June 2011

[Sweder]

I wasn't sure if I should start a diary for June, such is the paucity of recent activity in Swederville. Part of me cannot accept that I'm done with running, even on a temporary basis, so here's June for what it's worth.

Following a runless week working in Antwerp I returned last Friday night determined to get out with the hounds. They've grown and bulked up well, furry teenage velociraptors keen to get out whenever they can. I dragged myself out on saturday morning, short-circuiting my Blackcap route to around 4 miles. As is often the case after a lay-off my legs felt great. On Sunday I went the Full Cap, chugging up the final ascent at a snail's pace, gasping for air at the summit. The plod home offered chance for a withering assessment of form: there's very little left in the (rather larger, much slower) tank.

This was underlined in bold last evening when, after a day wrestling with the vagaries of trying to import health food and vitamins into Hong Kong, I decided to take advantage of the late evening sunshine. Ten minutes into the run I knew the game was up. Leaden legs, wobbling belly, profuse sweating, haggard breathing ... I was like a one-man episode of Casualty. I cut it short, barely 4 kilometers in total, and slumped dejectedly on a garden chair to ruminate on a truly ugly outing.

I'm not giving up, far from it. I'll keep plugging away in the hope that something will trigger those long-lost endorphins, rekindle my affair with Running and make the hills the only place to be once more.

Until then expect a few doleful missives on how to haul lard up hills.

Well done to Ladyrunner for consistently flying the flag here at RC. I have no idea how she does it; she's far busier than me yet seems to manage to stick to an impressive/ daunting training and racing schedule. Hats off!