Virgin Run

Last night, I decided to get back into it.... I charged my iPod, got my dusty AdiStars out and decided to go for a run with sis who recently started to get into running in the last half a year or so.

I had mixed feelings. Excited cos I could vaguely remember really enjoying my solitude runs round the estate. Worried cos I hadn’t run properly since last year (and my tortoise-paced running during the 1st and 2nd trimesters of my pregnancy doesn’t count!)

We planned a 5km run around Old Holland Rd. It was pretty hilly and probably not a great place for my “Virgin Run”! The boys were joining us too… and so we all set off.

.............. Elaine sped on ahead.

.............. Matt (10yrs) was in consistent. He would be fast on the flats then fall back on the hills, so he was constantly oscillating in front and behind me – but in the end finished way ahead.

.............. Nic (11yrs) was partly walking, partly jogging, partly pretending to be messing about with his laces…. (comon’ Nic!)

Within the first 5 minutes, I was feeling AWFUL. I had to focus really hard to even get to the 2.5km turnaround point. All kinds of thoughts were going through my mind - ….how am I going to be able to finish the StandChart half marathon that I foolishly signed up for?..... Was it ever this painful before?.... Maybe I don’t want to run anymore (long term)….. One would have thought I was running a marathon the way I was getting all mentally beaten down!

Anyway I finally shuffled through the entire 5km in about 37 – 38 min. Honestly,…. I felt far worse than I did running a 5.6min/km pace for 10km. I felt like throwing up, I had a dull ache on the left side of my back, I also had a weird achy feeling on the surface of my tummy (this one was a weird feeling which I can’t describe and have never felt before) Strangely, my leg muscles did not hurt or anything - even the next day.

Luckily I had Elaine who does yoga massages and is also a newly qualified Ironman Masseuse (Not that I am comparing my 5km run to the Ironman, but it REALLY felt like it!!! :P), so she gave my back a good rub.

Conclusion, I am WORSE than when I first started running about 1.5 yrs ago. Although I could only manage about 2km then, I did feel much worse at the 2km mark last night. Also, 1.5yrs ago, I would not have pushed on if I had felt the way I did last night. Honestly, the only reason I didn’t just stop was cos I didn’t want to cut short Elaine and the boys’ run!

Elaine: Seems like your running is coming along nicely! (not that I could really tell with you way ahead of me!) Knowing 1st hand that genetically our family are SO NOT RUNNERS, I know how hard it must’ve been for you to get where you are now. Keep it up!!! :D

Thanks Elaine, Nic and Matt for the run.

Task for the week – Think about whether I really want to get back into running. If I felt this pain running a marathon,… fine….. BUT 5km!!!! Boy oh boy have I got my work cut out for me.....