Running further, working harder
Sunday morning was finally the day I did my early morning run. I set my alarm for 5:45, 5:50 and 6:00, although it only took the first. Unfortunately, I hadn’t actually thought it through so it was still pitch black at that time. So I set my alarm for 7, went at 7:15. I took my phone with me so I could try a running app, but thought it’d be a bit of a hassle to take my room key with me so I’d hide my key and lock my door. I put it in the kitchen… but I couldn’t actually get back into the building without it, which I realised having left it for about a minute. Nevertheless, I persisted with the run.
It was quarter of an hour before sunrise, the temperature was literally freezing, I was wearing the freshers’ t-shirt with shorts and just going for a run. It’s the sort of thing which makes me really enjoy how lucky I am that I am both in a position to and am able to motivate myself to do it. Gloves might have been helpful, though – I spent the first 10 minutes alternating which hand to hold my phone in, to avoid risking frostbite in each hand. That passed soon enough and I continued my run around parts of Oxford I haven’t been before, running past 20 people at a bus stop in shorts and t-shirt early on a Sunday morning. It’s such an amazing feeling.
I don’t really get why people are anxious running when other people are around (I only prefer not to so that it’s less crowded and more relaxed, but I really don’t mind). What happens? People see. People will probably think positively of you for being able to do something they don’t do themselves and that they know is good for them. If they think negatively, they’re just being silly and you’re not going to talk to them ever (most likely). So I react somewhat positively to others watching.
In terms of the run itself, I’m really pleased. I went for 25 minutes (which is about as long as I used to go) having not run in several months, nor really exercised, and at a fairly decent pace too. My phone wasn’t quite as pleased – automatically turning off because it was too cold to function – nor was my body since after stopping, I had to lie down for about half an hour. All part of the fun, though!
Now to the ubiquitous work. In some parts of maths I’m pleased with how things are going (probability, calculus), others it’s pretty difficult as it should be (analysis) but one area (linear algebra) I’m starting to become completely lost. The problem sheets kept people up until 3-4am, with them having started earlier. I also had an essay to do. This resulted in me not really understanding a lot of what went on during the problem sheets, along with me staying up until 6am to make progress on the essay (and then getting up at 8). I felt the essay went well but it turned out to be quite a bit worse than I had thought. It was still acceptable, but I can do better.
That should, however, be near the worst of it. It’s nearly the end of term and this was the last week with an essay, so it should be easier this week and I’ll work hard over the holidays, having learnt from experience what happens if I don’t. I’m pretty happy, though – I am confident my work will improve. I’m also definitely looking forward to running more (most likely tomorrow), and also looking forward to about an hour and half’s time when I’ll have gotten through a difficult tutorial.
PS: If you’ve actually read all of this, do you mind giving some feedback? I do want to know what I’m doing well/badly/what you want to actually hear about (although I’m quite surprised you’re interested at all). Otherwise I’m just left to my rambling self, which may not be ideal. Thanks!
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