My priorities shifted … I often went running while on holiday in November 2018. Registered upfront for several trail runs (and walks with Martie), done three different parkruns (repeat events), once with the ‘Sarah Elizabeth Lingerie Run Social’ (on Wednesday mornings from Sage Centre, 1 Old Fort Road, Foxhill, Salt Rock), a morning training run with the Dolphin Coast Striders, and several early morning solo runs (and/or seafront board-walks with Martie). In short, I fully embraced this holiday as an opportunity for extra exercise (including hill training).
On returned home, however, I found myself battling while running during the first week and a half of December. What went wrong? Consequences of overindulgence, I concluded. I’ve lent my ears (mind) out to T-shirt slogans about running for cake/wine/beer … permitting myself large pizza, rich Christmas cake and mince pies, stollen, etc. etc. The result, I gained a few kilos, and felt the impact—I battled running.
Following several exemplary runners on social media, I noticed a runner’s achievements are correlated to her/his lifestyle and level of commitment. My running two or three times per week (interspaced by walking with Martie, as well as with colleagues at work) essentially represent my exercise. If I want to improve my running times, I do realise, I need to build strength and gain speed. In essence, I need to supplement my running (and walking) with other exercises.
It has been an interesting journey the past two-plus years—with lots of pleasant memories—from leading quite a sedentary lifestyle to my current active one. I needed to change the content of my wardrobe a few times as I shed kilos, and acquired an array of running clothes and gear. I do run for the enjoyment derivable, but do intend to optimise the pleasures by enhancing my capabilities.
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