So. After 2 days rest I decided to tackle the 5k run of week 3. It. Was. Horrible. Legs felt so heavy and it was a bit of a struggle. I have a sore lower back from a rather over-enthusiastic Pilates class, so that didn’t help. I also felt thirsty the entire run. I thought I had drank lots of water yesterday, but perhaps not enough.
But meh! I am going to try to not sweat it. Bad runs happen, and I did it. Doubled up with Strava and Map My Run today and they both worked. Transpires I did the 5k in 29 mins and something something seconds. I am still going too fast, if anything getting faster. Aaaagh. I really didn’t feel like I was running fast and have to sort this the flip out, as I will either do myself aninjury or not be able to finish the longer runs. 🙁 Why is this so hard?! 🤬
Sadie-runs x
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Sadie-runs
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Fiends??! 😂 The feeling is terrible when you have a bad run right? For me knocks my confidence and makes me feel I just can’t progress!! Running 5k in 30 mins would be a celebration for me as just can’t run that fast! (Blame my short legs!) So well done on that. Getting pace right is a bugger. I can’t offer any advice but can only empathise. X
Yes, you are all lovely fiends. 👹😘 Thanks for the sympathy, Ripcurlrana. I have had a fair few horrid runs in my short career, but these are always followed by a good one, so I don’t freak out too much now. There are so many factors that could explain a bad run...so best not to sweat it. I just feel like such an idiot for complaining about going too fast, but even more of an idiot for my apparent inability to slow down! xx
PS: love the fiends bit. are you referring to your gremlins???
Week three of that plan seems to be the one that trips people up (a bit like week 4 of c25k). Your next run will be smooth and easy. I think week three is where you are gearing up for the longer runs. It gears you up so much that several of us reached 10k shortly after, though as you are pacing yourself, you might not want to. i did it by mistake, as did others. Also 5k in 30ish minutes is good but not necessarily too fast. You are being very hard on yourself. xxx
Thank you, Flick, this is reassuring to hear. It is so baffling when a run goes bad! I woke up this morning thinking, right, just the 5k to do today, piece of cake! LOL what was I thinking?! Cockiness comes before a fall, I think the expression goes.
I guess i am a bit hard on myself sometimes. Maybe the pace is related to increased fitness, in that this pace no longer feels fast to me as my body copes okay with it? I just keep hearing the chants of slow and steady in my head, and worrying that I am not heeding this enough! xxx
I think you are probably right and you are getting fitter and faster. But it doesn’t seem too fast to me, judging by the range of speeds on the forum. My daughter has your problem with slowing down. But she took it easy when she did the Oxford town and gown 10k and did it in just over an hour, so I really don’t think you are going too fast unless you are out of breath and knackered after every run xxx
Morning dear running partner-in-crime
Now listen here my friend, don't beat yourself up, please please. Despite having heavy legs you still managed to do a 5k in a really decent time. I'm nowhere near that time, anything under 35 minutes for me nearly kills me!! The important thing is you did it, in a decent time, which is fine. You need to match the pace to the run (kettle/pot/black, I know), so for this run that was fine, but maybe for the next you could have another go at slowing down?
What I do now is listen to one of the fixed-pace tracks from podrunner.com, I usually go for 155bpm which seems to work well for me, and I suspect would for you too, depending on leg length probably! The music is pure drivel to me, but at least it gives a clear beat to keep time to.
You're doing great, you really are, you can do this! I really look up to you as a runner you know xx
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Just spotted what you said... running fiends lol! That may well be more accurate
Thanks for your lovely reply, much appreciated. My two previous runs felt so effortless, I was a little taken aback with the old heavy legs this morning. And you make a very good point, my dear running chum, about matching the pace to the run.... I shall ponder that, but it makes sense. And clearly I need sense talking into me at the moment!
Well done!! Running faster is not a crime and some people are naturally fast too. If you felt comfortable then that’s all good!! Hopefully the side back etc will settle after the full on Pilates sesh... take care and well done 👍🏻
Thanks ju-ju. Maybe I need to embrace my pace…for 5k at least, but make a concerted effort to slow it a tad for my 7k run this week. I really do want to make it to 10k eventually (injury free!) Thank you for your lovely reply. x
Hi Sadie, I’m forever checking my speed on the longer runs and oftenfind myself doing 5k pace....I have to consciously slow it down, not a lot as I find 2/3 tenths make a big difference to me 😊
I set a PB Parkrun on Saturday though it felt like I was struggling with the scrubs on 😅
Sorry you had a duff run . 29 mins seems soooooper fast to me! I assumed anyone who could run that fast would be gliding along on a silken cloud, I'm sorry that's not the case . Seems we all can have a crap one, regardless of our speeding prowess. Damn it! I was hoping to get myself on a silken cloud one fine day! But that's all it is, a blip in the grand scheme of things. Remember all those hideous runs in c25k?! A woman of your epic-ness will trounce all over the next run, I have absolute faith in you and this 10k lark :)xx
Aw, thank you FPF. I think that’s the first time I have ever been referred to as a woman of epicness, and I am deeply touched! I am just baffled right now. I think that in the back of my mind I was thinking “damn it this feels so sh*t let’s speed things up and get it over with”. Surprised I did not twang something. Sigh. Silken clouds are only achieved through slow runs, I reckon. And I am going to have to slow the flip down for my upcoming 7k run. Gulp. Hope all is well with you my lovely. xxx
Oh sympathy Sadie- I bet the next run will be much more enjoyable. 😃
My mind is boggled at the idea of running too fast but not feeling fast - I must give my tortoise legs a severe talking to and clearly explain their inadequacies! 😂
Oh thank you dear Elfe. Bad runs suck and do leave me under a little cloud all day. Let’s just say I suffered no fools gladly at work today. (My poor, poor team...) Keep those lovely leggies of yours slow and steady. Don’t be a mad hare like me and have duff runs as a consequence. 😕 xxx
Yesterday was not a good day it seems … I needed to knock out a 4k, after my very comfortable 8k long one last week and lo and behold my legs were not my own, were covered in concrete, couldn't breathe and had to walk for a couple of minutes at 3k then run the final 1k but the state of me when I got home! I'll never understand why it happens but I do now know that it's just 'one of those days' and to brush it off … here's to our next outings!
Oh dear. 🙁 Funny how it happens with no particular reason. I say funny, I mean annoying! Well done 👍 on getting it done and dusted anyway! And yes, here’s to more pleasurable next outings! x
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. 29 mins seems soooooper fast to me! I assumed anyone who could run that fast would be gliding along on a silken cloud, I'm sorry that's not the case 
Magic Plan - week 1 Run 3
10k week 1 run 3 - 5.5k
