2 weeks post-graduation and it's been hard for me to find a rhythm. I've been hovering between 5:56 and 6:11 p/km and hitting 5k with nothing left in me, but have seemed unable to slow down. Last week I hated every run, I managed a 4k and then a 3k during the week and just wanted to go home. My music was annoying me, I was tired and out of breath. On Saturday I told myself I would go slowly and try for a 6k but failed miserably, and instead did 5k in 31 minutes and then had to stop because I was knackered. I felt really defeated and as if I would never manage the 10k race I've signed up for in May, I was sure that to manage more than 5k I would have to slow down dramatically but I wasn't sure I knew how.
So today I thought I would just try again for a slow pace and see if I could do it. The first 3k I really battled with myself and started to speed up but made an effort to regulate and just after 3k I finally seemed to find a rhythm. I kept myself to the same speed and made it to 6k feeling great!
The weird thing is I really didn't slow down as much as I thought I would have to, I averaged 6:37 p/km but it was such a different run - I felt strong and in control and I enjoyed my music and I definitely could have carried on but I'm mindful of not pushing too hard too fast - plus I literally ran out of village. 😂
I'm feeling so much better about it all this evening.
Written by
ClarkeyCat
Graduate10
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
I’m now doing 10k and I have to make sure I’m back to a certain point before dark as there are no street lights! I have a really rubbish head torch (will make sure I have a decent chest one for next winter!!!!)
It was easier sorting a 5k roite wasn’t it?
I hate doing loops too! I like to run to a point then run back.
Roll on summer (I’ll probably moan about the heat then instead of the cold & dark) lol
If you have nothing left at the end of 5K , then you have just run a 5K race - because that is how you are supposed to feel at the end of a 5K race. BUT - NOT at the end of a 5K training run!! At this stage of your running career, you should be concentrating on volume of miles rather than pace of those miles. Slowly building the number of days that you run and the miles done on those days - but at a slow pace. NIKO NIKO pace -- NIKO is the Japanese word for "smiling" . When running with somebody else, if you can;t talk freely to them - or when running alone, if you can't smile , then you are running too fast After you have done miles and miles and miles of slow easy running, then it will be time to run faster youtube.com/watch?v=9L2b2kh... This old man ran a 2:38 marathon at age 50 plus based upon his slow jogging
It's honestly not me 'concentrating' on a fast pace I swear, it's just me not thinking about it and unintentionally setting a faster pace. It seems to be what comes naturally when I don't concentrate - but obviously I'm not fit enough to sustain it, hence why I've made an effort to slow down.
That is around my comfortable pace as well, where you feel like you can go and go. It will make such a huge difference in your training having found your sustainable pace. I found when I stopped focusing on the 30 min 5k, and realized 32-33 minutes was a comfortable run, I absolutely fell in love with running, and especially longer distances. I aim for a 7:00-7:30 when I'm reaching for new distances above 10k and have had many with "negative splits" where the second half is actually ran faster than the first half!
I realised last week that a sustainable pace at my current fitness level was the same as my pre-cricket match boundary jog warm-up "running on the spot but leaning forwards a bit" ! That's around 6:30-7:00 pace. I think it is psychological; earlier I think I felt anything less than 6:00 wasn't doing it properly! Be careful though, if you suddenly find the slow coasting gear then don't go nuts and overdo it distance/time-wise!
Yes I’m conscious of not doing that. I stopped at 6k rather than trying to see how much more I could do, I don’t want to end up injured!
Really proud of you! you are doing so well. I get the difficulty about pacing yourself (must be in the genes!). i worked hard this morning on slowing down, and it clicked - though my pace is way slower than yours. I suddenly felt as if i could keep going. and i also run out of town (probably the same size as your village), which is why I'm starting to venture onto paths and bridleways when i run in daylight. I have every confidence that you will manage the distance by May.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
At this stage of your running career, you should be concentrating on volume of miles rather than pace of those miles. Slowly building the number of days that you run and the miles done on those days - but at a slow pace. NIKO NIKO pace -- NIKO is the Japanese word for "smiling" . When running with somebody else, if you can;t talk freely to them - or when running alone, if you can't smile , then you are running too fast 
Saturday morning 5K 
First 6km
Bish Bash Bosh.... it’s week 2 of the 10 is the Magic Number .... 🌈
