4 Miles At Dawn

Thursday: As much as I enjoyed yesterday, getting out of bed was difficult this morning, and there was much grumbling and muttering at the alarm clock demanding I wake at 5.30am. In order to keep my strength up, I was able to drink a glass of milk and eat a Tracker bar for breakfast, which isn't the best thing but it was all I could manage. Last night, I mapped out my route on fetcheveryone.com, a website recommended by my runner friend, and it is fantastic in providing an accurate reading of distances covered. I was relieved I didn't have to rely on the temperamental pedometer and I marked out a 4.17 mile route. I think I should be doing at least 4miles every time I go out, it's the minimum level I am setting for myself. It was cold but not as bad as yesterday, and as planned, I left the car in the driveway, and started my warm-up walk as I left the house. I did a 5min warm-up, 15min run, 5min walk, 15min run, 22min cool down walk, which makes it 62 mins for 4.17 miles. It's a good thing I'm not worried about speed right now :o) But I do have a competitive side and whilst I focus on my endurance when I run, I am keen to know my time/distance ratio when I get home. The run was very good today, I am trying to get in more uphill bits, but I end up with a fair bit of downhill, which does feel like cheating sometimes. The first run is better than the second generally. Today's second run started really well, but it was very difficult half way in, and I was gasping for air towards the end, slowing my speed right down and desperate to make it to the full 15mins. I noticed I put a lot of weight on my right leg, which is perhaps the reason my right calf twinges, so I made a conscious effort to ease off the right leg and make the left leg work harder. Also, I felt I ran better today, I ran too fast yesterday, though it didn't feel like that at the time. Today, I was much more controlled with my breathing and keeping myself slow, even though I could have gone so much faster, in order to make my body last for the timed session.
I didn't like the busy main road today, far too noisy despite the early hour, and too many people on the streets. Also, the view was far from inspiring, roadworks and shops don't conjure up the romance of running, as trees and lakes do. I do miss the park for its beauty, I admit. Though, whilst looking at the fetch website, I realise that it cannot measure distances in the park area, which makes me wonder if I am better off running away from it, in order to track my time/distance progress. Both Great Runs are 10km each, or 6.22miles, and knowing I am doing 4 miles now (even though it's not all running), is a hugely motivating thought.