Day 1 of 'Official Half Marathon' Training...

Tights & no shades....and not quite so pink..but you get the pic

The alarm was set, the ipod loaded, the sneakers, socks, tights, sports bra and running vest were all laid out.....and then 41 minutes before the alarm was due to cut through my no doubt mellifluous dreams, the phone rang.  I had to do something for a dear friend, someone I'd committed to helping at this time.  As always with me, compassion came first...I mean I could always run later, right?

Favour done, daughter dropped to science lessons, I was ready, if not totally willing, to take my son for a bike ride. Mercifully he was in no mood to wake up, and even when he did Harry Potter seemed way more compelling than dragging himself out of his cosy bed to suffer the discomfort of bike riding.  Now I really do need to get this child more active, but I knew fighting him down was really going to reduce my desire to run...

Now, as most people know, this level of flaking can get to epidemic proportions very quickly....I mean a million things could happen between 10am and a possible late afternoon run. For example, I dropped my son off at my sister's and started chatting... having extracted myself, Sunday lunch had to be cooked.  Then just as I started making progress with that, rain started plummeting down accompanied by ominous thunder & lightning making running suddenly seem an obnoxious idea. Then my grouper in peanut sauce tasted so good with the peas and rice and roast peppers I really wanted a bigger portion...but with only just over an hour before the run plan, this was risky.  Next the car wash man was hungry...so I jumped up with my generous self and gave him a plate of my food, before gobbling down just a little more myself....

Somehow though, for once, the time gods were on my side! So when 5 'o' clock came I was fed, digested, dressed and ready.  My two possible running partners baled so I put on my ipod, didn't bother with the drinks belt, cranked up the sweet soca and was off.

It was a beautiful run, with the rainy season causing yet another stunning sunset, the Christmas lights shining optimistically and the usual range of people each adding their distinct character to the most public of exercise/air-taking-in/open air homeless habitation arenas. At various points my feet, ankles, hips and thigh muscles ached, but never excruciatingly. I knew my pace was a little slow, but picked it up whenever I remembered to, and reminded myself that it being the first long in a while, I should avoid burning myself out. And the real beauty was knowing from experience and a touch of pre-run visualisation that I could, with all certainty complete the distance - and more if necessary.

So with that train now in motion....all I have to do is ensure it reaches its destination. 

Watch this space!!