A Great (Houghton) North Run

For those that think its grim up north, well you are wrong! I awoke to beautiful blue skies and the sun beaming overead. It was the weekend we were to celebrate my Dad's birthday so we had all headed to t'north. 

I knew the day would have more than a little tipple involved so my plan was to get up and run before the masses awoke and get a run under my belt. Behind my dad's house there is a path that runs adjacent to open countryside, filled with friendly dog walkers... "'eh up love", "keep going duck". 

I did a nice flat,out and back route along the path concentrating once again on my gait and foot placement. My pace was comfortable and a little faster than I had been of later - perhaps due to the lack of hills. 

Returning along the path I could see the bar my Dad built and was looking forward to enjoying the rest of the day with the family and having a slight smugness that I had managed a run before most of them had got up for the day. 

It was 3.6 miles so still not a huge distance and I didn't feel quite ready to up the distance much further yet, but maybe the old (running) Liz is coming back!


 

Badger badger badger badger stret-ching stret-ching!!

As I get back into running regularly (ish) I am required to do more pre planning and to get up at 5:30am at the latest to squeeze in a run before my other half leaves for work and I return to parenting duties. First fail, I forgot to set the alarm... doh!

Luckily hubby woke me at 5:45am and with my kit already laid out at the end of the bed I leapt (this may be an exaggeration) into action and out the front door. It was raining. I was never a fair weather runner so decided I shouldn't be one now. Besides, it was very muggy out so the light drizzle was very nice to cool me down and I'd had the good sense not to put on a long sleeved waterproof which would soon turn into a me shaped oven once I warmed up.

I trotted along, happy enough but I was finding the run tough this morning. I took a strategic turn up a hill which I knew I would have to walk but would give me a flatter run for the rest of my route. I felt smug as I passed the growing line at the McDonalds Drive Thru, no doubt the inhabitants of the cars also felt smug that they were about to get their McMuffin and not soaking wet and clad in lycra!

The hill passed and I was running again, trying to concentrate on my technique, my feet seem to land differently so I was working hard to correct this to a more efficient gait. I reached home after 2.5 miles (shy of my planned 3 miles but time was not on my side today). I started to stretch, leaning against my porch then seemingly out of nowhere a large badger appeared by my feet.... being poorly sighted the badger jumped upon seeing me, as did I and he circled back and scooted around the neighbours garden looking for an escape route! (so I took the opportunity to grab my phone and take a few pics for evidence!)