After one day of rest, during which my muscles were reminding me why I don’t usually run, I hauled myself out of bed at 6.45, did a few stretches and headed back down to Oriental Bay. I’m still, as ever, an awkward runner, my posture isn’t great and I’m not sure where to position my arms. Watching other runners – they seem to have a very comfortable way of running, however they do all have different styles. Some run with arms hung loose, hands waving about. Some run with clenched fists, arms bent at a right angle. Some run with arms bent but raised slightly higher and pulled into the body. I haven’t find a style that’s comfortable yet, my arms feel stiff, my hands, lightly clenched, feel wrong. My speed is off too, as ever I’m trying to quash the urge to run as fast as I am able and instead jog lightly. It’s hard as my natural inclination is to do everything as fast I can then have a sit down, but I know that on a longer run that isn’t sustainable. So I’ve been trying to concentrate on a more plodding speed rather than roadrunner speed.
My next run will be Saturday or Sunday morning. I’m not looking forward to it as I know there will be more people about and I’m still self conscious about my chaotic style. As an antidote to the self consciousness I will no doubt feel, I plan to take a long cycle in the weekend – riding a bike feels as natural to me as breathing.
