Janathon Day 19 – the ‘like a virgin’ day
Today’s run was a 2 kilometre run/walk around Hove Park with a new runner. In fact, rather oddly, she’s somebody who might be hiring me as a running/yoga coach. Me!
Although it’s not as odd as all that. I qualified as a yoga teacher in 1987, and I’ve taught on and off ever since. Mainly off, to be honest, because I prefer to perform my asanas alone. But nobody has ever suggested I could coach them at running before.
Still we started with a gentle approach to fartlek and took it in turns to set a landmark to run to, and the pace we ran at. Her pace when running was faster than I would have set, which is what I expected, as most new runners start off faster than they can continue to run at. We explored running at a pace you can talk at, and running too fast to talk and then allowing the breathing to return to normal before increasing the pace again. It seemed to go well and she was very surprised (and pleased) to find she’d covered 2k without really noticing. Then back to her place for a couple of stretches that I hope will work to prevent her hip problem (sounds vaguely sciatic) recurring and we’ll see how she’s feeling tomorrow.
As for me, I feel great! It’s humbling to realise just how much I take my ability to run and do other forms of exercise for granted, and that I simply don’t appreciate, very often, how lucky I am to have the time, space, ability and training to indulge my various physical activities to the full. For the rest of the month I shall try to remember that running is a privilege and to enjoy it as such.
2 Comments
wombat
19th January 2011Good blog Kay.
Is it so wrong of me to laugh every time I hear someone say asanas i just can’t help it!
Right i’m off for some downward dog into dying swan!
Midgie
21st January 2011I do love that … going out with a newbie and then telling them how far they have run … much to their surprise! Whether it’s 2K or more, it’s great to chat away, offering tips and hints, and before they realize what they’ve done, they’ve done the run!
Well done you for encouraging others to get active and out for a lovely park run. Perhaps think about encouraging them to do the Hove Park Runs … might see you there!