Looping the loop

After months of talking about it, I finally went out and did a long run around the block

The pier at Paignton Green

I finally did it. After months of talking about it, I finally went out and did a longish run around the block. Later this year I’m hoping to run 6,000 or so laps of the block in New York, so running in circles is something I’m going to have to get used to. And so yesterday I did seven laps of Paignton Green. It doesn’t sound much, but you’ve got to start somewhere.

The block in New York is about half a mile long, while Paignton Green is exactly a mile. Paignton Green also has the sea beside it, to add to the appeal, and to scent the air with salt, sea breeze and chips. But other than those small differences, it’s a fairly good place to practice. It’s all tarmac, it’s flat, and it’s a loop. Loop the loop, on a loop, that’s what I have to do.

So how was it? Well, it may have been less than one hour of running, but it was enough already to give me a glimpse in to some of the possible challenges I might face.