Running for Japan

Ran just twice this week. First was mid-week, 4 miles, and an attempt to put into practise something I read in one of the running magazines Mr Taffi bought me - to start at a slow pace for the first mile, then run the next faster, then the next faster...I think my error was in setting off at the same pace I normally average, and then trying to run faster each successive mile, rather than to start rather slower...

Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither can speed be built upon one single Fartlek session!!

Saturday's run was rather better.

After my midweek run my head was most definately saying NO! to my long run. But after some persuasion from Mr Taffi, I set off to do the same 5 mile route I had run just over a week before, or, if things were going well, to increase the distance by about 10% (I had an alternative route planned out after the mile 4 marker).

The run was going just about okay, but I didn't feel my legs had the extra distance in them, so up until just before the mile 4 marker decision point I was fairly certain to run just the 5 miles. Then I remembered two things I had come across on the internet this week:

1) an incredible video of the Japan tsunami arriving on shore within minutes of the earthquake,
2) a post by Paula Radcliffe promoting Run for Japan

And from that moment on my mind was resolved on running the extra mile. I ran 6.2 miles for the people of Japan, and there was energy in my legs.

The funny thing is that I can look at the pace-distance trace and spot that moment when the decision was made. And even though that was the furthest I had run by quite some margin since taking up running again, and probably equalled the furthest I have ever run, my legs were willing to push on.

I'm glad Mr Taffi persuaded me to go out for a run that morning ("Sometimes your best runs happen when you really don't feel like it").

Then I registered my run on Run for Japan, paid my donation, and felt very pleased with myself...

Amazing the difference that 3 days can make. Now I finally feel that I can achieve the distance required for a 10K and hopefully half marathon later in the year. And hopefully I will have gained just a little more pace by then too.

And, I have persuaded a friend to run with me in the May Race for Life.

AND, I plan to escape a house of chicken pox (Monkey2 now has it!) to run a few hills this week...