Supposed to be 11k

[Tasha99]

Said 11k on my watch so stopped. At the end, map my run said 10.96k and Apple Watch said 10.77k. Very annoying. Wanted to do 11k. Nearly killed me too. Finding it so hard and not too enjoyable. Don’t mind the shorter runs but I feel I A) haven’t got time to do a long run, and B) it’s too hard, long and boring. 😔

[Ripcurlrana71 Graduate10]

Oh Tasha well done! Hmmm I worry longer runs will be boring too! 🤔

[Tasha99 Graduate10 in reply to Ripcurlrana71]

They are. I think maybe if you don’t work full time they could be more enjoyable. Personally, they take too much time up.

[Ripcurlrana71 Graduate10 in reply to Tasha99]

I’ll make the most of the shorter for now then!

[Tasha99 Graduate10 in reply to Ripcurlrana71]

😂

[limberlou Graduate10 in reply to Ripcurlrana71]

I like the longer runs but I need to sort my music out. I’m fed up of having a podcast and then pushing it back to repeat when it finishes. I’m too lazy to get my old laptop out and faff around putting my cds on it and then converting them for my MP3 player. Or even putting them into my phone.

[Ripcurlrana71 Graduate10 in reply to limberlou]

I think Ju Ju 10K plan will force me to relax into longer runs - I hope!!

[limberlou Graduate10 in reply to Ripcurlrana71]

I know I’m never going to be very fast so I just go out and run now and see what happens. I vary my route as much as I can within the town. But I keep waiting for it to get a bit cooler so I can do my plan of catching the bus and then running back along the Tarka Trail. That should be about 4 1/2 miles , then going to the next stop the next time etc. Until I can catch the bus to Braunton, visit my sister and then run home again. 😁that is about 5.6 miles (9.01k)

[Ripcurlrana71 Graduate10 in reply to limberlou]

I can’t wait for it to get cooler either!

[dubnde]

Well done though. Anything more than 200m is good for me 😂

With Apple watch I always try to add a bit more jogging after it tells me I have hit the target distance. It is useless for accuracy but a good guide none the less. One needs a built for purpose GPS running watch for precision.

[Tasha99 Graduate10 in reply to dubnde]

Oh no. I don’t know what to use now 🤷🏽‍♀️

[Razouski]

Sorry you're finding them boring. They do take up a lot of time, and I'm lucky that I don't work full time (well not lucky as I had to retire very early due to ill health and I couldn't keep working).

I know I would find them boring too if I didn't vary the routes and change my running playlists often. Why don't you save the longer runs for the weekend (or days off). Having said that, you don't have to run longer distances, and if you enjoy running for 30 minutes why not just stick at that.

I hope your next run is a bit more enjoyable.

[Tasha99 Graduate10 in reply to Razouski]

Thank you. I do the ParkRun at the weekend so can’t go it then. I might do shorter runs but go to 4x a week 🤔

[Guesty26 Graduate10]

Don't be down whatever the length that's a great run Tasha

[Tasha99 Graduate10 in reply to Guesty26]

Thank you. Might just be a bad run.

[Elfe5 60minGraduate]

Hi Tasha, running for pleasure is the most important thing in my opinion. Mr E did the London marathon once, but decided that the training involved was too boring so he settled for HM which suited him. Now, at 64, he doesn’t often run more than about 5miles - again this is about what he is enjoying. You find the running that you enjoy - and then .. erm.. enjoy it! 😃

[Tasha99 Graduate10 in reply to Elfe5]

I think I’m learning that I like 5k 👍🏽 I might just work on my speed in that and forget longer runs. I’ll see how things pan out. Thank you.

[pianoteacher Graduate10]

Sorry you didn't enjoy your run Tash Are you running further with a particular goal in mind? I only ask because I know how much you enjoy Parkrun and I think it's so important to enjoy what we choose to do x

[Tasha99 Graduate10 in reply to pianoteacher]

After researching, I found out that running further is the best way to speed up my 5k. Or so I think. My main aim is to get a sub 30 ParkRun.

[pianoteacher Graduate10 in reply to Tasha99]

Yeah I heard that too - that's the main reason I'm going to go on to 10k! Not sure if I'll enjoy it yet - we'll see x

[Lorijay Graduate10]

That's a great run Tash. I get what you're saying though and if and when I get to it I want to do 10k just to achieve it but I think my heart is in 5k. You've accomplished so much now's the time to enjoy it

[Tasha99 Graduate10 in reply to Lorijay]

I really want to enjoy it!

[Lorijay Graduate10 in reply to Tasha99]

Then find your happy, enjoyable distance and become the best you can at that instead of a jack of all distances. Just a thought

[Sadie-runs Graduate10]

Sorry to hear you had a meh! run. I am enjoying the 10k plan, but have a sneaky suspicion I might be a 5k fan. Working full time and fitting in long runs is hard...I am getting up at 5:30am to run at the moment and although I AM a morning person, I am feeling a bit tired from it. The dream would be early morning run, bit of work, then nap after lunch. But for some reason napping is frowned upon at my workplace. 😂

We have to run for pleasure...so maybe dial it back to shorter runs for a while?

Sadie x

[Tasha99 Graduate10 in reply to Sadie-runs]

I think you might be right. I’m glad others seem to prefer 5k too. I’d be exhausted if I ran before work. I pass out on Saturday afternoon after ParkRun!

[Tbae in reply to Tasha99]

Hi Tasha,

You have a very busy life and you have achieved great things for you.

Great advice and support here.👍

Take control,only do what gives you the most pleasure and enjoyment.🤔

Looks like your favoured 5k and parkruns and just let your sub 30 arrive without much thought.🤔Regular parkruns will support that also.👍

Long run correlation with speed improvement ,expertise says yes, we are all different and you may find your way.Certainly a better chance if you are enjoying it.Enjoyment the main driver.

Think consolidation again for a while, maybe.🤔Keep it simple.Your life is busy enough.🤔

From a previous reply also,minimise/eliminate the ibuprofen🤔

You can review your own situation and change your options at anytime.🤔

Do not be too tough on yourself , you are a courageous runner.

💫🏃‍♀️💫

[Tasha99 Graduate10 in reply to Tbae]

Thank you Tbae 👍🏽

[Tbae in reply to Tasha99]

Read months ago that you can test yourself over sprints, told you how to do it , non professionally of course, to determine where your natural abilities as a runner lay.

Enjoy yourself Tasha, that is everything.🌟👏👏

JuJu advised give yourself a low mileage week, every 4 weeks,and personally for you if you consider something like that, that’s the week and on the Sat after resting you should hit your 5k and sub 30 attempt ,if you have not bagged it before then.🌟👏👏

[Tasha99 Graduate10 in reply to Tbae]

That’s a good idea too. I’ve been doing a few sprints. I think I’ll go that way. Thank you.

[Hidden]

After lots of trial and error, I have settled on 6k as my 'go to' distance. Longer runs for me are assisted by audio books. Hard to fit them in though especially at my snails pace!

[Hidden]

Come and run with me - not boring now I'm going further afield I'm confused about your watch situation. you said watch said 11k and your apple watch said 10.77. how many watches were you wearing??? Actually how are your longer runs boring? Where are you running. i get fedup running round Chipping Norton, but if/when I get back to Oxford, I can't think of a single boring route. and the countryside here is lovely to run in. xx

[Tasha99 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

I think my watch rounded it in its screen but when I looked on my phone it said the actual was less. I had map my run running on the watch at the same time. I runs different route every run. Sometimes around town, some along the river, some at the beach or with a group. I think it’s my lifestyle. Full time teacher and single mum. It’s hard to fit everything in without stressing about all the other things I should be doing instead. Similar to your situation last week when you were so busy you couldn’t run or enjoy it 👍🏽 I’m ok with shorter runs but the long ones get in the way of life and stress me out 😂

[Hidden in reply to Tasha99]

I can relate to being a single mum, though many years ago now. I also know from having so many friends and family in teaching, how very pressured and never ending that job is! You need your running time as it really is a de-stresser, if you can just have fun with it and not worry about statistics. I think others have hit the nail on the head: perhaps forget about targets for now and relax into enjoying the run. I watch for 1k buzzes on my watch but don't look at other stats till i get home. I don't even run with music, just bird song and the wind in the trees. Everything is so beautiful right now, even running round city streets, and if you can get off road for part of the time, it's a bonus. That footpath I run down, that was once the route where they carried salt across the country, is amazing, filled with hawthorn and blackthorn blossom last month, and now decked out with campion and field poppies. Just beautiful and away from everyone: but a park or canal path would do as well.

[Tasha99 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

I do need to forget targets. But I’ll get that sub 30 ParkRun first 😂 Thanks Flick ❤️

[Hidden in reply to Tasha99]

I sound as if I'm nagging you, but actually I'm in awe of your determination and progress. you've done incredibly well and obviously have a natural talent for fast running x

[Sqkr]

The trend for me seems to be the further I go, the more enjoyable and short runs of a lesser length seem to feel! It's one of my motivations for doing a marathon in the end to be honest. Halves will be a piece of cake after that, right? But honestly, I never thought I'd get to the point where a 10k would be the easy, casual distance I do for fun. But here I am! And I work full time If you genuinely don't enjoy any part of it then of course there's no point, but I bet if you ran 15k then the days you run 11 would feel brilliant

[Tasha99 Graduate10 in reply to Sqkr]

That’s what I wondered. I have only done 5 10ks so far so maybe I should just persevere until I find them easier? 11k was my absolute max last night though!

[Sqkr in reply to Tasha99]

Every long run I do I say it's my absolute max The first time I did a 10k I went dizzy and nearly collapsed! But then I get out and do a longer one, and the previous long run eventually becomes normal. It all depends on what you want to achieve of course, maybe long distance really isn't for you, and that's entirely reasonable - but if it's the fact it's tough that makes you want to stop then keep thinking about how tough a 5k once felt, and now you're bashing out parkruns like no one's business!

Looking at your post, maybe you need to cut yourself a bit of slack? If you're not enjoying it then maybe you're putting too much pressure on yourself. You don't have to run far or fast, if that isn't what you like doing. And everyone is different from day to day, I did a 2.5k last week and that was my absolute max. I swear I nearly died. It was meant to be 5 but I bailed out, it just wasn't a fun experience that day. And that's fine! Then I went out and did a run five times longer a few days later, and although I dipped in the middle I picked up again and it was a lovely run, looking back. I try to run in new, beautiful places. I like the wind in my hair, I like to run up high. That's what I enjoy about running, just being out in my own bubble. I stop and take photos, who cares about time and distance really. It's a by-product of the whole experience for me. You know you can do it, you've proved that, so now you can relax and enjoy it in whatever way works for you.

[Tasha99 Graduate10 in reply to Sqkr]

I think you’re right. Maybe I should just go running and see what I feel like. Thank you 👌🏽

[AnnieW55]

Agree with Hidden unless you are unlucky and can't vary your routes. I'm never bored running as luckily I have lots to decide on (have been known to stand outside the door unable to decide on one 😂)

Long runs are times for play lists, audio books, zombie runs, looking around, mind games, writing posts, stories - just letting your imagination run free too.

Don't want to be rude but I think now might be a good time to take a breath and think what you want to do and how you are going to achieve it as it seems, to me, that you have been ploughing on - and achieving good things - in only four months. Maybe time to stand back and take stock and find a way to run that you can enjoy as you don't seem to have enjoyed it much this far. If you are an achiever and are pushing yourself into longer runs because you "ought to" can you try channelling that into being in the moment on each one i.e enjoy what you are doing without the need for longer, faster every time? Apologies if I am wrong or coming across as rude.

[Tasha99 Graduate10 in reply to AnnieW55]

Yes I think I need to quit targets on the long run! Thank you 👍🏽

[Nictwit]

Oh Tasha, distance is not compulsory! This is supposed to be fun. Doing anything over 5k will improve your 10k time. I could never do a sub 30 park run but am excited by a 10k - we're all different 😀

[Tasha99 Graduate10 in reply to Nictwit]

Maybe I’ll do 10k less often and do 6-8k sometimes. It’s just I start off and think I may as well do the 10 😂

[lexi6 Graduate10]

Hey Tasha, your progress on here has just been amazing to watch and read about, you have leapt from graduating c25 to running 5k, to 10k, it seems with ease, you are so lucky to have speed and stamina and are blessed with natural ability. If running becomes boring and less enjoyable, perhaps you are ready for a new challenge whatever that may be. Maybe you should try some shorter runs just for fun first without placing any expectations on yourself. I love this Winston Churchill saying (bit of a fan) “To improve is to change, so to be perfect is to have changed often. ✌🏻

[Tasha99 Graduate10 in reply to lexi6]

I think you might be right 👍🏽 I think I’ll find it easier to relax once I get a sub 30 ParkRun. Maybe I should just run 5ks too. I need to re-evaluate as I’ll quit if I don’t enjoy it. Most tubs I do enjoy though. Yesterday was an evil run 😂

[limberlou Graduate10]

Yeah I have a garmin watch and use Garmin Connect but also strava ( one in kms and one in miles) but they vary quite a bit in time, distance and speed. I go with the Garmin Connect as I figure it’s the same as my watch.

But also I run with my daughter sometimes, we both use Garmin watches and set them at the same time “ 3..2..1..now” and we still get different results”

Sometimes she’s faster and sometimes I am . I can’t see that one of us running on the outside of the pavement and one on the inside should make that much difference and sometimes we get different distances too

[pinkaardvark Graduate10 in reply to limberlou]

You can set garmin connect to upload to strava, in this case they will be identical.

[limberlou Graduate10 in reply to pinkaardvark]

Ahh. I still don’t understand how me and my daughter get different times and distances when we run the same route at the same time beside each other

[Ripcurlrana71 Graduate10 in reply to limberlou]

I get the Garmin Connect to upload to Strava. I only use the watch now.

[Tasha99 Graduate10 in reply to limberlou]

I can’t decide whether to stick with map my run or to go with the Apple Watch fitness app. 🤔

[ClareO65]

Go with the one which makes you faster 😂 I think you do need to cut yourself some slack. It could be a while before you get that sub 30 min 5K but so what? You have years of running ahead of you. I could only do longer runs at weekends or on school holidays for the reasons you give. I’m also a teacher and Mum of 2 and trying to fit a long run in mid week after work would make me feel stressed. I also think you try to run faster when you are stressed for time to get it over with and then it is no fun. Maybe do 5Ks and when it’s the school holidays go for a longer run if you feel like it.

[Tasha99 Graduate10 in reply to ClareO65]

That’s very true! Thank you! Good advice 👌🏽