Half marathon training diary: park run
It’s been a long road, but I’m finally approaching the two week mark – albeit still with a fair way to go training-wise. Last Sunday I managed my longest run yet – 9 miles – around Regent’s Park. The main perk of a park run, for me, is that it is a whole lot interesting than running on a treadmill facing a wall or – worse still – at my red, sweaty self in the mirror. There are fellow runners for camaraderie, as well as cute dogs to gawp at and the feeling of freedom you get in a vast open space.
My legs felt like jelly afterwards, of course, but promisingly I still felt as if I could have run further (luckily, because the half marathon is 13 miles, rather than the 12 miles I mistakenly thought it was – doh!). I also felt edified by the Freakonomics podcasts that I had substituted for my usual high-tempo music; while the latter might be better for HIIT workouts, I actually felt that listening to a slower-paced music helped me to maintain endurance for my long run.
From here, it’s onwards and upwards. I’m doing everything I can to resist getting injured (rest days, magnesium baths, lots of protein) as well as enjoying the welcome opportunity to enjoy well-deserved carbs after my runs.
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