January okay so far

I promised myself I'd try to run every day in January.

Is that really a promise - only to try?

Anyway, I failed, what a surprise....

But i'm not too upset.   I'm not really even angry with myself and I have managed to keep the guilt and self-recrimination to a minimum.

I've gotten out semi-consistently during January.  13 days out of 21.

Mainly short 4 to 5 k runs, but I got one 5 mile in and a couple of 6 ks.

I'm already feeling better for the returning fitness.   And I've also done a fair few of the runs late at night, going out at 9 or 10pm.

I love something about the quiet and the dark of late night running.   I love the peace and solitude of running along the Coast Road on my own.   I've never been great at running with others, I like to go slowly and change pace as the mood (or the pain levels) take me.   And running thru darkened, sleeping streets generally suits my mood.

Todays run was different though.   An early morning run with the dog along Howth's cliff walk.   The day was drizzly and not noticeably windy at sea level.   However the conditions were much rougher when I ran along the cliff path (I was glad I didn't have the kids with me!).

5.15km took 45 mins. But there was a lot of walking along the slippier parts of the path.

Looking back at the port

The Bailey Lighthouse

 

Bloody, mucky post run legs

 

Trying to get back to it

Firstly, the excuse....

I have just finished a 3 year project in work...it went live in November and meant 7 day weeks, working thru the night etc. for a couple of months.

And the horrible reality....

I stepped on the scales this evening after a very gluttinous Christmas and weighed 15st8.5lbs.   I am now well over any weight I have been since i took up running.      I am also the unfittest I've been in years, in fact since I started running 4 years ago.

I stopped cycling in August, did very little exercise in September, ran a bit in October, but only went out once in November & once in December!!

So, no more 'I must lose weight', now its moving on to 'I am going to lose weight'.     I've noticed how the lack of fitness has slowed me down when   I bring the kids to the park.

After another heavy carb day(dinner in my sisters house with cakes & nibbles afterwards) I decided to go out for my first run in a month.

I went for 5km (well 4.9 really) down to the Coast Road and back. Lovely run.

It felt good but hip still sore (pretty much always sore actually, ahh, the joys of middle age).