Day off today, busy week or so ahead, so as I wasnโt sure when Iโd next get a long run in, I decided to do that today, with the option to make it 5k if I was too tired.
Now you have to remember my runs are usually out and back ones, so if Iโm going to shorten a run, I have to decide this by the half way point. Today I got to 2.5k, Poynton marina, and felt fine. Clearly this run was going to be longer than 5k. Next was Nelsonโs Pit marina at about 4K. Common sense should have told me to turn round, but I still felt really good, so I ploughed on, knowing that there was another marina just a bit further on.
Another half a km and I was in to new territory, and here was Lyme View marina. I got so excited that I kept going and was surprised to hear the lady calling out 5k in my ear. So that was it, it was 10k or fail, and we all know thereโs no such thing as a failed run!
I should mention my pace at this point. As I was intending to do maybe 5k I used a 159bpm running track, as I have been running at 155 for my longer runs. Of course this was still playing, so somewhere around 7km it occurred to me that my pace was more that of a 5k run than a 10k, still on I went undeterred.
At about 8k things were getting hard. I was hot, I was tired, but the lady who lives in my head told me I was still running at 6:59/km, and somehow that encouraged me to keep going and maintain my pace. Despite negotiating 2 hump-backed bridges, I still completed the run at under 7 min/km.
So there we go. I signed up to do Bridge to 10k, and, slightly unintentionally Iโve done 10k. And you know what? A year ago I couldnโt run at all. 5k seemed out of reach. 10k seemed really out of reach. But I somehow managed it, spurred on by you lovely lot encouraging me, and of course my lovely virtual running partner-in-crime Sadie-runs.
Thanks Ripcurlrana71 , I get the sense I've skipped a few runs to get to 10k, but at least now I know I have it in me. Oh - photo from Pacer added for proof
Large mug off coffee had, and a large mug of tea, and a large glass of water, not to mention some choccy biccies!!
So did I - naughty step for us. ๐ฌ๐ฌ Still now we can consolidate 10K. I did find after my first 10K on Saturday I needed a few days to recover - so relax and repair now with all caffeine drinks and biccies!!!! ๐๐๐๐ผ
Amazing stuff. High five to you sir! This will always be a special run so treasure it. but I reckon in time it will be a stepping stone to many great things
Thank you pinkaardvark . Funny thing, I wasn't at all looking forward to it, and I have to confess, the last k wasn't that much fun, but as a whole I loved it, and feel very proud. I don't think I'll do any more running today though
Don't worry about the last km, it's called endurance running for a reason. Learning to endure is an important lesson and often the only thing left we can teach the young uns hehe
Thanks! Just thinking back, there was a time, less than a year ago, when running for a minute counted as an endurance run. I still can't believe it!
Congratulations Neil! Thatโs brilliant running and such determination.๐๐๐๐๐๐
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Thanks Peggy, it did feel like it slightly happened by accident, and realistically although I'd set out to do a minimum of 5k, I was always going to try and do at least 9, and, well, 9 is nearly 10, right? Apart from the last k, it was fun!
โข in reply to
So now because youโve given me inspiration, tomorrow while out on my run tomorrow morning I shall have to try and get to maybe 9k if thatโs possible. It wonโt be as fast as you but Iโll give it a good go. Thanks Neil for your great inspiration.๐๐๐๐๐
Thanks Paul, I really appreciate that, though, you might want a fresh pair of your own, mine are now a bit stinky!
I see you've recently completed C25K, well done! Probably best to do a bit of consolidating first, get used to running for 30 minutes, and then running for 5k, but once you can do 5k relatively easily, 10k isn't that difficult. It's certainly been much easier for me to get from 5 to 10, than it was from 0 to 5. All the best for your future illustrious running career!!
Thanks so much Jan, I want you to know it's people like you, with your wonderful encouragement along the way, that have got me through C25K and now Bridge to 10k. On my own I would have long since given up I think. Gosh I feel like I might cry now!
I definitely think a few days rest is in order, I'm at work tomorrow and Friday and I have my youngest daughter for the weekend, so probably won't get too much chance to run for a few days anyway.
That's exactly the sort of pace I'm aiming for on the longer runs. Meant to run with the club this morning but I'm not feeling well so didn't go Keep trying to decide if I feel well enough to go out for a short one before work but I think I'm going to have to accept that it's probably better I don't x
Thanks pianoteacher ! I was actually aiming slower than that, but as I've taken to running to a fixed-tempo running track, I put the wrong one on, expecting to do a shorter distance, and ended up at 6:59/km. I'm really chuffed with the pace actually
Take it easy if you're not feeling 100%, yeah? When a run doesn't go to plan, it can knock the confidence, plus you'll come back from it having appreciated the rest, and feeling better, and ready to take on the world once more
Thanks Neil! I'm planning to either go out tomorrow for an easy long run (maybe 8k?) or do 10k with the club on Friday depending on how I feel. Got an easy afternoon at work and luckily no Army Band practise tonight as everyone wants to watch the football
Do you remember when 8k was not at all easy?? Well done you, I'm impressed that you dare to run with a club. I'd be terrified!
I'm supposed to have a Barbershop practice tonight, I'm assistant MD of a local barbershop chorus, and we were supposed to be having a concert on Sunday which I would be leading. The practice and the concert have both been posponed due to some silly football thing or other. Tsk!
Haha! Barbershop is so cool My boyfriend is always talking about starting one as he can sing stupid high - I think it's all the screamy high jazz trumpeting he does ๐
I love Barbershop. I've been doing it less than two years, and most of the chorus have been doing it for 20+ years. We won the national championships in the early 90's apparently. What's interesting is that because we sing unaccompanied, we use "just intonation" which means that we get beautiful harmonics from chords such as the wonderful "Barbershop 7th". We aren't tied to the compromise that is the even tempered scale.
Barbershop has 4 parts, Bass, Baritone, Lead, and Tenor in order lowest to highest, you probably know this actually. Tenor is the one that generally sings falsetto. The Lead is like a slightly lower tenor who carries the tune. The bass obviously provides the foundation to the harmony. And Baritone, which is the part I sing, gets the notes that don't fit into any of the other parts lol I also love the difference in style. I'm used to church choir singing, in Barbershop you're trying not to over-pronounce vowels, and concentrate on a smooth flowing sound. I love the freedom of singing without music too, although it was a bit of a learning curve at first.
Sorry - I'm going on a bit here. Just tell your boyfriend he should go for it, it's really good fun. Oh - and take a look at singbarbershop.com/
Great stuff Neil - thanks for the link. Tuning is such an interesting subject! I used to be in a choral society and I remember a rehearsal where the accompanist explained "just intonation". It was very interesting but most of the choir didn't have a clue what he was on about and couldn't sing in tune even when accompanied ๐
Given that most of the group have no musical background, I'm really impressed that they can sing 4 part close harmony reasonably well, unaccompanied. When we get the tuning right, it can be spine-tingling. If we do it really well, you can actually hear the extra overtones created. Oh - plus side: no music means people actually watch the conductor. Sometimes!
There is a running link too - one of our members is doing C25K, and in fact he's probably competed it now, as he was on week 9 last Wednesday. It gives us something to talk about during our tea break when we've exhausted everything singing related, and everyone else is talking about football...
hurrah! A second cup of tea is certainly in order! Well done runner Neil who was ambivalent about moving up the distances not so long ago! Brilliantly done!!
Thank you icklegui -with-the-fantastic-profile-pic. Is that your cat? I want to adopt it!!!
You make a good point you know, 10k sort of just happened naturally, and I'm really happy with that tbh. Thanks for all your support and encouragement along the way!!
Adopt my cat? Naaaaah, you don't want him, he's really annoying, he moults EVERYWHERE, he's got a really loud, insistent miaow, and he's got bad breath and an often smelly bum ...
what am I saying, please take him off my hands
The picture is him sitting on the cat wheel!
Fantastic that it happened that way, I think you said as much the other day?? It seems to happen a lot, people get to 8-9K and realise, it's so in reach now!
But seriously WOO HOO HOO! Congratulations best running bud! I am so pleased for you, and so proud. You set your mind (and legs, and heart, and soul) to it, and did it. No fuss, no pre-warning, just listened to your body and went for it! This is such a great achievement โ 10k mate, 10K! What next for us? Shall we train for a HM? Come on, you know you want toโฆ
It has been amazing to share this 10k journey with you, not least because we completed C25K roughly around the same time. It was lovely to be able to work towards this goal together too. There was laughter, there were tears, there was a very brief moment on the IC, there was much sweat = but you got there. And with an amazing pace to boot.
You are not just a runner, you are an accomplished runner. Keep telling yourself that, as a mantra, because it is true.
Sadie-runs xxx
p.s are you crying now? You should be, because I am still livid you got there first!
Yes, Sadie, I'm in floods of tears! It's like, you've done so well, I'm so proud of you, here have a hug, *slap* and THAT's for getting to 10K before me ๐ I so want to say, but men always come first, but that would be a little risquรฉ for this forum, so I won't.
Wow! Well done Neil...a huge achievement ๐โโ๏ธ๐๐๐ I'm not sure I will ever 'accidentally' run 10k but then I never thought i would get to this point either! Happy running ๐
Thanks Saartjie . It's amazing what we can do when we put our minds to it, or even better, stop overthinking it and just do it anyway. Who'd have ever thought, us being runners, eh?
Well, I tried runing on the canal, but as I'm not Jesus so I got rather wet. I've compromised and now run along the towpath
I have a hill to get to it too, not a huge one, just the perfect length for a warm up walk, so I'm probably making this too easy on myself by running on the flat.
You could run there, take a flask and some butties, then walk back. Sounds like a win to me ๐
Awwww thanks Sadie, it all feels a bit unreal at the moment, but I guess you're right, I did make it, and I just know that you will hit 10k probably on your next run if I know anything about you The thing with you is that I know you are already capable of it, I think you've maybe just been holding back to be nice to me, which is very sweet. I didn't mean to get there first, I promise.
Interesting that you mention doing a HM. That's about 21k I think. A couple of friends at church are doing the Manchester HM in October... not sure if I want to do that or not, but I'm certainly going to give it some consideration. For now though, a few rest days I think.
It will sink in. And you overestimate me โ I am not that nice; nor that capable, though by god I am probably going to try for it this Sunday now! (Or maybe not โ eeeks!).
I am starting to think that a HM is not that ridiculously far out of our reach, but I might start the training for that in autumn, when it is not so darn hot! Knowing me though, it will be another 6 months before I pluck up the courage! However, if there is one thing this 10k training has taught me, and that is, we have it in us to run longer โ it is just a slightly different discipline, but one that I like. (Ultra next year, hmmm? LOL)
Hey I never want to hear the words "ultra marathon", OK? That's just too scary to contemplate!! And please don't doubt yourself, you are VERY capable, I just know you can do this, and you'll do it with style.
I've picked up a kind-of competitive streak going on here! I know whenever you do your 10k you will totally smash it, but please don't injure yourself in the process, OK?
Hee hee hee. There is a small part of me that would love to do an ultra. I am quite fascinated by the whole thing.
Don't worry! Everything I have said is in jest. You must know me by now, I don't have a competitive bone in my body; I am only competing with myself, and very gently may I add. False modesty aside, I know i am a good runner. And, I am embracing running slowly like you wouldn't believe! Sunday is due to be very hot again, so I will set out to do my planned 9k, and if i feel good, will take it to 10k. Part of me doesn't want B210K to end, as I am loving it so much!
It's fun, right? Are you having fun? I certainly am. It's a far cry from Week 1 of Couch to 5k, where I was wondering why the heck anyone would do something so stupid more than once? As I've said before though, my mental health has improved dramatically, I'm feeling happier, healthier, and I know you are too. I also know that more than likely you will graduate tomorrow. Or this evening. Or in about 10 minutes!
If you can do 9k though you can do 10, particularly you. You're right you know, you are indeed a good runner, and I have taken much inspiration from you, so really I've only run a 10k today because of your support and inspiration. I don't want it to end either, and it won't, because we can still run and still post here.
We're still team awesome (aka the terror team), remember?!
I am REALLY having fun. Learning to run has meant so much to me. It has made me feel "liberated" โ I know, odd thing to say, but it has. Free to run. Free to spend this time doing something physical and not mental for a change. And I feel strong. Emotionally I feel much more balanced. I have learned to trust myself and not be frightened to push myself a little, and to have some bloody confidence!
And no 10k for me today, buddy. I did a 5k this morning, and need a wee rest.
We are, and will always be (thanks to Tbae !) the Terror Team. Aka Team Awesome.
In my mind you will always be a better runner than me! I am so so glad the running is helping you so much. I also feel much more stable and balanced, and as a result, Iโm nearly off the anti-depressants. Oh - glad you didnโt do another run, but you wouldnโt, youโre sensible!!
Yes! But I had an anxiety dream last night that I went out for a run, thought I had done 10k, but when I checked Runkeeper I had only done 4.8km! ๐ฑ LOL!
Oh dear! Sadly that's the reality of running with today's modern tech, and in fact that happened to me on my 9k, Pacer is still convinced I only ran 8.41k... It's cool though, if you're dreaming of 10k. Give it a few days, that dream will surely be a reality, I just know it. Or maybe 4.8k I'm so excited to see your graduation post!!!
Thanks Jelon , it was kind-of by accident. I kind-of thought I might do it, and then by not taking any of the ways out (like, turning round earlier) I was in a situation where it was going to happen if I was going to get back home. The joys of an out-and-back route! And there was just no way I was about to give in and walk
I too enjoy out and back routes as in a good day you go further but in a bad day easy to not push it too much! I admire your determination ๐๐ป๐
Howaay the lads.๐บ๐บ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
Ha! Well done,and join the accidental 10k club, of which many of us are members. Absolutely terrific pace too. Did I say well done !!! ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐
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Thanks Flick, I always appreciate your encouragement. It has been quite a journey, and now I'm onto the fun of consolidating my 10k work, and trying to pretend I'm not thinking about a HM now!!
I know, I still can't believe it myself. It just sort-of happened! Did I cheat by missing out a few runs at the end? What I can say is that your relaxed, encouraging style of managing/babysitting this group has been fantastic, you are an inspiration and I couldn't have done it without you.
I'm afraid I don't rock the red lipstick like you do though
You know the funny thing? A year ago I had no desire to become a runner, no desire to do any form of physical exercise, apart from walking from the couch to the kettle. To improve my mental health, I decided to do C25K, didnโt feel like it, but did it anyway. Somewhere during my running history Iโve gone from hating running to loving it, and the effect it has on my health, both mentally and physically. Well, apart from the niggles that is!
Training for 10k has been brilliant, and I think What I have learned will stand me in good stead IF I decide to go further, say, the Manchester HM in October. Would that be too soon if I were to go for that? Itโs good to have a goal, right?
You have just over 13 weeks for the Oct Manc HM, so yes totally doable and not actually all that bad. If you crack on with it you will nail it easy. Here's a plan you could follow to give you an idea storage.googleapis.com/live... but there are lots of others out there.
Brilliant!!!!!!! I keep reading of these unintentional distances! And here is another one! Well done you! Enjoy the happy after glow. The graduate10 badge looks wonderful! ๐๐ฅ๐พ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐๐
Ooh yes so it does just spotted that on the PC. I shall keep it polished as best I can, though I fear it might get a little muddy and splashed with sweat ๐ฆ
Thanks Millsie, shiny isn't it? I can't believe I've done it. I wasn't even expecting to do it today. It just sort-of happened. The legs are a bit achy now though!!!
Rest up and bathe in your success, brilliant achievement Neil!
Thank you, resting is already happening, my legs are still a bit miffed that they have to work harder for a living these days, but I'm slowly taming them. I am going to have to run another 10k soon through, to prove to myself it wasn't just a fluke and I really can do it!
Thanks so much orangeguy , I don't know about streaking... the other towpath users might have something to say about that. Maybe creaking is more appropriate lol! But thank you. i didn't quite mean to do a 10k today, but chuffed to bits that it happened.
Congratulation Neil. You can enjoy a bit of a rest now. For a couple of days ๐. Well done on your run and feeling those mind gremlins under control.
Thank you! I still canโt quite believe it you know? Yeah, maybe a couple of days. I did push myself probably harder than I should have, and am feeling a little achy now!! Iโll be fine though
It's super bloody awesome! Soak up the wonderfulness, you deserve it.
The old arse-cheek keeps playing up still, but fortunately, I've just landed a new job which means... I can now, at last, afford to see a physio! So light at the end of the tunnel Thanks for asking
I'm quite excited, and already trying to weigh up the pros and cons of the Manchester Half Marathon in October.
Pros:
It's a half marathon!
Cons:
Um, it's a half marathon!!
Glad you're going to see a physio, hope they get to the, um, bottom of the problem Sorry, I should stop being cheeky now. In all seriousness, I'm really glad there is light at the end for you. Do keep us updated, won't you?
Ha ha!! Will do, hopefully I'll be back at it again soon. Otherwise they'll be trouble!! Serious run withdrawal going on over here
HM!!!!! I love the way we are always looking on to the next thing. Blimey, that's a whole different kettle of fish. Something tells me though, you'll get there Good luck!
Yeah, I know!! I'm slightly scared, as it's a big step, and I'm not sure I actually want to do it, plus... people! Real actual people. They scare me. Oh - and people who are probably fitter and can run much faster. I really hope you recover soon. And that I stop making bad puns lol
I know, I'm not keen on real people either! You will just as fit and fast as them though. Perhaps you need a couple of dustbin lids, one on each arm, like a shield, so you can deflect anyone who gets toooooo close.... slow 'em down too!
Well done! I had a similar experience of going for a shorter run but just felt like carrying on to 10K, and after 4 days rest I just did it again ๐..
best to consolidate now, again, just go steady.. itโs amazing how it all suddenly comes together with how you feel and the breathing. Took me ages to go for 10K but now I want to keep on doing it.. well done ๐๐ป๐๐ปโโ๏ธ๐๐ปโโ๏ธ๐๐ปโโ๏ธ
Thank you! I miss loads on here, because the only way I seem to get notifications when someone I follow does something exciting is by having it send me an email, and then I have to wade through hundreds of emails in an already rather full inbox, so I miss stuff as well!!
I'm planning a few days rest actually, I've pushed quite hard recently and particularly after yesterday when I really pushed in the final K, I need a tiny break I think. I might do a leisurely 5k at the weekend though. Never thought I'd use "5k" and "leisurely" in the same sentance. Thank you for being a virtual cheerleader though x
I miss loads, don't be sorry. You are very much needed to concentrate on the new C25Kers, I think you have a particular gift for encouraging people. I will never forget the positive influence you've had on my fledgling running career.
I will try at least a half marathon I think, but probably not just yet, as I feel I need to work on my "core" to gain some more strength and avoid further injury. "core" sounds like a word that proper fitness types would say, right?
Yey..well done Hidden this is fantastic to hear & what a lovely, scenic run it sounds?! The voice prompts come just at the right time donโt they? They seem to make me think how much Iโve already run rather than how far Iโve still got to go...10k eh??!! Whoโd have thunk it?!! Hope you had a rich tea with that brew?!! ๐ well done x
Thank you so much Mummycav . It's certainly been quite a journey, that's for sure. I really enjoy my canal route which I've been able to run every time given the good weather, although I look out of my office window now and it's raining lol!
The only thing that bothers me is that it's flat, which obviously is a good thing, but doesn't help me train for hills at all. I suppose I should take myself off to Lyme park and try the parkrun route... that'll get me used to hills.
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Keep trying to decide if I feel well enough to go out for a short one before work but I think I'm going to have to accept that it's probably better I don't x
w4 long run: my first ever 8k!
10k at lunchtime
How are my legs feeling so much better after my first 10k of 2019 (not sure if I managed 10k in 2018 either) than after my 5ks?
Boasting alert โ ๏ธ 10k PB totally smashed!!
10K - did it!
