Whoops! Just about everything went wrong...except the running.

[Sandyscroll]

Today was 56 minute run day, with the hope of achieving 8k. I was a bit apprehensive as it seemed a long time to be running, but I've seen others overcome their 'black dogs' and 'gremlins' and things that go bump in the night, so I figured I could too. I had planned my route out on Strava last night so I knew where to go and roughly the right timing, got it downloaded onto my iPod along with my tunes, I'd set the countdown timer on my digital watch to 56 minutes so I'd always know how long I had left, so I felt well prepared. I started the route I'd planned on Strava on my iPod as I left the house. It was set to announce times and direct me so I didn't get lost. It was damp and mirky but not too cold as I started my warmup walk. At the start of my run, I started Strava on my phone...you can never trust tech stuff to work if I'm using it, so best to have both going. My toxic 10 is always uphill no matter which direction I go, so I always take it really slowly. About 10 mins into my run I realised that my iPod hadn't told me anything at all yet, and I must have done at least half a mile. I checked my watch to see how long I'd been running...oh no, I'd forgotten to start it!! 😧 I pressed a couple of buttons to see what the time was...8.21am...at least I'd have a rough idea. I got to my furthest and highest point and turned into the new part of my route. I'd driven it last Sunday so I'd know where to go and what to look out for, so I figured that even without Strava, I could find my way okay. As I turned a corner I was met with a view of how far I'd climbed and my home town shrouded in mist. Not a bad view I thought as I started my downhill run. I knew I had one more fairly long, steep uphill bit to do and all the rest was back down towards home. The route was going well, and rather than run up the hill I'd planned up a fairly busy road, I thought I'd take the turning before it...same hill, but less on show and I'd taken my friend to her doctor's surgery at the top a good few times so I knew how to get back onto my route from there. The hill was a challenge, so I was really pleased with myself when slow, slowly I made it to the top and turned the corner. I saw the park, and turned right towards home. I kept running...but slowly got the feeling I wasn't as familiar as I should be with the road. Oh, now what? I kept running until I came across a road name that was familiar. I asked a lady at the bus stop if it was the way back to Halesowen and the dual carriageway. She said Halesowen was back the way I'd come, but that carrying on would get me there the long way round. I figured long wasn't great, but at least I'd know where I was! The road took me up another great hill...and as I ran up it, I realised it was the one I had taken a picture from the top of on the way down. I was only meant to run down it, not up it!!! I got to the top, and arrived back at what was supposed to be the furthest, highest point of my run. I figured that since it was literally all downhill from here, I may as well run all the way home, or as much as I could manage. I did the lot. I was so glad to be back where I knew and I began to wonder how far I'd run. I got home and checked Strava on my iPod to find...it hadn't worked. I'd bee out for over an hour; it had recorded only 28 minutes and had drawn huge, perfectly straight lines going through people's houses and other buildings. I deleted the recording. No wonder it wasn't telling me where I was, how far I'd run and where to go next!! I checked Strava on my phone, which I've checked on Parkruns and have been pretty accurate. It said I had run 6.6 miles (10.6k) in an hour and 19 minutes. REALLY???!! Wow!

So, I've accidentally achieved 10k. I have to say, I do feel like a bit of a fraud, because my only intention was to get home. But hey, how amazing is that?!?! I might just go out for lunch to celebrate. 😀

[Richard7 Graduate10]

Congratulations - I think that is definitely they way to do it - accidentally!! Sounds like a good run despite the mis turns etc.

[Sandyscroll Graduate10 in reply to Richard7]

It was a good run indeed. 🙂 Thank you 👍🏻

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate10]

Love this Sandy😄oops accidently ran for 10k+....😊

Well done, although some of your technology failed you, your legs didn't.

Great stamina, great run...huge smiles😊😊😊xxx✋

[Sandyscroll Graduate10 in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

Thanks Jan. The legs were the only thing that made it a success!! 🙂✋

[pollyp1 Graduate10]

Whoah! Go you. Well done, accidental or not.

Was it you that talked about Mucklow Hill recently (can't find the post)? If you're running hills around there I'm mega impressed.

[Sandyscroll Graduate10 in reply to pollyp1]

Thanks pollyp1 ! Yes it was me. I live at the bottom of Mucklow Hill. Do you know it? In fact I seem to live at the bottom of every hill, so in week 6 of C25k I decided to quit running around in tiny flat circles and bite the bullet. It seems to be paying off 🙂.

[pollyp1 Graduate10 in reply to Sandyscroll]

I know it well! I live in Bearwood. I decided from day 1 that I either had to tackle hills or do some very boring running. Although the hills round here are tiny mounds next to Mucklow Hill!

[Sandyscroll Graduate10 in reply to pollyp1]

You're not too far away, and I'm happy to share if you get too bored! 😂😂😂

[pollyp1 Graduate10 in reply to Sandyscroll]

Lol! Still working on conquering some of the ones round here 🤣

[SaskAlliecat Graduate10]

Well done on reaching past 10k, accidental or not, you did it, with hills to boot!!! Whoohoo! You definitely deserve a reward after that!

[Sandyscroll Graduate10 in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Thank you! It was certainly a nice surprise when I got home to find out what I'd achieved. Lunch was good too. I'm already working out what kind of reward I would deserve if I got lost training for a HM. 😂

[SaskAlliecat Graduate10 in reply to Sandyscroll]

I'm sure we could think of something 🤣.

[Oldfloss Administrator 60minGraduate]

Brilliant.... go you! Very well done you!!!

Hope lunch was brilliant too!

[Sandyscroll Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

Thank you! ☺️ Lunch was good too, well worth getting lost for! 😉 It's amazing what an incentive finding my way home can be!

[runningnearbeirut Graduate10]

Those Black Country hills are a bit of a challenge aren't they. I know Mucklow Hill too, but I'm not based round there these days.

I usually start at the top of a hill - which has the distinct disadvantage of meaning you have to run up at the end of the run...

[Sandyscroll Graduate10 in reply to runningnearbeirut]

You know it too? I'm impressed! 😃 I'll bet you have plenty of hills of your own, and if you start at the top you are much braver than me! I can't imagine having to run up any hill to get home, and I'm sure that will be my downfall one day. I often feel really relieved that I live at the bottom. The only way home is down!! 📉🏡

Just read your bio. I think you could be my personal trainer. Your hills make mine look like pimples!! 😂😂 That's it. I'm going for Clent next!!!