TNH post-blood donation

I remembered really well how rubbish I was at hill running the previous time I donated blood. So just three days after my last donation, I had been wondering a bit if I should go. But I did. You can always bail out if you feel that’s better. 

I also would be able to try out my new head torch! 

On the parking lot where we gathered, there was a whole bunch of people who weren’t feeling they were in key shape, for various reasons. Ian said he would skip the first leg of the route. When we do the winter route, we run something I see as a clumsy sketch of a dog. We start with the tail; that’s on the flat. And after that we head up to the Llanberis path, and that’s one of the hind legs. So Ian would skip the tail. I decided to join him. And I mentioned it to Geoff, who hadn’t been for a long time, and the fellow sports scientist he had brought. When I said it was because of blood donation, I saw his sport science brain immediately kick into action. He wanted to know more. But also, both sports science folk decided to join too. 

Map of the normal running route. The tail is indicated by the black arrow.

We got to the turning around point before anyone who had run the tail did. And Ian wasn’t lingering. I followed! And we were the first at the second turning point too, together with a bloke who had been late, and skipped both the tail and the first leg.

When we went down from there we came across the rest of the bunch. And by the time we got to the next turning around point the main group had fully caught up with us. That was fine!

From there we do the other confusing ‘head of the dog’, which involves very short episodes of running with breaks in between. It is easy to stay together then. And when we set off for the last proper hill, I noticed quite quickly that indeed, I was bringing up the rear. Write a margin. At some point I could see nobody in front of me. But nobody cared. Someone has to be last! 

From there went back down, mostly together. I was glad I had come! I was also glad I had skipped the tail. Altogether it has been fine. And then the week after I would have more red blood cells to propel me up these hills.

I was about to head torch? That was a success! I realised early on that I hadn't bothered to check whether they sell them with their batteries full or not. And it did radiate light, so the battery was not totally flat. I suspected that it was actually not far off. But it got me to the end of the run. I could easily see enough! And it was great to have a lightweight item on my head. The torches I had been using so far were heavy and cumbersome. So I was very happy with my new purchase! And I intended to charge it immediately upon getting home. I will see the difference the week after!