Chairman's Chat

Running is boring isn't it?! The same tracks, trails and tarmac, the routes, the same routine, running round the block can drive you round the bend. 

But it needn't be. There are so many ways to refresh your running. Here's a few:

Try a New Path: When you run, there are so many turns that you don't take because you don't know where they lead and they don't form part of your planned route. Next time, just give it a shot, what have you got to lose (apart from yourself! 🙂). You'll discover that this path connects to another path you know, brings you out somewhere familiar or just takes you on a little adventure. Only a few weeks back when I was planning a session for a Thursday evening, I took a new path. It took me up a big hill with super views (we didn't use it in the session) and helped me understand how the paths in the area linked together. 

Run Somewhere Else: I expect that you have run every pavement and path that leads from the street where you live. Get in the car and drive. In less than 10 minutes you can be in unfamiliar territory where every path is unknown. Use apps and maps if you are unfamiliar with an area (and tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back) and just explore.

Run With Someone (ask them first though!): They will run places you haven't and maybe open your eyes to new routes and connecting paths. 

Challenge Yourself No.1: Do you always run at the same pace? Don't do this as over time your body will economise and provide the least amount of energy required to get the job done. Run fast and put your body under pressure to adapt (over time), run slow and let your body recover before running fast again. Vary your pace (Fartlek) when you pass a lamppost, a dog, a shop, run fast for a minute every five minutes, just run and have fun.

Challenge Yourself No.2: Race. Go on, enter a race. Next week or next year, setting yourself a future challenge will focus your training on quality and take you away from routine. 

Challenge Yourself No.3: Go further, go faster, go at night. Give yourself a target of time, pace or distance. 

Rewards: Reward yourself for an achievement - If I do X, I can have Y. Each run then becomes a step on the journey to a goal. I put a £1 in a money box for every mile I run. I don't miss the £1s but I certainly noticed the £1000 I amassed at the end of 2018. My reward? Disney (but don't tell the kids!!!).

Try a Different Club Night: Have you been to all of our three Club Nights? Each provides different opportunities to participate in different sessions in different locations with different people. If you have any questions about any sessions, please get in touch. 

For the Club's part, we try to vary the sessions we host, change emphasis, change location, add things in, take things away and generally keep things fresh - what else could explain you all picking envelopes out of a bucket near the Pomphrey Pond or running down the Horseshoe Pub with a broken heart in your hand?! We won't always get it right and we won't please everyone, but we'll have fun trying!

NB: You can do some of the above at our 7th Birthday Away Run on Thursday 13th June. Friends and fields, sausages and socializing. Full details of timings and distances on the Facebook Event Page. There will be no run from Pomphrey on this date.

Whatever you do, keep it fresh.

Happy Running!

Neil - Club Chairman