Learn to Run
(all over again)
#RedleafWalking
So one of the little things I thought I would start on Monday 29 August was a learn to run program again. My plan was to start slow and do each training day twice for the first month just to see how I, and my knee, held up. And then that fell apart a couple of weeks in when Toby went to BC for a couple of weeks and then Q and I went to PEI and then Edgar got neutered and THEN Q got COVID…. and well, it’s really never ending.
And recognizing that it’s never ending means I have to pick a new start date and stick to it. Something will always come up.
Thinking: We take Edgar back to the vet mid-November to remove the stitches. Then I will ask about starting him with the learn to run with me. He walks really well on a leash and the running at the start is a minute or two long only. I dunno. We’ll see.
Either way – and because I love winter – I am re-starting Monday November 14. Weeks start on Monday for me. It’s as good a day as any. (Note that the first draft had this at November 28. I couldn’t think of why so I bumped it to November 21, then to November 14. And now I’m wondering why I don’t just start on November 7?)
So the PLAN: I am following a 10K runner app.
Week 1 Day 1 (W1D1)
5 minute warm up
1 min run; 1.5 min walk x 6
5 minute cool down
W1D2
5 minute warm up
1 min run; 1.5 min walk x 8
5 minute cool down
W1D3
same as W1D2
Week 2 will be a little different: 1.5 minute runs and 2 minute walks get added to the mix. I might do Week 1 x 2 and then move to Week 2. It depends on how it all goes.
My plan is to walk/run on Mondays, Thursdays (while Q is in dance I can go run!), and Saturdays.
AND if I cannot run – which will be dependent only on the actual physical ability of my knee – then I will switch it to “walk with purpose; recovery walk” but I will still do it.
GETTING TO PEI
One of the things I did years ago when I started running was pretend I was running to PEI. I had so much fun with that that I am going to do it again.
My start, as I did in 2013, is Nathan Phillips Square, the home of Toronto City Hall:

So some fun facts: Nathan Phillips was the first Jewish mayor of Toronto. He was a lawyer, born in Brockville Ontario.
You can really tell the place was designed in the 1960s. Though I think it’s still awesome. It’s also been used a lot in movies so obviously I’m not the only one who thinks so.
And then the ending spot:

It took a year to build this “romanesque revival” style building from 1887 to 1888. It’s a National Historic Site of Canada as well.

I will add up the distance of my walk/runs every so often and we’ll see how far I get. The tag for this one is #RedleafWalking – it’s a long story but some of you will understand.
Every week seems silly at the start. We’re talking a few KMs of distance focused on the app (I am not including just the walking the dog KMs) maybe every 2 weeks to start? or 4? I dunno yet.
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You got this!