Author: MarathonMannUK

The objective today was very simple: to run 10K with as little effort as possible.  After yesterday’s club efforts in the rain, that is the least I could do for my body!

As I have gained experience of running lots of miles over the years, I have learned the secret is to be able to run slowly when you need to.  The idea of a “recovery run” is to get some exercise and stretch your legs while holding something back for doing some more the next day.  I have found interspersing my training efforts with recovery runs and “long slows” helps me get the mileage up.  This also increases my stamina and speed.

Therefore I chose a route today with as few hills as I can manage.  A route round the various streets near where I live, well in fact ALL of the streets near where I live in order to eek-out a 10K route.  I still feel OK after 5 days of 10K every day and time will tell if I can keep it up through all of June.    I am certainly determined!

“But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded” 2 Chronicles 15:7 NIV

Richard is running 10K every day during June, to raise money for a public access defibrillator to be situated at Rothwell Baptist Church.  To sponsor him and make a donation, please visit his Just Giving Page.

Have you ever been so wet, you couldn’t be wetter even if you jumped in the river?  Well tonight was one of those nights.

With the torrential downpour in progress, it’s the kind of evening that most sane people would think “I think I’ll give running a miss tonight”, but this wasn’t an option for me.  Firstly I am committed to running 10K-a-day during June and secondly, it was club night and I was one leading training!

You knew it was going to be wet when the side of the road was flooded and you had to stick to the pavement in order not to wade.  Then, when we reached the footpath where we were going to do our efforts, not wading wasn’t an option because in parts the path was completely flooded.   What I have to say though is that the 10 who turned out tonight were real heroes for braving the weather and not complaining in the least.  Quite the contrary, they revelled in the challenge which makes me really proud to be part of such a fantastic running club.

The run was nearly 10K so I ran up and down the street outside the club a few times to eek the distance out to 10K.

“Seven days from now I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights, and I will wipe from the face of the earth every living creature I have made.”  Genesis 7:4 NIV

Richard is running 10K every day during June, to raise money for a public access defibrillator to be situated at Rothwell Baptist Church.  To sponsor him and make a donation, please visit his Just Giving Page.

While out running I sometimes come across surprising things.  For example, one day I came upon someone driving a little cart being pulled by a team of huskys through the woods.  On another occasion I met a group of people riding off-road unicycles along the canal towpath (I also didn’t realise there was any such thing).

Last year, when on holiday in Skiathos, Greece my wife and I had to make way for a herd of goats!  That might be hardly surprising but this morning, while out on an early morning 10K, I startled a baby deer on the road.  There used to be a deer farm nearby and I had heard that wild roaming deer can be seen sometimes in the woods but this was the first time I had seen a wild one locally!

Some surprises are pleasant but this reminded me of a run a few months ago when I had found a walker who had been knocked over by a bicycle.  I had to phone for an ambulance and I stayed with the unfortunate victim until she was safely in on the way to hospital (fortunately the lady concerned hadn’t broken anything and although was off work for some time, did make a full recovery).

On this occasion the victim didn’t need any lifesaving treatment such as a defibrillator but it reminds me of the importance of making this sort of equipment more widely available.

“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” Hebrews 13:16

Richard is running 10K every day during June, to raise money for a public access defibrillator to be situated at Rothwell Baptist Church.  To sponsor him and make a donation, please visit his Just Giving Page.