The Flying Beetroot: Running Into 2015

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The Flying Beetroot Flying Into 2015

I tend to avoid New Year resolutions. Why set yourself up for failure right at the start of the year? Anyway, I figure I’ve got enough left over from 2014 to keep me going for a while.

The running has continued, right on schedule. Sorry about the monochromatic thing, but it can’t be helped.

Training runs 6

Behind all those green boxes are more than just distances. Every run has its own story. Some are great, inspiring runs that make me feel like this idiot idea is actually achievable. Some make me feel like this:

I like the runs when the sun is behind me (tricky to do that the whole way when I run in a circle). If I’m struggling, I can watch my shadow on the ground. As Peter Pan would understand, my shadow seems to run faster than I do.

Shadow run

I made the Spreadsheet Enforcer run the 12km after Christmas with me, since she was on holidays. I’d thought about making her run the 9km on Christmas Day but I’m not really that vindictive. I enjoyed that 12km run. It was nice to have someone other than Obsessive Compulsive Me to talk to for a change. (Yes, we talked and ran. It was a breathless conversation.)

New Year’s Day is obviously a happier day for people than Christmas Day. I got a lot more smiles, waves and ‘Hello’s. Perhaps the new year gave people hope of a change or of new beginnings. As Miss Stacey said to Anne Shirley, “Tomorrow is always fresh, with no mistakes in it.” Or maybe we were all just feeling smug that we were out exercising while everyone else was still in bed nursing a hangover.

I’ve gone back to rowing in earnest so some mornings I’ve rowed 7km before running 5-10km. And it’s summer. Double-Beetroot weather. Let’s just say, you wouldn’t want to hug me at the end of those runs…

At least the weather gods were kind to me last week and scheduled the two-day 40-plus-degrees (Celsius!) heatwave on Friday and Saturday when I didn’t have to run. Mind you, asked by our friend M-R what I would do if such weather did coincide with a run – would I still do it? – I believe my initial response was, “Ummm…..”. I could hear the eye-rolling on the other end of the line.

And in every one of those green boxes, at the end of every run, there’s this:

How come a hill never looks as steep in a photograph as it does when you're standing at the bottom it?

How come a hill never looks as steep in a photograph as it does when you’re standing at the bottom of it?

That’s what I run up at the end of my runs. Admittedly, at the end of a long run, it’s more of a fast stagger. And it’s not just to the gate, either. There’s a post just near the road at the top where I stop. Usually with a loud “Aargh!”

I have a dilemma about Sunday’s 12km run but I’m not going to tell you what it is because I know what you’ll say and, frankly, I don’t want to hear it. I’ll work it out but be prepared that the monochromatic spreadsheet may turn dichromatic.

 

 

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25 thoughts on “The Flying Beetroot: Running Into 2015”

  1. Love the cartoon, H – running into 2015 … 😀
    I knew the moment I asked that question that it was a waste of time. You’re you, and that’s that.
    But I’d hug you any time !

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  4. I’m impressed, I really am! But last night I stumbled across ‘Kings Cross ER’ (amazing what you find in the telly silly season!) which happened to be full of people who’d collapsed (some near-fatally) during the Bondi Marathon, when the temperature was high 30s. So do be careful, won’t you! No marathon’s worth dying for.

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  9. I too don’t believe in making New Year’s resolutions. If do make a plan of some sort, then okay – but I have no expectations of the outcome so I won’t feel dejected if it doesn’t work out.

    Glad that you’ve got a groove long distance running. Up and about, fresh as a daisy in the morning! I hope the weather hasn’t been too hot on your runs. I could barely move in the 40’C heat last week and just sat at home. It’s cooling down this week, at least in my part of town 😀

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    • I was very grateful those 40 degree days fell on non-running days. What I will do if a hot day does fall on a running day…. I’ll figure that out when I get to it. Knowing me, I’ll get up at 5am or something.

      I’m glad someone else isn’t into the resolution thing either. I prefer to give myself challenges to meet as they present themselves. Obviously. 😀

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  11. Well, I hope we get to hear the dilemma after the Sunday 12km run! I can’t believe that you set yourself up to run up a hill at the end of your training sessions! Also, quite familiar with the “fast stagger” you mention…..though, I think that’s my top gait and not my step-down gait! I think you need to add the word “Amazing” before the Flying in your name……The Amazing Flying Beetroot!

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