todayirun

[todayirun]

Wow! Running really is a mind game!

TL;DR: I've just finished a 10k without training :D

I haven't really run since August. It was the worsening pain in my left hip that stopped me, and even though I found a solution for that, I wasn't able to pick up my running routine again.

I was registered for a half-marathon in September, which I ended up cancelling.

I registered for a 10k in October instead, but I still did not manage to get back to training. I kind of even forgot about the race.

A couple days before the event, I was considering simply abandoning it. It was too late to withdraw my registration, but I saw no point in going to the race and shamefully dropping out after 500 meters.

Eventually I decided to pick up my race shirt and the bib, to at least get a nice running shirt in exchange for the registration fee I would have lost.

But then the evening before the race, my mindset changed. I did not feel like giving up without a fight this time (I've quit many events due to lack of preparation before). I figured that this event could help me get back into running, and I would allow myself to drop out at any point, but I should at least try to keep jogging as far as I can.

And it went awesome! I jogged without stopping up until the 5 km mark. Soon after that, when coming to an incline, I walked briefly, but felt like switching back to jogging again after a minute or two. During the remaining 5 kilometers, I took a couple walking breaks, but none of them lasted longer than 2 minutes.

I managed to finish the race in 1 hr and 22 minutes, which felt like a wonderful breakthrough for me, because it has given me back my confidence that I don't need to start my training from 0 again.

I'm so happy :DDD

[todayirun]

I've signed up for a 6k trail race that takes place on Sunday, and I've gone to check out the location. I'm pretty sure I won't be able to run all the way without stopping - the race starts at 11 AM, it will be very hot (purposefully so), and the course consists of a continuous (although not very steep) incline up to the halfway point.

Regardless, I'm looking forward to it and expecting it to be fun :D

[todayirun]

In Tokyo, many years ago.

[todayirun]

I've run a really slow 5.2k this morning, and I loved it :)

It was a small charity race with a beautiful course that goes past old windmills.

According to the event website, I finished in 42 minutes.

I could not even run through the whole thing, I had to stop after 33min 37sec (then I walked, and then ran some more). But I'm kind of proud that I even lasted for that long, because 1) I am not used to running uphill for long, which I had to do here, and 2) I almost always run in the evening or late afternoon, and for this event, I had to get up at 4:45 and leave the house at 5:30. (My metabolism is slow, it only decided to wake up and get things moving during the last km of the race, from which point on I was running for my dignity, if you know what I mean :D )

All in all, it was a lovely race with super kind organizers and volunteers, it was fun!

[todayirun]

Today it happened the second time in my life that a random dog accompanied me for a run ♡

I went to the nearby waterfall again. At the trailhead, this dog appeared, wearing a collar and a name tag. She let me pet her, then ran in front of me all along the trail (which she obviously knows well), waited for me at every turn, zooming back towards me when I was too slow for her. When we stopped at the waterfall, she MADE ME play fetch with her :)

Then, as we got close to the end of the trail and to the house where she apparently belongs, she happily returned home.

What a day :)

[todayirun]

My jogging routine has gone out the window in the last ten days (due to work circumstances), but I've at least compensated with a big hike.

[todayirun]

I'm in Switzerland again (for work, this time for 2 weeks). We have bad luck with the weather, it's been raining most of the time. I do enjoy it, but I wish we had some sunny days as well.

Anyhow, I visited this waterfall in the area, there is a really nice path around it which can be walked in about 40 minutes. I wanted to try 'trail running' there. In the end, I didn't do much running, I was mostly distracted by the beautiful view. I just had to stop to take photos again and again.

I'm not sure you can tell by the pictures, but it was pouring.

[todayirun]

The longest continuous jog this year (so far): 60 minutes! I planned to do 53, but I felt good towards the end, and I also really needed to pee, so I thought it would be best to run for a couple of extra minutes just to be able to get home a little quicker :D

[todayirun]

Today my run was kind of hijacked by a weird interaction that made me feel very uneasy.

I decided not to rant about it here.

Oh, I also saw a rabbit, but I did not manage to get close enough to take a picture before it ran away :)

[todayirun]

A little trail running training today. About 75% flat, then uphill on the last part. I'm only talking about 10min 30sec though XD

I'm working on increasing the duration of my jogs in this forest - in tiny baby steps, but it's okay, I want this to feel more like play than work.

After I stopped, I did some hiking uphill on a different, much steeper route, and some more jogging on the way back too.

[todayirun]

I jogged for 40 minutes today! Again, in really hot and humid weather. I was really grateful for my willpower that carried me to the end, I would have been badly discouraged had I bailed out of this longer run.

Side note: I was amazed to realise how many different kinds of wild plants grow on the side of the road here. I love it so much.

This jog has put me into such a great mood :)

[todayirun]

Today's run: hot and humid, but it still felt great.

[todayirun]

An easy evening jog, finished with perfect timing to watch the sunset over the reservoir.

[todayirun]

There is a half-marathon in September that I really would love to run. But to be honest, I have noticed during the past few weeks (since completing the 7k) that I find it somewhat hard to want to keep running longer distances (by longer I mean 30 minute runs, which is probably not considered long at all by most runners, but that is the comfort threshold where I'm at right now). Considering that, I'm not sure how realistic it is for me to commit to a 3-month-long training plan. I'm positive I could do it if I pushed myself, but the thing is, I don't really want to push myself in this area of my life.

I'm thinking that I will just continue my training aiming for a September half-marathon, see how hard it feels, and decide around the end of July or mid-August whether to participate in the half-marathon or just the 10k event on the same day.

All that being said, I had a very pleasant 30-minute run yesterday, so maybe I really only need to remain consistent, and the rest will take care of itself.

Anyhow, my main goal is still to enjoy running/jogging and keeping up the routine.

[todayirun]

A 25-minute run after rain. I love how lush and green everything is right now!

[todayirun]

[todayirun]

before the rain