breathing isn’t what it should be and then I start thinking that I need to back off the pace a little to recover a bit. So I do that, but I know quite quickly that I have to walk a little, gather myself, and re-start.
I declined Siobhan’s offer to run with me at a slower pace – Thanks Siobhan, would love to have the company, I really appreciated the offer, but you don’t need to be listening to my negativity for the next 6 miles! J
I watch the others disappear around the next bend, knowing that for the remaining 6 miles I’ll be well and truly alone – “the lonleliness of the long distance runner” indeed! OK – so, on with the music and maybe I can find something inspiring that will get me running.
I always bring music with me for just these days. I find sometimes that, despite my allegedly strange taste in music, it’s easier to let the rhythm of the music drive my pace.
I carry on running after a short walk and soon find a pace to suit me, it’s a little slower than I was going previously ,but at least I’m going. At one point, on a long straight stretch of road, I catch a tantalising glimpse of bright orange shirts in the distance.
Soon enough the miles start dropping by, in through Spancil Hill, turn right, next left, up through Ballymacahill, Tulla Road, Clon Road, Station Road (car beeping like crazy – there’s Theresa Murphy on her way to the Hurley Hoey giving a big wave) and home. Quick look at my watch…our 16 mile run turns out to be 16.7 miles…you might need to re-measure some of Aiden’s routes Barry J
Like I said...we’ve all had these kinds of days…and worse. A wise person once said, “Sometimes a bad run can be a good run in the long run” – it’s all relative…
Ronan
Saturday was my turn (again) for one of those challenging days. Everything was going well up until about 10 miles into a 17 mile run. Possibly the pace was a little fast at the outset, but with good company and a bit of banter, you hardly notice such things…
Fast forward to 10 miles on…my legs are getting a little tired and maybe my breathing isn’t what it should be and then I start thinking that I need to back off the pace a little to recover a bit. So I do that, but I know quite quickly that I have to walk a little, gather myself, and re-start.
I declined Siobhan’s offer to run with me at a slower pace – Thanks Siobhan, would love to have the company, I really appreciated the offer, but you don’t need to be listening to my negativity for the next 6 miles! J
I watch the others disappear around the next bend, knowing that for the remaining 6 miles I’ll be well and truly alone – “the lonleliness of the long distance runner” indeed! OK – so, on with the music and maybe I can find something inspiring that will get me running.
I always bring music with me for just these days. I find sometimes that, despite my allegedly strange taste in music, it’s easier to let the rhythm of the music drive my pace.
I carry on running after a short walk and soon find a pace to suit me, it’s a little slower than I was going previously ,but at least I’m going. At one point, on a long straight stretch of road, I catch a tantalising glimpse of bright orange shirts in the distance.
Soon enough the miles start dropping by, in through Spancil Hill, turn right, next left, up through Ballymacahill, Tulla Road, Clon Road, Station Road (car beeping like crazy – there’s Theresa Murphy on her way to the Hurley Hoey giving a big wave) and home. Quick look at my watch…our 16 mile run turns out to be 16.7 miles…you might need to re-measure some of Aiden’s routes Barry J
Like I said...we’ve all had these kinds of days…and worse. A wise person once said, “Sometimes a bad run can be a good run in the long run” – it’s all relative…
Ronan