Rainy Running

 After that horrific heatwave, I promised myself that I would never complain about rain again.  I'm certainly not going to let it get in the way of my running, (not that I ever did really.) So, I have been welcoming the wet weather this week, finding it fresh and invigorating.  I've set myself a challenge for August to run 100 miles over the month, something I haven't done since lockdown. I'm going to try and get out for a run every day.  Over the last couple of weeks I have been running a bit more frequently and I'm sure that has helped my pace to improve a little.  My last few parkrun times have been quicker than they've been for months.  Whilst I know pace is not everything, I do feel that my fitness benefits from short daily runs and perhaps more importantly, I feel better mentally when I start my day with a run.  It gives me a bit of structure and a feeling of positivity which helps me to cope with whatever else the day brings. To help me stay motivated I have signed up for a virtual challenge in aid of an insect conservation charity and I'm looking forward to earning a bit of bling. I have become quite good at spotting a bargain.  This virtual run was reduced to just £5 and it seemed perfect for me, as this year I'm trying to support as many nature/animal related causes as I can.

This morning the rain was bucketing down and it was one of those days when you know it's no point sitting around hoping for a break in the clouds.  So, I pulled on my gear and set off.  I decided to wear my rain jacket, not least because it has zipped pockets big enough for me to put a folded up carrier bag, my Tesco Club Card and my credit card.  This was handy because I had to buy ingredients for a Thai curry recipe for tonight's meal and I didn't want to have to go out again later in the rain.  So, I planned a route that finished in the vicinity of Tesco.  The running jacket is a bit annoying though.  No matter how lightweight it claims to be, I always end up sweating like a pig after half a kilometre.  

One of the benefits (at least, I think it's a benefit) of running is that it has robbed me of my vanity.  There was a time when I would not have dreamt of going out into the world dressed in a bright yellow hi vis jacket.  (Or perhaps more precisely, it is the sort of thing I WOULD have dreamt of, in the same way that I sometimes dream that I'm back at school and I'm wearing nothing but a vest.) In my pre-running days, I really did stress about what to wear on a rainy day, how to be practical without looking like a complete frump and I absolutely hated getting my hair wet. 

It's lovely to have arrived at the stage in life where I don't give a toss.  I suppose it's one advantage of being in my 50s.  Once you get to a certain age, you do become invisible.  Workmen aren't going to fall off the scaffolding when you pass by, no matter what you're wearing.  Although it can take time to adjust to this invisibility, once you get used to it, it's absolutely wonderful.  It's particularly wonderful for a runner because what every runner wants is to be left alone to do their thing.  They don't want to feel like someone is watching them and they certainly don't want cat calls and wisecracks.  I am sure it's a lot harder for women in their 20s and 30s and I know from reading the experiences of young women on the running sites that unwelcome attention can sap their confidence and make them less likely to go out and run. The menopausal years can be incredibly liberating.  For me, being left alone to do my thing is an absolute joy.  It's a time of rediscovery when we find new challenges and new means of validation.  I find that these days I worry less about what I look like and focus more on how healthy I am, how strong I feel. 

So, to anyone aged 50+ who is hesitating, thinking of downloading Couch to 5K but worrying they are too old to start, my advice would be to go for it.  You are never too old to give something new a try and it might just be the best thing you ever did.  I still feel that learning to run is one of the best things I ever did. I was nearly 50 when I started and it was absolutely the right time for me.

I enjoyed this morning's rather soggy run and there's something very satisfying about coming home on a day like that, showering and warming up and drinking a mug of coffee in a warm kitchen while doing Wordle, listening to the raindrops on the windowpane.  It's true what they say about happiness being about appreciating the little things.  That's how to start a day.