A much better run today

[SavageMyrtle]

Hello all. I've been following with interest and empathy all the recent posts about people having lost their mojo, having difficulty forcing themselves out the door to run, feeling lethargic etc. Me too, big time. However, I recently celebrated (well, not really) my 50th birthday, and have set myself the challenge of running 50K of "proper" races this year. I kick things off next Saturday, 24th March, with a 7.3k woodland romp.

But I've not been very good recently about my 3x5k per week routine. Anyway, over the last week or so I decided I needed to up my game, and I actually did three runs last week. Not 5k, but 30 minutes, which I was relatively happy with. Today, however, it was less than a week to go, and having failed miserably at sticking to ju-ju's plan, I was woefully behind with my extended distances. So today had to be long run day. I identified a new, longer route, and set off, having told myself I could walk the hills if absolutely necessary.

So that's what I did. I ran most of it, but the two horrible hills that I was dreading all the way around, I gave myself permission to walk up. In the end, I completed 7.3 km in 54 minutes, with an average pace of 7.30, which is around what I was doing a month ago on my 30 minute runs. I was very chuffed with myself.

Weirdly, on the final straight, coming back towards home, I realised I was feeling extremely comfortable, and ended up running further than I had intended. I don't know if this counts as "runner's high" but I'll take it, whatever it is.

Looking at my Garmin data afterwards, it was around that point that my heart rate appeared to jump suddenly from 150 to 180, then 190, and stayed that way for the last 10 minutes. Never seen that before. Was it because my heart was pumping more oxygen into my system that I felt so good? Did that happen because I was a bit dehydrated? Who knows. Anyway I didn't die, and I've felt pretty good all day since. And I'm looking forward to the 7.3k next weekend.

[Lordi Graduate10]

Well done getting back in the swing of things.

My Garmin also "loses the plot" somtimes too! Maybe I don't have it tight enough/too tight at times. Sweat may also interfere maybe?

I too lost my mojo a bit last week due to a combination of the poor weather and also sort of giving myself a naughty week off for recovery midway through my training plan. So I only ran 5k all told. It's made a bit difference as my legs feel good and fresh after that and I don't think its made much of a dent in my fitness.

[SavageMyrtle Graduate10 in reply to Lordi]

I always worry that taking a bit of time off will make me suddenly lose all the fitness I've built up, but I think you must be right. We don't lose it all at once, and sometimes a bit of a rest is a good thing.

[Irishprincess Graduate10]

That's a great goal, good luck with it and enjoy it. And I love the sound of the woodland romp 🙂

Many runners walk steep hills and it doesn't impact on time that much.

Enjoy your romp next weekend 🙂

[SavageMyrtle Graduate10 in reply to Irishprincess]

I've seen people walking up hills in those ultra-marathon videos I sometimes watch, but I don't really think of them as real people! I think with the Couch to 5k focus on running 30 minutes without stopping, it does take a bit of mental readjustment to admit that it's ok to walk sometimes. The fact that it didn't really affect the time is very encouraging.

[Irishprincess Graduate10 in reply to SavageMyrtle]

Yes I think you're right. On my first trail race I saw people walking uphill and I didn't but then they overtook me later on! I think they obviously knew something I didn't 🙂

[HeleneCorsa Graduate10]

Sounds like a fabulous run and hope your woodland romp goes well next weekend (I am sure it will). Walking the steep hills sounds like the way to go. It's great that you finished with fuel still left in the tank.