VIV Moments

Hometown

Brighton, England

Joie de VIVre

Enjoying the Great Outdoors and serving others as a life coach.

VIV Moment

I tackled one of my longer training runs today. (I’m trying to get in the miles, so I can hopefully make it ’round the half-marathon course in two weeks. I’m slightly worried by the statement that “no walking” is allowed on the course!) Another mild and sunny day (or so I thought) as I set off, ambitiously deciding to run as far as Ovingdean and back via the open field we call the Tye (which, having checked it out on www.mapmyrun.com, turned out to be just over 8 miles). My longest run to date has been 6 miles.

My legs were aching before I even stopped, probably not helped by bumping — not literally — into friends on the way back, which meant I took a break to chat for longer than I should have. Consequently, I stiffened up when I set back off at a slow trot up the hill onto the Tye.

That’s when I realized it was actually quite cold — either that or the wind had changed and the temperature dropped while I was out. I pulled off my hat, gloves and windbreaker as I ran along the under-cliff, dodging walkers, cyclists and dogs, but up on the Tye there was a cold, northerly wind blowing, so I’d bundled back up as my ears went numb. I made it home having run most of the way, except for the hill out of Saltdean.

I can feel my muscles aching already so goodness knows what state I’ll be in tomorrow morning when DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) has set in (if it does). I do stretch after my runs but it doesn’t always help, at least not for a gentle plodder like me. Those lean, mean running machines who take long distances in their stride are a little more dedicated and probably wouldn’t even notice a short little run like I’ve just done. But for me, a relative beginner, every extra mile that I run is another achievement, a VIV Moment along the way to reaching my personal best.

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