Half Marathon. Day One.

Day 1

I dipped my toe into the online running world last night to see what plans other people had gone with (Non-runners ->Half Marathon) and the average was about two years long ...panic. I then waded into 'marathon prep' by accident ...more panic. Finally I was neck deep in the sea of available trainers depending on level of arch and whether I am heel-heavy or...PANIC.

Following this I found it hard to relax, but brushing my teeth later on, I decided that my toothbrush had got a bit soft and I got a new one out of my cupboard. I looked at the array of brushes I have 'just in case' and I realised something; I am anal. Stay with me here!! Running demands certain personal characteristics: self-motivation to just keep going, being clinical in preparation, meticulous in food choices and prepared for most things. What do all these things have in common? Being anal! I'm halfway there! I love anal!...wait. No. 

Anyway.

With my new found love for my bordering OCD, I donned my trainers early this morning and I drove myself to, what is going to become, a very significant location in this journey and I did the unthinkable, I started running. 

Perfect running conditions greeted me, amiable temperatures, overcast, slight breezes, dry underfoot. It's like someone had felt my reluctance to figure out how bad I was and put in a good word with mother nature. I ran 2.2 measly miles (3.5k), which was the plan, I survived, which was also the plan, and I ran the whole way (slow), which was better than the plan. I'm so much more positive now!

I made some rookie errors; didn't leave enough time for my porridge to settle, judged myself on others' pace and didn't stretch long enough beforehand. I got angry at myself. But isn't that the point? Isn't this why we challenge ourselves? To learn lessons that move us on from Rookie-Ville to Expert City? Right now I am going to reign in my perfectionist in and embrace these lessons. Hey, I ran past two ice cream vans today!!

K x

P.s. Don't go online, kids, it's scary.