Jog Blog - Starting Over
Thursday October 5, 2006 in |
My training has started for the Bath Half Marathon next year.
“Isn’t that a bit previous?” I hear you cry (well, probably not, unless you’re Ray Winstone or Bob Hoskins).
“Why so early?” I am more likely to hear you enquire.
Yes I am early, but I have my reasons.
Reason one is that I’m not going to fall into the ‘very little training to conceivably run a half marathon in an acceptable time’ trap again. I’m going to work up to it properly this time. Long, slow runs. Taking it nice and gently.
Reason two is that winter is nearly here, so I’m trying to fit in as many temperate evenings as I can before the running becomes painful. The pain of running in the cold, wet and dark. A torturous endurance that only other runners can fully understand.
Reason three is that I can now run comfortably with an iPod without strangling myself with the earphones. It makes a great difference. The music and the non-strangulation. Recently I’ve been running along to Snow Patrol, and for me the mood and tempo of Eyes Open is perfect for a 45 minute jog.
Considering my three reasons above, they all failed to some extent on my last jaunt around Bristol’s Clifton Downs. The sunny, breezy evening gave way to a dark, stormy downpour and the wintry torture kicked in earlier than planned. I feared for the iPod as the rain soaked through and sprinted back to the car as fast as possible, spoiling my gentle run as Snow Patrol launched into one of their noisier and more driving numbers.
Note to self: consult local weather forecast.