I've only really started running in the last year, so had refrained from posting too much in this thread, as I was/am a bit crap. I don't really run; I wobble-jog. But I think I'm getting better.
I started running a bit when we got Meg, the border collie puppy. Puppies aren't supposed to over-exercise (growing bones and stuff) so at 5 months old, and only able to do 20 minutes of run-walk, she was my ideal running partner. As she got bigger, I got a bit better, so we could run further and (a tiny bit) faster. I bought myself a running watch in November, which was a revelation. It turns out that I'm not actually totally shit (in whole population terms, not in proper running terms), and that the watch is massively motivational. I've also finally learnt to run at a pace lower that 'near-death experience' pace. Initially 'near-death' pace wasn't actually very fast, it was just that I was really lacking fitness, but as I got fitter, I was continuing to run as fast as I could reasonably manage, which made it a bit of a generally unpleasant experience. So about 4 months ago I learnt to run to the pace on the watch, at a pace about 30 sec per km slower than 'near-death' pace, which makes it a nice run, with more in the tank to go a bit longer -
total revelation!
My problem now is that I've just moved from somewhere that was near the coastal path (so could do 5-10km with only about 30m of rise) to the side of a mountain (Moel y Ci, if anyone knows it). I've done my first couple of runs there last week - so much harder
from my house I have a choice of go down then up, or up then down. Both ways have 250m elevation change in 2km. Get fit or die trying I suppose.