007 runner

fitness | food | folly

[007runner]

Good morning! Quick run to calm the nerves.

May this day bring some good news!

[007runner]

Better mood than yesterday, swishy ponytail included.

England finally admitted the inevitable, should have done so weeks ago. I'm relieved. Things are gonna get bad but at least we're doing something about it.

Back to running now, helps me keep up the spirit.

[007runner]

Went out early this morning to get my run in before the storm starts.

We're heading for another lockdown; sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. Should have done that a month ago.

[007runner]

Mid-morning run break, woohoo :)

[007runner]

Jog around the neighborhood. Slightly further than usually and I ran all the hills. As long as I don't compare myself to the olden days, this is a success.

[007runner]

Slow run is better than no run. Aiming for consistency at the moment.

I have a feeling that things are gonna go uphill.

[007runner]

8 hilly miles, up to the country park and back. I walked quite a bit, knackered but being out and about was as always lovely.

[007runner]

The misadventures of 007runner.

I'd planned an 4.5 lunchtime miles, turned into a 6.5-mile obstacle run.

The farmer has ploughed over another part of the trail heading out of town and also knocked off the signs pointing to said trail. WTF?!

Fuelled by righteous anger, I decided to try another footpath going back. I thought it would be a nice option to avoid the big road and all the traffic. Everything started off alright, clear sign, intact gate, clearly visible path. Weell. Soon enough the path vanished and I ended up in a dead end of nettles and a blocked gate. After traipsing across the field and combat crawling under a fence, I managed to regain a safe road home (except for the homeless person pushing their shopping carts through the middle of nowhere).

Ugh. But 6.5 miles are in the bank.

[007runner]

9-mile loop. Out along the Thames and back. Hot and humid today but I'm finally used to summer running and I took it super slow and finished strong.

There are several stiles on the route and it got consecutively harder to climb over them... Tired running legs. At the last stile I took a picture and only noticed afterwards that two guys were a little way down the road. Anyway, they waved nicely to the strange lady that photographed her shoes on a stile. Ha! I made sure to shuffle along at top speed.

[007runner]

Easy 4.5 miles across the fields at lunchtime.

I haven't run this route for a while and a farmer just ploughed over the path in the middle. What's up?

I ran across anyway and some dog walkers followed me. Hope the path gets reinstated. It's a public footpath.

[007runner]

Sunday long run, 8 miles done! I'm stoked, felt really good.

But gosh, it was hot and humid, so one the way back I took my shirt off. Yay or nay for shirtless running?

I started running when I lived in California and although there are plenty of super fit people there, you saw runners of all shapes and sizes (and speeds). Not the case here... Also, people were much less friendly. No more 'good morning'. Anyway, my flabby midsection, stretch marks included, got some sun today.

[007runner]

I'm in Switzerland for vacation (and a little bit of work). I ran a good 5, very hilly miles near my parents' place. It's gorgeous here.

[007runner]

6 sweaty miles. Covered in salt when I was back home.

I ran through a new to me country park and loved it. Must explore more.

[007runner]

Good morning! 3 easy miles, lovely. Foot still holding up so far.

[007runner]

3 miles, not exactly a Saturday long run.

But I was sidelined the whole week with plantar fascitis. Really glad and grateful to be back running. If everything is already, I might go for another shortish run tomorrow. Fingers crossed!

[007runner]

6 miles in the pouring rain.

So, I decided to stay on pavement today and play it safe. Dun, dun, duuun...

Almost 3 miles out, sidewalk, almost no traffic lights. Then there’s this cool section of overpasses where a bunch of train tracks come together. A short bit of trail then connects to another big road with sidewalks heading back. Perfect route, no?

I was chugging along the trail, feeling great. Yay, no longer so hot, running’s awesome! I took a picture, started running again and at the same time put the phone back in a waterproof baggie, not paying attention. You can guess where this is heading.

There was a random concrete slab, thin layer of wet mud on top, gentle slope. SPLAT, down on my ass. Knocked the breath out of me and I landed in a big bush of nettles and gave my hand a good whack. My wrist was throbbing the whole way back. At least I was wearing black shorts and the big mud stain on my backside was hardly visible.

My first fall while running. Rite of passage?

[007runner]

Damn hot yesterday, thunder and lightning the whole night but it hardly cooled down. Made for a very sweaty 3 miles this morning.

Reminding myself that I'm doing runs like these to be fit enough to enjoy long weekend runs and races down the line.

P.S. Climate change. So, so worried. I know, not really a topic for a running blog but there's hardly a day I don't think about it.