I used to do a lot of running when I was younger but I never enjoyed it.
My motivation was simply to keep fit so that I could play 90 minutes of competitive football. Training for the Jigsaw 5k run yesterday morning has been more about a triumph of mind over body!
My first training session on 22nd October saw me achieve an average of 10 mins 22 secs per kilometre and I could just about get round 2.7k.
A few early mornings later and I had managed to get my average per kilometre down to 6 mins 10 secs.
Six sessions later I could do the 5k but at 30 minutes 28 seconds, so the same time as it took me the first time I ran.
Injury then got in the way so I was less than prepared yesterday morning, particularly with a temperature of just one degree Celsius!!
What was entertaining was the prospect of ‘doing a warm up’; stretching is not on for me I can’t even bend at the knees! If I tried to do the warm up session I wouldn’t be able to run the race!
However running in a group has an impact and I managed a personal best of 27mins 29secs.
I still didn’t enjoy it though (apart from finishing!!) so the challenge is now that the run is out the way do I keep on doing it?
I suspect the answer is yes.
I feel fitter, have lost a few pounds and I am sure that is good news for a man of my age. If I do my goal will be to get the time down to sub 25 mins.
I will keep you informed if I am able to do that!!
