Freezing fog, rain, sun and rainbows: What a week of running!

So then, this week has been a great week of running for me with three very distinct runs all with various weathers to contend with – and also to relish…

The Friday morning run with Sandra and Let’s Go Run was a short affair and a good thing too. We met at St Andrew’s school and ran for 40 minutes through icy rain, slowly losing the feeling in our extremities but giving ourselves (all 3 of us) a smug feeling of how hardcore we were to be so committed that we would run in such horrible conditions. Also, please bear in mind that as I’m new to running I haven’t yet acquired thermals and was doing this in shorts and a t-shirt only. Bring it on!

Midweek I ran out with Gavin (another TB runner) and we did about 5 miles including a timed one-mile tempo run. What was remarkable about this run was the fog (freezing as it was). As we emerged into Bath city centre and the whole place was lit up with a backdrop of Christmas lights and shrouded with a dense layer of grey fog I had one of those “I love running” moments. We slowly approached the Abbey tower and got have a proper look as it rose eerily and majestically into the foggy winter night; what a treat. If, however, I were seeing this from my car, I'd probably have about two seconds to admire the view before having to pay attention to the taxi about run into me or the suicidal tourist about to jump in front of me. Yes, if you want to see Bath in a new light, go running. Of course you could walk, but why anyone would be out walking on a night like that, I don't know.

On Sunday I joined up with Let’s Go Run again and we did a wonderful 10k run. Again the weather was odd and we found ourselves running in glorious sunshine at one point with rain simultaneously beating down on our heads (never did get that). From there we were literally chasing a rainbow as we ran through the park. The run itself took us from the sports centre, along the river, up through Victoria Park and The Approach and then into yet another area of Bath that I haven’t been to: We went off road on the Cotswold Way and up the hills to a very muddy Primrose Hill. Along from there we emerged by Kingswood School and then finished off the run with a very fast and hugely exhilarating belter all the way down Landsdown Road and back to the sports centre. Once back in town, it was fun trying to make our way around a bunch of Sunday shoppers with just over a week to go until Christmas, but we just about managed to zigzag around them with no collisions. 

View from the Cotswold Way (taken by somebody else on a sunny day)

If we (the TB runners) do collate our runs into some form of 'Transition Guide to Runs Around Bath', this 10k will definitely go on there. It’s great training as the long slog up the hill really works you, but the scenery is fantastic and the blat down the hill at the end is great – says his inner child. This run comes highly recommended; thanks Sandra for showing it to me. 

My 3-Point Plan to Physical Perfection

So then, I’ve not really got any running to talk about today as I've been injured. However, following on from my injury I decided that I needed to go back to square zero and safeguard my body a little more from my new-found hobby. Therefore I am proud to introduce my ‘Conscientious, meticulous, splendiferous three point plan to protecting your knees (and feet and hips and groin and shins).’ And, yes, I am trademarking that name:

Point 1:

Get the Dr to check you out. Did that, and the doc said my knee was fine. Good.

Point 2:

Learn to stretch properly. Went for a lovely Friday morning run with Sandra from Let’s Go Run and learned how to stretch and warm up properly, as opposed to standing on one leg while holding the other in some Karma Sutra-esque yoga pose, while simultaneously trying to read random internet instructions on correct stretching from my precariously-perched laptop. Much better.

Point 3: (the most revelatory point of the three)

Get the right trainers. I went along to Running Bath and had my gait checked – turns out I seriously over-pronate (my foot turns in). After a few sessions of running up and down the Corridor in front of bemused early morning shoppers, I was given a pair of high-support trainers, instead of the zero support ones that led me to injuring myself (see the photos for the difference). My new shoes felt so much better as soon as I donned them and the friendly chap watching me run advised that he also thought these were the best of the five pairs he gave me to try. Job done.  Ok, so the added support they offer makes them look slightly orthopaedic, but do I care? Well, yes, a little; but who cares? My feet will be moving so fast that they are nothing more than a blur come March 3rd.

After going for my small run in my shiny new shoes, my knee felt fine, perhaps a touch aggravated, but so much better than previously. Unfortunately, though, I then went and walked a mile to school with my 3-year on my shoulders, followed by an hour’s ice skating session, so I’m now in a little bit of pain. Silly. I do comfort myself, however, that it was not my run that did this, more just me aggravating a not-completely-healed injury.

Look at the difference in the support...

...and here notice the difference in the middle of the foot.

As you can see, there is a huge improvement in my new shoes, although the colour is a little more difficult to match to my other clothes!

So that’s it. I’m back in the game and looking forward to our first run as group in a few week’s time.