Worried about managing an 8k and ended up running 10!!

[tvuk2000]

Hi there, I don't post much but I keep up with you all and what's going on. Your posts have all helped me loads, hoping maybe this will help someone else somewhere.

I started doing JuJus magic 10 and I did the 7k run last week which was ok but not easy and this week was the 8k, and for some reason I got quite worried about doing it and this wasn't helped by a really tough 5k Sunday evening, so I didn't think I'd be able to do it

As I got ready for a run last night after using Mapmyrun.... a lot...... to plan, then re-plan, then replan again a route (with no hills near the end etc.) I still had a backup 5k plan in the back of my mind so if I didn't feel it I could re-route and come back sooner.

So I started off and attempted to slow myself down, bizarrely I find this quite difficult I always seem to run at my limit and struggle to ease off, I have been running at just under 6mins/km for 5k so was aiming for 6.30 to 7 mins/km for this run, so the first km was at 6, darn it, but then I managed to steady up a bit and got to 6.30 and kept it about there and then it just worked, I felt good I wasn't getting too out of breath and thought wow I may actually be able to do 8k........ I think

My meticulously planned route turned out to be longer in real life so I wasn't as near to home at 8k as I thought but I still felt fine so just carried on, got to 9k, nearly there, 9.5k and just approaching the house still feeling ok, so I thought I can't stop here when only a few minutes from a 10k so went round the block and did my first ever 10k

Still can't quite believe it, I'm so pleased that I did It, and it was not too bad, I felt worse after the 5k on Sunday evening! The key for me was to make myself steady up a bit and then it all felt so much easier.

Amazing what you can do when you're least expecting it.

Great plan by the way Juju I've really appreciated it and yours and others comments around it.

I still can't believe it, I was struggling with the idea of running for a whole minute back in March, now thanks to C25k and JuJus magic 10 I have run for 1hr and 6 minutes and done 10k. What a great website, great programs and great positive members.

🙂🙂

[Visionon Graduate10]

Hello tvuk2000, great to read your post as I have exactly the same issue, always seem to run to my max and I need to slow down but find it almost impossible! How are you judging your pace during the run?

[tvuk2000 in reply to Visionon]

Hi Visionon, I have a Garmin Forerunner watch that shows me my pace all the time, I'm a bit of a gadget nut anyway but this has been a fantastic help to my running, helps me a lot, normally I can see that I am going too fast try to slow down and then find the next time I look I have sped up again but somehow managed to get it right last night, don't know how it would go if I didn't have the watch, I think part of it is just going slower than you think you should and having to keep telling yourself to slow down, eventually I got so I was actually comfortable running my breathing was ok and it felt good, first time that's happened, and is really what I've been hoping for ever since I started; to be able to run without feeling like it's hard work.

[Visionon Graduate10 in reply to tvuk2000]

Yeah I think a running watch is definitely the way to go, I will have to invest. You have described exactly what I also want to achieve!

[tvuk2000 in reply to Visionon]

It's a bit sad really but the desire to run easily came from a Jack Reacher book and there was just one part that said "Jack started to run in that effortless run he could do that just ate up the miles" and I remember thinking at the time, that would be awesome, and it's stuck with me since. Certainly wouldn't say I'm anywhere near that, certainly not effortless that's for sure, but a lot closer than I was 🙂🙂

[Visionon Graduate10 in reply to tvuk2000]

Ha ha! That made me laugh. Here's a Jack Reacher quote that seems appropriate:

“Never forgive, never forget. Do it once and do it right. You reap what you sow. Plans go to hell as soon as the first shot is fired. Protect and serve. Never off duty.”

[tvuk2000 in reply to Visionon]

Haha if your quotes are appropriate you must have far more interesting runs than mine!! Good old Reacher

[Abaggs Graduate10]

Fantastic, that's great to hear. I am on week 4 and saving the 8k for Sunday, as l seem to run best then. Don't think I'll be doing 10k, but it's great to hear after your worry it was no way as bad!

It is a great programme, thanks juju! 😊

[tvuk2000 in reply to Abaggs]

Can't say it will always be better than you think, but aim to run slower, that seems to be what made it possible and even an enjoyable run for me. Who knows what you can do, I didn't think I could manage an 8k and didn't go out to try to do a 10k and I think most importantly I didn't push past my limit as I really don't want to get an injury, it just felt good and just happened really!! Best that way I think 🙂

[Berksrover Graduate10]

Congratulations, it is amazing what a seemingly smallish reduction in pace can do to stamina, and you are right ju-ju- s plan is amazing, this community is amazing, and the members brilliant at supporting and encouraging each other, enjoy your graduation to the 10k club I hope to join you soon

[tvuk2000]

Thanks Berksrover, I'm sure you'll be at 10k soon enough, no rush just when it feels right, it's amazing what we can do with some encouragement and support isn't it 🙂

[ju-ju- Graduate10]

Fantastic, well done you! I bet that felt amazing and I am so pleased you have found the plan helpful...

[tvuk2000 in reply to ju-ju-]

Thanks Ju-Ju, it feels amazing, I think it's because it's something I didn't even think was possible, I see lots of people saying they can't believe they are doing what they are doing, whether it's running for 3 minutes non-stop to running a 10k, the whole running thing is a great experience because of achieving something that not so long ago you thought was not possible. It's a great feeling.

[Hidden]

Well done! I find it hard to steady up too. And that’s how I did my first 10k, accidentally halfway 5hrough the program, so I never did complete ju- jus plan.

[tvuk2000 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks and well done you, amazing what we can do when we least expect it

[Ripcurlrana71 Graduate10]

That’s fantastic! Great time too!! I also jumped through the plan a bit - only because it felt right. Now go collect your graduate10 badge!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[tvuk2000 in reply to Ripcurlrana71]

Thanks I'm still buzzing about it now Wow hadn't thought of that, can I collect that yet or do I need to have done a couple of 10ks before I can say I have graduated like on the 5k?

[Ripcurlrana71 Graduate10 in reply to tvuk2000]

Collect now! 😬😬😬

[tvuk2000 in reply to Ripcurlrana71]

Woohoooo !!

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate10]

Huge Congratulations tvuk!😊

Running 10k is a great acheivement..you did really well to keep going...💪✋

Have you requested your 10k badge...

Well Done😊x

[tvuk2000 in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

Aah thanks bluebirdrunner, I have requested it as Ripcurlrana suggested. It's all very exciting! Really good to share with you all on here too as my other half doesn't really get my excitement about it. Thanks everyone for celebrating this with me 🙂🙂🙂

[Lorijay Graduate10]

Amazing tvuk!! Fantastic achievement, you must be so proud.

[tvuk2000 in reply to Lorijay]

I am really proud, it feels like a really big achievement its very similar to how I felt when I first ran 5k but more, if you know what I mean. I may soon feel like a proper runner 😁 Thanks Lorijay

[Hidden]

This is exactly how my last few long runs have felt! Still working on evening out pace for both 5K and my longer runs.

Anyway, enough about that, this is your time - very well done indeed!!!!!!!

#smashedit #kudos 🍾🥂🎉🎉🏆🏃‍♂️💨💨💨

[tvuk2000]

Thanks Sutsha, my watch is helping me loads now on pace I have a screen that shows current pace and an average run pace and those 2 together seem to help. Cadence is my next challenge I want to get it to 180 its currently around 170. #theresalwayssomethingelsetoworkon #10kWoohoo #chuffedtobits 🙂🙂

[RedFred]

I used to find slowing down really hard when I first started running - I had to really focus on it. It becomes much, much easier with practice 😊 I just run to feel now.

[tvuk2000 in reply to RedFred]

Sounds great, I look forward to hopefully getting to that point too! 🙂