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...