When I wrote part 1 and part 2 of this series, I wasn’t even sure there would be a part 3…

I certainly wasn’t making it part of my plan.

Not a “dear running pt 3” or any actual running. I remember saying I wouldn’t rule it out altogether, but I also remember vividly writing or at least thinking that the only thing that got me through that half marathon was the thought that I never had to run again!

It has been close to 2 months since *that* day and I have still no desire to run anywhere close to 13.1 miles (21km)

However…

I have run twice since then and I have to say I haven’t hated it!

Both times were very short, and not very long running intervals and both times I was helping a friend (a different friend each time) who had just started running and wanted some company.

The first time was at the end of April, I was in Scotland, on a boat and we went for a short trot down the towpath.

I was shocked that I din’t hate it, and that I could successfully encourage Ros to push herself more than she thought she could! This is not something I thought I would ever be able to do in relation to running!!

The second run was today. It was cold, it was raining a lot and it was in my lunchbreak! My friend Milena wanted to start running and she said she needed someone to motivate her and make sure she actually does it. So I agreed to run with her.

You know what, the same thing happened…I didn’t hate it and I managed to be encouraging and cheerful despite getting really soggy…

Really soggy…my running jacket is not meant to stick to my arms like that!!

Now I have to say that both of these runs were right at the beginning of the c25k program, so not that much running compared to what I was doing earlier this year. That, however, is not the point at all! The point is I didn’t hate it.

I left both runs surprised at how easy I felt them. I have said before that it is worthwhile to go back and reflect on how far you have come, but I had really forgotten how much I had improved over the last 2 years. I really felt I was no better than when I started.

This exercise proves to me that I can improve, and it has left me with a desire to run some more.

Not vast distances.

Not races, I still believe they destroy my confidence beyond all reason.

Hopefully not in as much rain as today.

But some running sometimes.

Probably quite often as Milena seems to have caught enthusiasm! (O_O)

Lets see how this goes…I’ll keep you posted 😀