When I was younger, my dad and my brother used to enjoy nothing better on a Saturday morning than watching an hour of WWF wrestling – and, as we only had one TV in those days, I was also forced to watch it.
I say forced but actually I had my own bedroom (not to mention a back garden) so I could have gone somewhere else but firstly I liked to moan (loudly) about the fact that I wasn’t getting my own way (the horror) and secondly I secretly enjoyed it.
It wasn’t the violence I liked, because most of it seemed choreographed like a dance, but more the theatre of it all.
My favourite character was The Undertaker – I was a strange child – and his manager Paul Bearer (see what they did there) who carried an urn which he used to revive the Undertaker when it seemed like he was a goner.
Anyway, there is a point to this, honest.
It all came back to me on Saturday as I was out running. Yes, I’m back on the C25K after a period of absence – some enforced when my parents were poorly for three weeks and I didn’t have anyone to look after Freya and some down to pure laziness.
I was jogging along, trying to think of anything apart from how far I’ve regressed in those weeks away, when I passed some fellow early morning runners coming the other way who were all in brightly coloured outfits, which almost looked like costumes.
I began entertaining myself with the notion of runners as the WWF characters I knew from my childhood (I don’t know why, it was probably lack of oxygen).
Immediately, I knew who I would be. The Undertaker, of course. I always wear black from head to nearly feet (including long sleeved base layer with t-shirt over the top) and, as it’s usually early in the morning, I probably look like death with huge dark bags under my eyes from lack of sleep. I was in short trousers (or long shorts depending on how you look at it) and my legs are deathly pale as a result of being under cover all winter. Plus instead of an urn, if you saw me flagging and waved a chocolate bar in my direction I’d definitely find the energy to sprint towards you.
I was even considering getting The Rundertaker printed on the back of my t-shirt before I realised that it doesn’t make any sense – and that I should probably walk for a bit as I was clearly losing the plot.
So, this is a long-winded way of saying I went for a run (on both Saturday and Sunday morning) and it was very hard, although slightly easier the second day.
Hopefully now the weather is a bit better and I don’t have to rely on the gym (which I can’t get to on a Saturday and doesn’t open on a Sunday) I can keep it up.
Maybe I will even branch out into wearing a different costume, one day.
After The Rain 
I am glad I am not the only one clad in black! I thought of you this weekend as I finally found a pair of running shorts that are loose AND not obscenely short. H and M came through!! I am not sure if the collection is the same in the UK but it’s worth a look if you want some new kit, it’s far cheaper than the major sports brands and seems to be good quality. Well done on getting back to the C25K!
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I didn’t even know they did sport stuff! I wonder if it’s in their ethical range. Thanks for the tip. I’m going to have a look now.
PS Why are exercise shorts so short? The only thing I found them good for was putting over running tights!
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A friend mentioned them to me but I had no idea before! I don’t think it’s the ethical range though which is a shame. Do you know of any good ethical sports wear brands?
Running shorts are HORRIBLE, I have managed to avoid them till now, it’s just too hot in Dubai to wear the trousers – especially as they are practically a second skin!! No one seems to design for real women who want to get fit while being comfortable??
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You’re so right! As for ethical, I know that this site gets top ratings http://www.gossypium.co.uk and I’m a fan of http://www.patagonia.com/eu/enGB/search/running but they are still clingy material, in my opinion (although maybe that’s what you need to keep sweat away?)
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Well done you! I love running outside and never run on a treadmill.
However, I’m off for the foreseeable future with a knee injury, so there may well be treadmill work waiting for me. In my future. There will definitely be Zombies, Run! 5k for sure.
Go you!
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The Zombies run is good fun, as long as you’re not in a lonely park on a bleak winter’s day 😀
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Were there any WWF Wrestling characters with bright red faces? that would be me 😀 Good one doing this, I did start running a while ago and eventually started to really enjoy it, think I’ll have to have another bash, loads of old railway tracks around here to run on! I was all decked out in black too…no surprises there! 🙂
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Hah! I also go bright red when I stop, which is strange. I never would have thought I would enjoy running but it’s become quite addictive. I would love to run on old railway tracks rather than a ring road!
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Good for you! The first one back is always the hardest and you got out there and smashed it! I’m not a runner, so full of respect for anyone who is – it’s hard!
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Oh I feel your pain, I have had a week off and gone back to it tonight and all I could think of was how much I had regressed. My legs are milk bottle white too, time for some fake tan I think xx
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It’s in all my head with me, I’m not even out of breath when I stop and walk sometimes, which is why I try and distract myself with nonsense 🙂 Might have to get some fake tan too.
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