My first 6K and no gremlins

[Goforitmama]

I've been peeking into Bridge to 10K for a couple of weeks. I felt as though I didn't belong here until I was running over 5Ks. So I've been quietly stalking you all. This morning I went out for a run and did 6K. I used to run, but stopped 4 years ago when life presented a few other challenges and running became wishful thinking. I graduated c25k a few weeks ago and have been happily running mostly either 30 minutes or a few over that to get to 5k ever since.

My previous run was a 'fast as you can' 3.5k because I was itching to get outside. A big rain storm was in the forecast that day, so I had headed out and just ran as fast as I could until the rain started. Maybe just running a shorter run 2 days ago left me eager to run a longer distance today.

I have the common struggle with the gremlins. They are a bunch of free loaders that sit on my shoulder that tell me to 'give up and go home' for a while. Sometimes they add the words 'silly old woman' and that's just rude! I just ignore them and they soon stop their silly chatter. I get into a rhythm, my heart rate raises enough to meet what I'm telling my legs to do and we are off.

Today there were no gremlins, I felt really glad to be out. I've decided that the main thing that made the difference is the school summer holidays. Don't get me wrong, I love my DD very very much and we have a lot of fun together, but...I do need to escape from time to time - it's a sanity thing! School finished last Friday, so we've had a great week at home, but today I was ready to escape for 40 minutes.

It was a good run, the cows in the fields were fascinated by me. They don't get many people running past. I felt good during and after the run. It certainly gave me that inner smile feeling and I feel proud of my achievement today. If only I could bottle the contented and at peace feeling I get after a good run I would be a very rich woman 😀.

My goal is to run 8ks in the autumn.

Happy Running!

[Jay66UK Graduate10]

Lovely report. Relate fully to the gremlins and the contented feeling.

I’m lagging you a bit. 5k is my limit for now but I’m going to slowly build that up later in the summer.

[Goforitmama Graduate10 in reply to Jay66UK]

I didn't set out to run 6K. I was out running and it all felt good, comfortable and I just thought I would give it a go. I do think that the shorter run 2 days ago helped.

You are doing great Jay.

You feel that you are lagging me in distance, but I think that you are beating me in your running gear. I need to get something to carry my cell phone from the running store tomorrow. I think that by the time I walk out of there it's likely to be dangerous for my credit card, I think that they have the new Brooks Ghost 11's in stock, then there's the clothes and the sale rail is ALWAYS worth checking.

[Jay66UK Graduate10 in reply to Goforitmama]

😁 I’m not beating myself about being behind. Just noting your 8k goal for the autumn and thinking “yeah, I want to head there too”.

I hold this running (and everything else) lightly. I want to progress but I’m not impatient for it. I can see how it comes across that way - I just say what I feel. 🙃

Sadly, I also hold my spending reigns lightly......

[Goforitmama Graduate10 in reply to Jay66UK]

I know Jay, you have a very sensible approach to running. I don't want to be over ambitious either. Neither of us is in a hurry for an encounter with the IC. Your plan is the Manchester 10k next year (it's a great goal), you have plenty of time to work steadily towards that goal. It's achievable, especially now that you are getting geared up with all weather clothes.

My goal of 8k in the autumn is achievable, the first day of winter is 21st December, so I have until then to do it. That should be plenty of time.

[Jay66UK Graduate10 in reply to Goforitmama]

Race you 🤣🤣🤣

[Goforitmama Graduate10 in reply to Jay66UK]

You're on - AND I know you cheat! (you told me so)

[Jay66UK Graduate10 in reply to Goforitmama]

I do?? I did?!?

[Goforitmama Graduate10 in reply to Jay66UK]

Yep, 'fraid so.

[Jay66UK Graduate10 in reply to Goforitmama]

Oh my. I have no memory of that 😳

[BethMay]

Whoop whoop! Great post- well done sweetheart xx

[Goforitmama Graduate10 in reply to BethMay]

Thank you!

[Tasha99 Graduate10]

Ooh I love escaping. I’m a teacher. I double need to escape 😂

[Goforitmama Graduate10 in reply to Tasha99]

Definitely! It's for our sanity!

[Sadie-runs Graduate10]

Running makes us feel free and wild, eh? And we all need to feel that from time to time. Well done 👍 on your 6k, mama. Good work. x

[Goforitmama Graduate10 in reply to Sadie-runs]

Thanks, yes it sure feels good.

[Lorijay Graduate10]

Well done on the 6k mama, sounds like one of those nice runs. Running provides such a great escape.

[Goforitmama Graduate10]

Thank you, yes it does.

[SaskAlliecat Graduate10]

Nicely done mama! There’s no doubt you’ll reach 8k by autumn, having reached 6k today. Ju-ju has a great plan for stretching the distance to 10 k when you’re ready. It has worked for many of us on here.

[Goforitmama Graduate10 in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Thanks for your supportive words and suggestion.

p.s. Happy Canada Day from a fellow Canadian.

[SaskAlliecat Graduate10 in reply to Goforitmama]

Thanks! You too 🇨🇦!

[Hidden]

Well done on the gremlin free run, and thanks for sharing your lovely post.

You didn't have to wait till you could run 5k before letting us know you were here I'm pretty sure I wasn't even running 4k when i joined. I wandered in to take a look and found that process had joined me, whereon I opened my big mouth to apologise, and fond half the others on here had arrived in the same way.

The trouble with that after run feeling is that you keep having to run to keep getting the high. Pretty much like any addiction really

[Goforitmama Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

It's a harmless addiction. My other addiction is store loyalty cards.... I think that I ought to get out more 😀

[Hidden in reply to Goforitmama]

Not got the lycra addiction and the running shoe fetish yet then? It’s only a matter of time 😂

[Ripcurlrana71 Graduate10]

That’s great! I prefer this plan to the C25k as there isn’t the pressure to complete any run in any set time. That elusive 5k in 30mins was always hanging around!

Good luck with the plan. 😊

[Goforitmama Graduate10 in reply to Ripcurlrana71]

Thanks. I think I'm going to take a peek at bridge to 10k. I didn't realise that there isn't a set time. Maybe I could start....

[CJDavies Graduate10]

Glad the gremlins were too busy sunbathing to realise you were up and out running.

[Goforitmama Graduate10 in reply to CJDavies]

Thanks, wherever they were I just hope those little freeloaders just stay there 😎

[sarah65 Graduate10]

So identify with this, particularly the “silly old woman “ bit 😂 I also get “you’re too slow to call yourself runner!” But I keep going and seek reassurance from the forum which makes me feel better!!

[Goforitmama Graduate10 in reply to sarah65]

Yes, I read the posts on here and I realise my speed is normal and what goes on in my head is normal too. It's a relief 😀