For a while I’ve felt like a lapsed runner, but recently I’ve set myself a goal of starting to run again.
I never really stopped running. But I did stop running ‘properly’. By this I mean, getting out at least three times and week and training seriously, watching what I eat etc.
I used to really love doing this, but somewhere over the last couple of years it just kind of fell away.
I can pinpoint lots of reasons for this.
Becoming a father again
mid-night bottle feeds and nappy changes, aren’t conducive to serious training, who knew?
Getting married
Back in the day I was running, swimming, cycling, walking up to four times a week. Funnily enough, that kind of obsessive desire didn’t seem to go down well with the other half after we’d tied the knot.
Losing my running buddy
At the same time as we got hitched, my running buddy also got hitched, and so our regular runs just drifted apart. That meant a lot of my focus and discipline simply to get running went out of the window, too.
Working for myself
Since leaving the sanctuary of paid employment to set up my own business in 2016, a lot of mental energy, let’s face it virtually all of my mental energy has been devoted to making sure there’s enough money coming in to live on each month. Strangely that has lessened my training intensity (except for one really bad point in 2018, when I was out running at 10pm to gee myself up, another story).
Running out of things to say
That’s not directly linked to not running, but it is why I haven’t posted for a while, as I just didn’t feel I had anything useful to say, and didn’t want to crank stuff out just for the sake of it.
The irony is of course, that had I stuck to my training plans, I think it would have helped.
Race fatigue
I was finding it hard to do the training for races, so decided to have a break from them for a bit.
A couple of bad marathons
Faltering in the last half of my second marathon at Richmond in 2018, I started to wonder ‘is this worth it?’ That told me I probably needed a break too.
But now the wheel is turning full circle and I feel a need to get back into things.
Here’s why – the scales are tipping at 13.5 stones, and for me that doesn’t feel like a good look.
Also, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about..
Life, the Universe and Everything
Without getting too heavy about it, a veil has been lifted a bit about what I want to do with myself and how I define success (big clue – it’s not about money, but about being healthy, doing the right things, being there for your kids and family etc).
It’s all lead to a change in approach in terms of work/life balance etc and going back to some first principles I had in mind when I quit my job, yet which somehow got lost.
But anyway, back to running and starting to run again.
So, while running never really went away, it had dropped down to a regular weekly Sunday run, and may be a second run in the week. But for me that definitely wasn’t enough.
Starting to run again
I’m hoping to do the Marriott’s Way 10k in October
It’s hard to believe when I started running properly again in 2007, I was doing half marathon times of 1.48.
For a long time, I’ve convinced myself, I’ll never get back to that standard. Though I’m optimistic enough to never say never.
But for now, if I set that as a goal, I feel I may be putting too much pressure on myself.
I’ve got the Ringland half in mind next year as something to aim for.
First off, however, I just want to get out there again and start enjoying myself.
Are you trying to get back into running after a long break? Let us know how it’s going!
Virtual Rooms: Everything You Need To Know
Virtual phone numbers have become very popular in today’s digital era, offering users resilient, privacy, and convenience. Unlike from regular phone handsets that are associated with a specific device or location, virtual numbers operate via the internet, providing a wide range capabilities.
What are virtual phone numbers?
Virtual rooms are phone numbers that are not connected straightforwardly to a physical phone line. Instead of that, they are managed through cloud systems or applications. This enables users to make and receive calls, send text alerts indeed manage voicemail without having to rely on regular phone service.
Superiors of Virtual Phone Numbers
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How to Get a Virtual Phone Number
1. Choose a Provider: Research the different services that offer virtual phone numbers. Famous options include Google Voice, Sideline, and Grasshopper.
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3. Set Up Features: Almost many services offer additional features including voicemail transcription, call forwarding, and text messages. Customize the settings to suit all your preferences.
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Conclusion
Virtual phone numbers have revolutionized the way of communication, providing important benefits for both individuals and businesses. With increased privacy, cost savings and global reach, they are a powerful appliance in modern telecommunications. Regardless of whether you need a number for own use or to enhance your company’s style, a virtual telephone number can be good solution.