No more "running" for me!: After 2 years and... - Bridge to 10K

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No more "running" for me!

Bazza1234 profile image
Bazza1234Graduate10
6 Replies

After 2 years and 1600 klms of running - C25K, B210K and 49 parkruns - mostly done non-stop but with some longer Galloway style "races" - 14K and 21.1K - I think that I have decided to use run/walk, wogging, Scout's pace (call it what you want) for all distances from now on. I have in the past achieved an under 30 minute non-stop 5K parkrun, but increasingly I am feeling that I am not enjoying the seeming neverendingness of non-stop running - a slow 30/30 10K run/walk last Thursday left me feeling accomplished and happy. This week's 5K non-stop parkrun at a pace 2 minutes per Klm slower than my PB (it is summer and hot here!) left me feeling unhappy.

I have been increasingly aware that mixing with many runners who frequent parkrun and my local running club has been both a delight for me and a bit of a "trap". I have attempted to utilize both run/walking and running non-stop for longer/shorter distances - but it seems to me that they are basically incompatible. So - having now turned 69, I do believe that adopting run/walk as the "style" of my exercising, I will be able to keep it up far into the future.

After Christmas, we are doing a long 7 week cruise which will mean that I will have to run almost solely using a treadmill - but I now have a direction for the future - have signed up for a 10K "race" that I ran non-stop last year and intend to do my second HM in July -- and am eyeing off the extremely remote possibility of the Honolulu marathon next December (but would have to talk to some 5-6 hour marathoners before I could dream any further of that) :)

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Bazza1234 profile image
Bazza1234
Graduate10
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6 Replies
ju-ju- profile image
ju-ju-Graduate10

I think that sounds really sensible, and I also think you need a bit of time out to get the love back.... I think running has seasons in our emotions and you need to just find the love again... Really good plan about Galloway.... I know it suits so many people 😄

turnturtle profile image
turnturtle

Join the jeffing converts Bazza! I enjoy running so much more now I stick to this. It's so much kinder on the body and you can still get good times!

Bazza1234 profile image
Bazza1234Graduate10 in reply to turnturtle

I have been very happy doing it when training for a HM a month or so ago - but I just felt that I wanted to keep the ability to run at least 5K non-stop ( especially after all the effort and energy we put into C25k and B20K which basically encourage us to run -non-stop. . But I have lost the enjoyment of even doing that - however I feel that I can happily run/walk until the cows come home. Of course, there are not only different ratios of running to walking that can be experimented with - but also different paces when running. My aim is to do more longer and slower runs at lowish Heart rate numbers - and shorter much faster repeats (say around 400 metre repeats) maybe just once per week.

turnturtle profile image
turnturtle in reply to Bazza1234

I have given up on the heart rate monitor. It scared me! So far, the 150 second run 30 second walk split has served me well. I feel really comfortable doing it, don't get exhausted as I did when continually running and my times keep improving. When/if I plateau I'll think of something else to try. That for me is the joy of running without a coach telling me what to do. I'm free to listen to myself and pick and choose from various books and articles things that I think might be applicable to me. I have tried the 30:20:10 technique that Juicyju suggested and quite like it. I think doing occasional speed work like this for training is fun and probably helps build strength/endurance. Chacon a son gout!

Anaverageman profile image
Anaverageman

good for you... its so easy to be pressurised by what others are doing,,,

at the end of the day its whats RIGHT for you...

Katie204 profile image
Katie204Graduate10

I used a run/walk training programme while I was training for the Royal Parks HM last year, and got on pretty well with it. I could keep going for miles doing that.

During the actual race, though, I got swept along in the crowd and started doing all running - with the result that I tired myself out too soon and ended up doing a lot of walking later on in the race. Moral of the story - do what feels good for you and ignore the pack!

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