You won't know until you go!

[pinkaardvark]

So I got home tonight and got my running gear on quickly before settling down to procrastinate and worry about whether I should go for a run. Freezing temps and impending snowfalls were the ammunition that the shoulder demon was using to taunt me along with a great trepidation I had been building over running 8k. I got to the point of saying I will put it off until tomorrow, and was preparing to settle in for the night but thankfully I knew I would feel terrible taking my kit back off with no run in the bank so off I trudged into the night and had a fantastic run.

It was cold sure, but that just meant I could wear my hat and gloves without getting too hot. The snow held off till the end and then was just a few spots, the evening was beautifully clear and the lakes I run by looked amazing. A pair of eyes did spook me a bit near the halfway mark, they were glaring out at me from the bushes and were too high to be a cat, thankfully they turned out to be a very brave muntjac that barely moved as I ran past mere feet away from it.

I managed to hold my pace well and felt I could have gone further and faster but kept it all nicely in check as something to build on next time out.

So a new motto was born. "You won't know until you go" and so very true it was.

[O505k Graduate10]

Fantastic. Sounds like you run in an amazing place.

[pinkaardvark Graduate10 in reply to O505k]

Yes I am lucky to have an rspb site next door which has a nice straight cycle route running through it It is a bit spooky in the dark and the mist though.

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate10]

Bet you feel amazing now Pink 😄...

Well done getting that run banked..8k✔

Onwards and upwards 😊x

[pinkaardvark Graduate10 in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

Yes.. still processing it but it is amazing to think 10k is now very close at hand. 😁😁

[ChrisAllen1 Graduate10]

2 words, well done

[misswobble Graduate10]

Well done! 😃👍

I always think, in winter we turn out today as “we could have six feet of snow tomorrow” 🙂

[pinkaardvark Graduate10 in reply to misswobble]

Very true.. though I'd be praying for 6 foot of snow as I could get out on my snowboard... well if I didn't live in the fens where we have towns called things like ramsey 40 foot presumably because that's how high it gets maximum lol.

[TedG Graduate10]

Great run Pink, your perseverance paid off.....you’ll nail the 10K for sure 😊

My turn to do 8k Sunday....🏃🏃🏃

[pinkaardvark Graduate10 in reply to TedG]

If I remember correctly you have an extra day or two recovery before then? That definitely helped me last night as my Tuesday run is precursed by a Saturday morning so I get 2.5 days recovery which really makes the difference, especially if I skip leg presses and calf raises etc at the gym on the Monday night.

Here's hoping you get the weather and have a great run

[TedG Graduate10 in reply to pinkaardvark]

Thanks Pink and yes, you remembered correctly. I do my 5k in the morning followed by my long run on Sunday, works for me 😊

[Lordi Graduate10]

Nice one!

[misswobble Graduate10]

Calf raises! Do them! At home or wherever 👍

[pinkaardvark Graduate10 in reply to misswobble]

They are good, I tend to do 4-6 sets of 120kg but find it does tire out the legs for the next day. I really should be doing the squats too and keep intending to build a program I can do on run day before or straight after a run.

[Hidden in reply to misswobble]

I dont do any stretches yet. I really need to find out what’s safe for me, given the state of my knee, femur and the place where thigh and hip meet (totally mashed when the steel pin through my femur became dislodged and had to be hammered back in).

[misswobble Graduate10]

I have now started doing a bit of yoga on non-run days. I find that helps 🙂

[Hidden]

Well done, well on your way to 10k, and a nice pace too. I went yesterday afternoon for fear of snow, and i was right as it has snowed and settled a bit and there are icy patches on the pavements.

Did you keep hat and gloves on? I'm a cold body, but i have very good circulation, so five to ten minutes into a run, hat and gloves come off and zips are undone, no matter how cold (well, within reason, I haven't run in less than -3).

[pinkaardvark Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Kept hat on, head does get a bit sweaty but it's a lightweight running hat and it helps keep my headphones in, plus I have my headtorch on top so it's a faff to take off. Gloves come off when I get too hot, which was about 5k in last night. I tend to have an undressing process as I go along, gloves off then jacket zip opens up followed by rolling up the sleeves.

It's gonna be weird once the hotter weather comes as i'm not used to it at all and will probably need to run in shorts and t-shirt at night.

[Hidden in reply to pinkaardvark]

Yep, I wonder what running in summer will be like. Last time I did that was aged 19, with fringed, embroidered jeans and baseball boots or bare feet and mini dress.

[Hidden]

I do live to procrastinate lol. Good advice and I need to take this on board on my long run days rather than worrying if I will make the distance. Sounds like you had a fab run.

[pinkaardvark Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

I never learn as well which is stupid, as I worry so much and then go out and have a cracking run. I also make procrastination a lifestyle unfortunately so it's not unique to running. I did buy a how to get things done book once but am yet to read it

[Hidden in reply to pinkaardvark]

I wonder when that slight pre run apprehension goes. Mine has begun to diminish. Though once I gather my running gear, I seem to get into the spirit of the run.

[pinkaardvark Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

It's a good question, I guess it's still there because I'm doing runs that are an unknown. If I had a simple 5k to do I would probably have less trepidation. Though I still have some runs that feel pretty rough so i'm always worried about having one of those. I am really looking forward to a day where all my runs are strong and I just get to spend my time thinking of other stuff and admiring the scenery. I find gathering the gear and putting it on doesn't help that much, but putting my feet out of the door gets me into the "we're doing this" zone. I still repeat the "this is what you came for" mantra in my head or variations such as "YOU signed up for this"

[Hidden in reply to pinkaardvark]

We are still new to this, not far from graduating.

[pinkaardvark Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Wheesht lass! I am like Nike!

[Hidden in reply to pinkaardvark]

She was a female goddess!

[pinkaardvark Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Doh! Of course.. he he I can be gender fluid if I wish Maybe I should have said hermes

[Hidden in reply to pinkaardvark]

Yes indeed, wings on your heels,not a bosom in sight, not that it would have mattered if you had had them of course.