Festive but exhausted!

On Friday I had a much needed rest day although I didn't really feel the benefit of it as I had a manic day at school with the first "proper" performance of the Christmas play followed in the evening by our works Christmas Party Night ... and what a fabulous time we had!  Lots of eating, dancing, drinking, hilarity and good old fashioned fun!
On Saturday I was amazed to find that I woke up feeling fine and dandy and we went to pick our Christmas trees! This is a very time consuming experience when hunting for not just one but two perfect trees! After much deliberating and looking at every tree from every possible angle I made my choices and after strapping them to the car roof we took them home!  However, I couldn't decorate them as my daughter was at work and I was under strict instructions not to dare do it without her!

Instead I tackled my ironing mountain, then as it approached 3 O'clock I decided I couldn't put off going for my run for much longer. 

It was a fine but cold afternoon and I wanted to do a 9 minute mile pace run. I set my Garmin and set off keeping a fairly consistent pace of around 9m/m for the first 3 miles before my body started to rebel and I began to feel ever so slightly queasy.  I tried not to slow down too much and focused on reaching home without puking or collapsing in an unconscious heap!

I was delighted to arrive home after a hard 6.2 miles and was equally delighted that my average pace was 9.13 minute miles. Not bad considering how bad I felt and the huge number of toxins that were bombarding my body at the time!

However, in hindsight this detox run was probably not one of my best ideas as I felt dreadful for the rest of the day.  Perhaps it was a delayed hangover and in the morning I was fine because the alcohol level in my blood was still higher than my blood level!

Anyhow, at 10 O'clock I admitted defeat and went to bed!  It is unheard of for me to go to bed early on a Saturday night and even more unheard of that I was stone cold sober!

My body must have been telling me I was too old to party as I slept a full 12 hours and didn't rise from my pit until 10am this morning!

When I started to gain consciousness this morning the first thing to enter my bleary head was the fact I had a 9 mile LSR to fit in today.  The thought alone filled me feel sheer dread. Once I dragged myself downstairs I pondered "to run or not to run" over a cup of coffee and a bowl of Weetabix laced with sugar as I felt I needed the energy!

The sugar rush must have hit the spot because before I knew it I was back upstairs changing into my running gear!  I decided to do a 3 mile circuit and to see how I felt ...  if I felt OK I could run it a second time ... then a third time if I was still in the land of the living.

However, my legs had a very different plan! For some baffling and peculiar reason I turned off the road onto a muddy track!  This may be normal behaviour for some but I have a big phobia to running off-road as I fear injury and so NEVER do it!  

So why was I happily slip sliding my way through the mud feeling privileged to be running in the fresh air surrounded by fantastic scenery in total peace and quiet!!!  I felt happy and alive and had no inclination to look at my Garmin to check my pace or distance! I felt FREE and I wasn't even perturbed by the fact that I had to climb over about 6 stiles en route! I think I have just discovered a new love in my life!

Anyhow, after concentrating hard whilst running for 5 miles so as not to slip I was back on the hard tarmac!

I ran 8.73 miles just short of my 9 mile target. It was a slow pace at just 10.43 minute miles but because it was a very different run to my norm I am not at all bothered.  I am still amazed how much I enjoyed it!

After a shower and lunch it was time to get festive and decorate the Christmas trees! We didn't have the correct colour tinsel to finish the second tree ... so watch this space!!!

Week 4 starts tomorrow! 17 weeks to go!