10 miles. Proud. Knackered. :): Recently I... - Bridge to 10K

Bridge to 10K

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10 miles. Proud. Knackered. :)

AnneDroid profile image
AnneDroidGraduate10
34 Replies

Recently I asked for your thoughts on progressing from 10 k to 10 miles.

healthunlocked.com/bridgeto...

Thank you for the replies.

Anyway, I ran 10 miles yesterday! I am very pleased with myself.

Admittedly it took me the best part of two hours and I bribed myself round with the promise of one minute's walk break every thirty minutes. And for the last mile I had to walk up any uphill sections. And I did nothing for the rest of the day. But still... I'm so happy.

I have NOT registered for the 10 mile run on 18 March which I posted about. But I'm still thinking about it. The closing date is two days before...

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AnneDroid profile image
AnneDroid
Graduate10
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34 Replies
Madge50 profile image
Madge50Graduate10

Hi Anne, that's brilliant, well done you, and that's similar to my speed....now if it was me....given my limited experience on 'race' prep, if I was going to do the 'race' on the 18th, I'd now be tapering, so, no more 10 miles until the day, max 8-10k, and your last run max 5k (very slow) a couple of days before.

If you do decide to do the 10 miler this 'tapering' will mess with your head big time, but just go with it.....it takes 2 weeks for gains to be made, so still doing high distance less than 2 weeks out from a race apparently doesn't help and may send you down overuse injuries - especially if you're new to the distance.

I'm a scardy cat anyway and always cautious, but this tapering has worked for me on two 10 milers and that HM on Sunday.

So its decision time......🤔........be confident......you can do it....😉👏

Hope that's helpful.......😄

Mx

AnneDroid profile image
AnneDroidGraduate10 in reply to Madge50

Thank you Madge50 . That all sounds very sensible. I can't believe I'm even thinking about doing it. I will definitely taper now in case I do go for it.

I've had a look at the results tables from previous years and I would probably be dead last. Well hopefully not dead, but last!

However, I have two slow running friends who MIGHT be doing it. So I'll maybe let that be the deciding factor. If they do it I'll at least have friendly faces near me. :)

Madge50 profile image
Madge50Graduate10 in reply to AnneDroid

Yes, I remember looking at finish times....😄......I'm not bothered too much now, but I do check if the event has an actual official 'cut off' time, usually for a 10 miler it's at least 2 and a half hours, so you'll be fine.

I hope you decide to give it a go, and with your friends you can help each other along....great fun...!

Mx

Bazza1234 profile image
Bazza1234Graduate10 in reply to AnneDroid

There is DNS, DNF and DFL -- but you won't be any of those!! :)

Dunder2004 profile image
Dunder2004Graduate10

Well done, Anne.

Did you eat anything during the run? I find that i get badly drained of energy with no sustenance at around the 14K/9 miles mark.

AnneDroid profile image
AnneDroidGraduate10 in reply to Dunder2004

No I didn't. That's very interesting. What do you take to eat? I don't like those sticky gels so I'd be interested in alternatives.

Dunder2004 profile image
Dunder2004Graduate10 in reply to AnneDroid

Personally, I can't ingest anything too dry on the move so I tend to go with good ol' Jelly Babies! For a 10 miler, I would probably be looking to take on energy before the half way point.

AnneDroid profile image
AnneDroidGraduate10 in reply to Dunder2004

I do like jelly babies!

At this rate, what with phone, inhaler, keys and specs as well I'm going to need two running belts. :)

Bazza1234 profile image
Bazza1234Graduate10 in reply to AnneDroid

It is difficult to say/know whether tiredness comes from loss of glucose energy, or simply muscles that have not yet done enough to attain that distance easily or even "mental" :) I have just done a 20K run/walk this morning - and the last few K's are always a death march for me :) So-- what to do??? Well we all MUST drink while running - so drink the glucose drinks that the race organisers provide. Personally, I believe this is all we need - but that is not to say that I/you still won't be knackered at the and :)

misswobble profile image
misswobbleGraduate10

Well done! I would enter it. You have done it! 💪🏃‍♀️

It's good to have a walk when you need one. It's the difference between success and failure. It gets the job done, so never worry about having to take a walk 😀

Great job Anne! I hoped you celebrated in the appropriate fashion 😀

AnneDroid profile image
AnneDroidGraduate10 in reply to misswobble

If the appropriate fashion is lying on the couch then yes! :)

misswobble profile image
misswobbleGraduate10

I would take grub for ten miles. I don't take a phone. If it's a race you won't need your phone will you? You can leave stuff in your bag and drop it at race ha 😀

I hate sticky hands so steer clear of sweets which gum up the teeth mouth and hands. Makes me cringe. However, having said that, Haribo are like jet fuel. You will be hyper for hours after too unfortunately 😀😜🤡. I take bits of energy bar if it's cold weather - it tends to melt otherwise. LidL sell indiv wrapped sesame or pistachio bites from their Greek range. I take those, snipped open before leaving home as opening packets with wet hands is impossible. They are solid but can be bitten off, or snapped in quarters. They are basically honey and sesame or honey and pistachio. You can put a tiny bit of sea salt in your running water with a ridge of juice etc to,taste. Or an energy tablet. I get those from Lidl too. Half a tablet usually suffices unless doing a marathon. They are not sweet, thankfully

AnneDroid profile image
AnneDroidGraduate10 in reply to misswobble

I love Lidl. Will have a look for those things. :)

PippiRuns profile image
PippiRuns

10 miles is just about 16k isn't it? Fantastic, Anne! It has been a while since I ran that far and I have only done it three times. But I hope to do it again this weekend as it will be my last chance to do a really long run before my half marathon on the 26th if I am to take Madge50 's advice about tapering.

I wouldn't like to join a race knowing I would risk being the last one in a race. I know it would make me try to run faster than I ought to and therefore make it a horrible experience. I wish I was as cool a Madge50 and not worry about it. I hope your slow running buddies join - then you can do it together.

There is nothing wrong with walking breaks if they help you. Problem for me is sometimes they don't. They tend to make me lose my rhythm and I find it difficult to start running again after a break. So I prefer to slow down completely instead (to a tempo not much faster than running if at all :-) )

Great suggestions for how to refuel on long runs in this thread - thanks misswobble and Dunder2004

Madge50 profile image
Madge50Graduate10 in reply to PippiRuns

Hi Iben, the plans I've followed do your longest run 10-14 days out from 'race' day, I did a 20k 11 days before, then an 8k, 4 days before, I didn't do any more as I was walking a fair bit the Friday before.

I can't say that the fear of being last doesn't bother me, but I try to put it out of my mind, I certainly did check finish times and there are some local runs I wouldn't enter as they are really 'fast' compared to me....I'm always going to be in the last third of finishers anyway.....😂

Mx

Madge50 profile image
Madge50Graduate10

Hi Anne, on fuelling, I've found I do get on ok with gels.....not everyone does....they can be a bit icky on your stomach....

For the 10 miler I had one gel about half way, and some jelly babies, - 4 generally gives you the equivalent of a gel, but I could only cope with the sugar from 3 jelly babies at a time....😬.....I also carried water - for the cross country ones, I've got a fab belt with two bottles which I used in training on my local runs - there were water stations but I felt more confident having my own stash.

On the HM I just had a standard waist bag, used all the water and fuel stations, and carried one spare gel and some jelly babies. I did have a stash of home made oat bars in my bag ready at the end.

I did try jelly beans and dried fruit, the jelly beans were way to sticky and the dried fruit was too dry! So it was just trial and error...

One of the most important things is to be really well fed and hydrated before you get to the start line.......

Good luck, you'll do it, and you'll wonder why you worried! But the same worries come back every time! 😄

Mx

misswobble profile image
misswobbleGraduate10

Where we place in a race It's not what it's about for 99.9% of us. Only the elites are preoccupied with that stuff. Races would be jolly dull affairs without the rest of us. The hardest working competitors are those at the back. For those at the front it's business as usual 😀

I notice that the elites will give up on a race in a heartbeat if they can't win. We would haul ourselves through shark infested waters to finish 🙂

Millsie-J profile image
Millsie-J in reply to misswobble

I was second to last in my 10k on Sunday, the woman behind me was carrying a brolly😳. But I used to say to my children , if there is only the winner competing there is no comp! They may come first but they also come last. I may be slow but as we say here, a slow 10k is as a fast 10k, and I'm faster than those on the couch😃🏃🏼‍♀️

ancientrunner profile image
ancientrunnerGraduate10 in reply to misswobble

At the GNR I don't think I had crossed the start line before "the winner" crossed the finish line.

Madge50 profile image
Madge50Graduate10 in reply to ancientrunner

Ha ha ha! Yes at the HM the 'fast' ones were coming back on the opposite side of the road, before we'd got to 4 miles....😂😂😂😂 (weirdo freaks...😉)

Mx

AnneDroid profile image
AnneDroidGraduate10 in reply to misswobble

Yes I am un-bothered by being at the back. I'm just glad to finish any run!

Tomas profile image
TomasGraduate10

Never mind the walking breaks, nobody said you can't walk. You did amazing AnneDroid , 10 miles is a LONG way! Well done you!!

For the fuel/eating discussion... remember that it takes about an hour for your body to turn food into energy, so if you're fuelling, you should do so early before you need it, so it has gone through the system when you do need it. Towards the end of the run you can still consume stuff, but by then it will "only" be a psychological benefit, but they're also worth having! I tend to fuel every 5 km on long runs, and sometime an extra one just for fun, so on 10 mile you might want to ingest something at 5 km, 10 km and again at 13 km. YMMV

I like gels. Easy to carry, they don't stick together, quick, etc. But we're all different, and I guess part of the fun is to figure out what works for you. Or, as the case may be for food-related GI issues, what does NOT work for you (less fun that one!)

But back to your run yesterday. Wonderful result. Congratulations!

poppypug profile image
poppypugGraduate10

Really Well done Anne, that is a fantastic achievement !

I take dried fruit and one of those evervescent tablets in my water bottle . I also have a protein bar chopped into little chunks and have them at 5k intervals and then have a little slurp of water . I used to go a bit overboard with the water and found it made me feel a bit queasy . I have only tried the gels once and found them very fiddly to open and a bit gloopy tbh . . You will find what suits and what doesn't :-)

I would definitely go for the 10mile run, well within your capabilities , and its all an experience . Give it a go, what have you got to lose ? :-D xxx

Millsie-J profile image
Millsie-J

Well done Anne, great achievement. You clearly can do the distance and it would appear you are race ready...........so........why not 👍🏼

Sandraj39 profile image
Sandraj39Graduate10

Well done - that is brilliant! I also started fuelling once I started on these longer runs. For me I like water to drink and make Power Flapjacks to snack on (will try and post link later if you like - I add cherries, cranberries and almonds to mine. Yum!)

As for that race - I think you should go for it!☺

Sandraj39 profile image
Sandraj39Graduate10

Here's that link...

rockrun.com/wp/power-flapja...

ancientrunner profile image
ancientrunnerGraduate10

Well done that's a real milestone - it would have taken me all of two hours. Just to say if you were going to try jelly babies, I have found the haribo jelly men don't clump together like jelly babies.

If you decide to do your race I would be a bit wary about suddenly taking on fuel if you haven't trained with it first, it is impossible to predict which you will or won't get on with.

Davoda profile image
DavodaGraduate10

Well done! That's really impressive.

Of course you must enter the race, you know you can do the distance & you've got lots of good advice re the refuelling & it'll make your Balmoral 10k a wee doddle😀

Biscuit0107 profile image
Biscuit0107Graduate10

Wow! That's amazing, well done. I hope your friends support you and you all go for the race!

AnneDroid profile image
AnneDroidGraduate10

Millsie-J I'm so amused by that! Actually an umbrella at our parkrun on Saturday would have been quite good.

AnneDroid profile image
AnneDroidGraduate10

Thanks everyone. You're such an encouraging bunch. I'll keep you posted!

aliboo70 profile image
aliboo70Graduate10

Well done Anne ! Saw this on strava,loved your hubbys" v proud "comment! And he should be! You did brilliantly!

I did my 1st 10miles in a race,had only done 9 before that! go for it!😆

Anniemurph profile image
AnniemurphGraduate10

Wow! That's a looooong way! Well done - get that entry in :)

Irishprincess profile image
IrishprincessGraduate10

Whoop whoop! That's brilliant Anne. So well done to you. You've clearly worked really hard and the results prove that 👏👏👏

Regarding fuel, dates work for me. Jelly babies are too sweet and I don't want gels (nor does my dentist☹️) anywhere near my teeth. But you'll work out what suits you.

You should definitely go for the race. If there's bling then it's no contest is it? 😏

So well done again.

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