Starting Up Again

   Christmas is finally over and I can almost physically feel myself starting to de-compress from it all. Most of the leftovers are finally gone and the shopping's been completed. If there were returns to make, this has been done. The familial obligations have ceased and I also have another week off. So, right at the moment, life is fine.
  

Me, post-run, it was good
to get out again! Need a new
hat, though...

It now seems like a good time to get back into a running routine. I realize there are likely several million runners out there who are all quite likely feeling the same way right about now--it's almost impossible for the holidays not to have some effect on your normal routines, running or otherwise. The extent with which we get back into our normal routines will vary, of course, but my plan is to get back to doing what I was doing this time last year.
   A year ago, I was running at least every other day. In  many of my off days I was playing ball hockey in a league (let's call it interval or speed work, if you like) and might occasionally double-up on the running. On Saturdays, I was slowly building up my long runs and was at the 9k mark when the PF hit. The PF and a couple of other niggling little medical concerns derailed huge chunks of my running this year and fingers crossed that it won't happen again!


New tights (Sugoi) and, yes, my legs DON'T
join at the top...

   All this being said, I headed out for a run today. I did a run a couple of weeks ago but with Christmas stuff going on I hadn't had the time or energy to get in any more. That run was a 3k and I decided today's would only be a 4k. I ran for 2k, walked a minute and then finished what was left of the final 2k by running it. The best part was at the end I was pretty sure I could easily have kept going.
   Today was also an opportunity to try out my new running tights. I had very generously been the recipient of a multitude of Running Room gift cards this past Christmas so I headed down there yesterday and picked out some tights and running shorts. Last winter, I ran in an old baggy pair of sweatpants and although the warmth factor was present, they were lacking in a couple of other important areas. Wind resistance was an issue--I remember them whipping around my legs constantly. As well, I simply didn't feel like a runner when I was wearing them.
   Today, new tights on, and it was great! Lots of warmth, no flapping, lots of ease of movement. And, according to my wife, I looked like a runner!
   All in all, it was a successful run today. The underfoot conditions were a little iffy in places with lots of slush and/or melting ice so I tried if at all possible to stick to the roads, which were fine. Tomorrow, Doralyn and I plan on hitting the gym, which neither of us have been to since the early fall. My plan is to alternate gym and run days, get back to the point where I can run 5k without stopping (again) and then find a goal race to sign up for!
    In the meantime, happy and healthy running to you all!

   The running conditions were just not that good today! You can even see the tracks my wheelchair someone's stroller left...

Run....maybe??

   So I was thinking that maybe I'd go for a run today. It's been so long since I've gone for a run that I couldn't even accurately remember when the last time was.
   I knew I could find out if I just went into the "history" on my Garmin but, as I said, it's been so long since I went on a run that I wasn't even sure where the Garmin was!
   Okay, I did eventually find it and discovered (once I remembered how to start it up) that the last time I'd been out was November 8.
   Five freakin' weeks ago.
   Now I call myself a runner but I can't really call myself a runner if I'm not...well...a runner. I also call myself a running blogger but if there's no running then there's no running to blog about.
   If I'd been injured and hadn't been running then that would be one thing. But the fact f the matter is that I've been more than  capable 0f running for the last couple of months now and the running has still been almost non-existent.
   I've had a list of pretty minor and pathetic excuses (tired from work, getting the place ready for Christmas, blizzards, family issues, etc.) but this ridiculous situation needs to stop.
   So today I'm going for a run and here's what the weather looks like out my window:

   Yeah, did I mention that I live in Canada...???
   So it's snowing again today and I guess it's snowed enough that my neighbour now has his snowblower going and I'm headed out for a run. Hope he's done before I get out there or he's gonna think I'm a.....runner?
   Well I guess I've now stalled enough that I should get out there. Took forever to find all the cold weather running gear but it did eventually get found, I had a bit of nutrition, and I'm gonna get out there.....right...NOW!

   Okay, I did it!
   I didn't run far (3k) and I didn't run hard but I did run. I went through all the pre-run prep (sometimes the most daunting part) and I got out there again! Whoopee!
   It was cold (16F) and blustery and there was about an inch and a half of snow to run through but it was kinda fun at the same time and somewhat reminiscent of much of the winter running I did last year.
   What I didn't mention up above is that, in the space of time I haven't been running, I have also put on about 11 pounds! Sad but true. Some of that is due to not running and much of it is due to the arrival of the festive season as well. Last weekend, we had my wife's family Christmas celebration here and the place was inundated with rich food and sweets. After the family left, there was just the two of us to finish consuming all this goodness and, as history has demonstrated, I do way more than my share. I found I was eating long after I was full and eating food I wasn't accustomed to. Eventually, I ended up feeling like crap.
   More than anything, this is why I need to run again. I remember the pain and the work involved but, more than that, I remember how good it made me feel!
   Although right at the moment I might cough up a lung...lol!


My place, after the run and a tiny bit of shovelling...