So, since this is a running blog, why don't I share some tips that I've come across online. If you're going to ditch your treadmill and reacquaint yourself with the outdoors, you will have to prepare for wind from time to time. Here is some advice I found, albeit after my run this morning, that you might find handy (and some not so handy):
Good Tips:
- Wear warm, light and wind resistant running gear like long tights, a windbreaker and an ear warmer (which also helps reduce wind noise in your ear and helps keep your headphones in place). This is a great tip and one I didn't follow today. I am a huge advocate of high quality and weather appropriate running gear. I haven't done laundry yet and my long tights are dirty, so I wore my short and flimsy Nike running shorts. Luckily, I have my Nike running jacket here (which is light, breathable and yet somehow wind and water resistant...it's magic). At least I didn't wear the adorable running skirt I packed? It's pleated, too. How fitting it would be for my "kilt" to fly up while I ran in Scotland. The ear warmer definitely would have been helpful today. Every two minutes I was sticking my headphones back in my ears and I sometimes couldn't hear my music over the wind. Next time.
- Run against the wind first, and then with it on your way back. Fight the toughest battle when you have the most energy. On the way back, you will be so grateful for the same wind you cursed for the first 30 minutes of your run. The push on the way back benefits you both physically and psychologically. Not only is it carrying you forward, but it also gives you that nudge of encouragement to go a little faster and make it home without stopping.
- Make like some sort of human aerodynamic machine and run with a forward tilt. Seriously? Not only will you look ridiculous, but this could waste energy and worst of all, lead to an injury. I can't believe how many posts I saw that recommend this technique. I suggest maintaining proper form like you would any regular day.
- Run behind a really fat person. OK, someone said this as a joke and I admit, I had a chuckle when I found it :) While a really fat person would make the perfect windbreaker, I doubt they will be running ahead of you at the same speed. Maybe in their motor chair....
So, as I said already, I ran along the old course again. The same route, with a detour, that I took during my night time run on Sunday. I wanted to see everything this time. I also thought you might be interested in seeing these heaps of manure, so I took a picture of them today :D Since I met the manure heaps and a gate on my path last time, I decided to follow another path that connected right there, that went through the golf course. I didn't even notice it last time because it was so dark. So there I was, running like Sean Connery through this world famous golf course, amongst the world's wealthiest and most special golfers. Apparently not just anyone can play this course. I took this connecting path through the course thinking it would link back up with the main path or take me to a road on the other side, but I was wrong. About 10 minutes through, I hit a dead end with some maintenance sheds. So, I turned back, met up with the main path, and ran home. The whole run was 60 minutes without any stops. This might be my record. I used to run 10 minutes, walk 2 minutes, run 10 minutes and so on. On this Europe trip, I've managed to do all my runs without stopping to walk and 60 minutes is the farthest I've gone. You never know until you try, right? Next time, I will try go farther.
OK Kids. I hope you enjoyed this post as much as the others. Oh, by the way, I know I haven't posted any photos or videos of myself on this blog. So, just for you, there's a video of my shadow :) I'll warm up to the idea of taking pictures of myself soon....it's just so...weird. Not as weird as taking a video of my shadow while I run, though. :P
-Jerk
Manure!
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