Birthday Run - did I really run that distance!! 🎉🏃🏼😀

[skysue16]

It is a while since I last wrote a post (so apologies in advance - this may be a long one😉!). After returning from holiday with family in Exmoor in September, I came down with a nasty virus which dragged on for three weeks! ☹️ So for nearly a month I only managed a few short jogs and some stretch&flex routines while walking the dog. At last I was getting back to normal and looking forward to a few days off around my birthday (15th). After some discussion we decided on an impromptu visit to see my mum and sister in Somerset. We travelled through the night from Scotland and surprised Mum by turning up on the doorstep - she was shocked and delighted!!

I LOVE running in Exmoor - so many interesting routes to explore. My birthday run today was very special because I achieved something I never imagined myself doing, or even consider doing - I ran my furthest distance ever......10 miles (16.28 k)!!! It was a delightful run through hamlets, along stony tracks, hedge lined bridle ways, country lanes, steep wooded tracks and grassy footpaths. Just wonderful - glorious weather, beautiful autumnal colours and lovely views. The photo was taken from the highest point on the route overlooking the bay. As I ran I decided I wanted to run further than 13k, perhaps 15k on the 15th? The kilometres were clocking up and I suddenly realised that I could achieve my goal of running 10 miles! I extended my route to include running a loop around the village but then a tecnical hitch.....somehow Runkeeper was paused 😬 I pressed resume and then retraced my steps and took another route through the village until I saw that my distance was over the magic number!! I am not sure how accurate the time is....certainly quicker than the projected time of two hours 8 mins (taking my 5k average as 36 mins). I am amazed, delighted, proud and happy to achieve my goal 😀 Apparently I used up over 900kc but a birthday lunch, cake and chocolate later in the day put rather a lot of calories back in!

What a wonderful day 😊

I hope other folk had lovely Sunday runs too 😀

[Decker]

Wow! What a great birthday present to yourself Sue! 10 miles! Congratulations!! And what a beautiful setting to do it in! Happy birthday to you!

[skysue16 Graduate10 in reply to Decker]

Thank you Decker yes it is a lovely place to run 😊

[Irish-John Graduate10]

Wow!

Well done and Happ birthday

[skysue16 Graduate10 in reply to Irish-John]

Thank you Irish-John for the Birthday wishes 😊

[SaskAlliecat Graduate10]

🎶Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear skyesue16, Happy Birthday to you 🎶

What a beautiful place to achieve an amazing run. Sounds like it was a perfect day.

[skysue16 Graduate10 in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Thank you very much for singing Happy Birthday to me SaskAlliecat how lovely 😀 It was a wonderful day

[JaySeeSkinny Graduate10]

A birthday run and the longest so far. What a lovely present to yourself! You’re doing really well and that’s a great time!

[skysue16 Graduate10 in reply to JaySeeSkinny]

Thank you JaySeeSkinny I was very pleased with the time, particularly because the trail was quite steep in places - up and down! However I am not sure how accurate Runkeeper is....would love a sports watch 😉

[SaskAlliecat Graduate10 in reply to skysue16]

I also run with Runkeeper but have a garmin watch I wear sometimes at the same time, especially on "longer" runs if I want to know how much further to go (I tend to turn my audio prompts off of Runkeeper because they tend to annoy me). I find the distances do not match very often. On a 5k it may only be 0.1 km but on a long run, I'm guessing it could add up (I'm only up to 7k right now). My garmin tends to give a longer distance (and hence a better pace) than Runkeeper. I track my runs on Runkeeper so I follow that distance for consistency between runs, right or wrong, I'm not sure.

[skysue16 Graduate10 in reply to SaskAlliecat]

That's interesting.... so maybe I am running further than I think! I turn the sound off too most of the time 😊 can you not record your runs on Garmin?

[SaskAlliecat Graduate10 in reply to skysue16]

Yes. I'm just a creature of habit... and my garmin isn't Bluetooth so I have to actually turn on my computer and sync it so I use my Runkeeper more regularly

[Anniemurph Graduate10]

Brilliant! What a great run and a fab birthday present to yourself! Happy belated birthday

[skysue16 Graduate10 in reply to Anniemurph]

Yes, great present to myself 😀

[Hidden]

Just read your post! Brilliant achievement in such an beautiful setting!

Well done you and happy birthday for yesterday ! 🎉🎂🍾👏👏😀😀

[skysue16 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Hidden I still can't quite believe it - 10 miles, amazing!!

[Irishprincess Graduate10]

That's brilliant Sue! Well done to you,it's a great distance. And the best bit is replacing the calories 🙂

Happy Birthday for yesterday. Great present 🤗

[skysue16 Graduate10 in reply to Irishprincess]

Ha, ha.....yes, lunch and especially pudding (treacle sponge) was delicious!

[Hidden]

What a fantastic present! It is an awesome feeling to get to 10 miles isn't it?! I was knackered after mine a few weeks ago but I felt a huge accomplishment after. Such a buzz, well done! And do have another slice of cake, very well deserved.

[skysue16 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Yes, an amazing feeling and I was excited to tell folk on the forum who really appreciate that feeling of pride and satisfaction. When I started C25k I found it hard to believe that I would run 5k!!

[misswobble Graduate10]

Yay! Fantastico 😃 Well done. It's great when a plan comes together. Running in fab scenery and by the sea. Bliss 🙂 Soak it up and savourmthe memory. You have photos of the happy day too. Cake as well 🍰

[skysue16 Graduate10 in reply to misswobble]

Yes, misswobble a lovely, lovely memory 😊 I took a few photos and realised later that Runkeeper stores all those photos with the stats and map so I will always have those to remind me of a great run 😄

[Hidden]

Happy Birthday Sue!

Lovely picture and a fabulous run. Glad you had cake too

[skysue16 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Ahh, yes always cake especially at Mum's house - we all have a sweet tooth!

[Joy57 Graduate10]

That's amazing Sue! Well done. I can't imagine running that far.

[skysue16 Graduate10 in reply to Joy57]

Thank you Joy, I can't quite believe it!! I never even thought I would attempt to run more than 5k!

Most of the run I felt really good and comfortable. The last two or three kilometres I began to feel rather weary and slowed down. I find it easier running trails because the landscape and terrain is always changing so I have to concentrate on where I put my feet rather than how tired or out of breath I feel! 😉

[misswobble Graduate10]

Runkeeper sounds good 😃

[skysue16 Graduate10 in reply to misswobble]

I like Runkeeper, I use the free version and it has everything I need. The only downside is accuracy of pace/distance but I don't think it is too bad. 😊

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10]

How ever did I miss this.. I am so sorry!!!

Huge belated Birthday wishes... and for many, many more to come... and fabulous...long runs like this!!!!

Wow! What a distance and great time too! I am in awe! A beautiful location

10 miles... there is a Birthday gift you will remember x

[skysue16 Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

Ahh, thank you so much lovely Floss. Don't worry about missing the post I know you are very busy in your mentoring role helping all the newbies so wonderfully😊. I have just reread my post and re-lived it (just one of the great things about this forum). It certainly was a joyful run for many reasons and has given me the confidence to work towards a 10 mile forest trail race in February (organised by the local club). 😀

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to skysue16]

It sounds wonderful..you are doing wonderfully!

I have really discovered that the longer runs are for me.. building back up to 10K has made me realise how much I enjoy them and how much I missed them.... I was worried about reaching 8K yesterday, but when I got into my pace.. it was great.

A forest run sounds amazing..you are going to have a great time with your club