Depending who you believe (Strava, 38:59 or Garmin Connect, 39:07, both fed off the same device!) I just ran a sub-40 minute 5k.
My fastest before was 41:29 so I’ve taken roughly 2.5 minutes off. 😳🤷♂️🏅(edited: my maths was wrong earlier!)
This was one of those runs where everything seemed to come together.
I spent yesterday eating sensibly (apart from the Haribo, @Sutsha!) and hydrating well. I had a lovely evening chatting with some friends and felt very much at peace with the world. I then slept well (evidenced by the Garmin sleep tracker).
I went out there and felt I “attacked” the run, rather than let running attack me!
I was getting 500m distance alerts so I would know where to turn and that prompted me to look at my watch slightly more than usual. I could see early on that my pace was high. Rather than my usual response - slow down, conserve energy - I knew I had it in me to get there and back, even if I would be crawling the last part.
The final K and my mental maths wasn’t great (my pulse trace shows why - way high!) and so I pushed, determined to come in just under 40 mins.
I put it down to several things. Yesterday being a good preparation day. Being in a great frame of mind thanks to support of good friends. Feeling special about having a proper runner’s watch. Jancanrun’s Ska playlist and the way it takes me right back to my youth. The weather being okay. Weight-loss and (whisper it) getting fitter.
Immense high on seeing the time then straight into that most mellow of mellow feelings I’ve only known after a less vertical activity. I know I have felt happier but I can’t remember when.
Sirens Hill taken to Uptown Top Ranking by Althea and Donna. So appropriate. “See me in ma pants and ting!” However I struggled up there today due to my pace and it annoys me so much that I am considering renaming it the Naughty Steppe.
Looking forward to the 5.5k on Saturday morning.
Whatever run you have next, enjoy it x
Written by
Jay66UK
Graduate10
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Well done Jay!! That’s wat I’m aiming for - think it’s because I haven’t lost any weight it’s alluding me. Ur an inspiration for me - enjoy that high ur on its well deserved!!
I’m coming over to join you in big school this Saturday, when my Parkrun will become Juju’s week 1 / 5k. Just sharpening my pencils and polishing an apple up right now...😎👍
Whoop! Well done, Jay! What an achievement. It is so lovely when we start to see progress, hey? You are doing so so well, there will be no stopping you. x
Well done! All the stars aligned for you today. It must be the fancy new watch. I do find preparation the day before contributes to performance massively.
Sirens hill is always going to be difficult as it’s steep, but as you get fitter you are beginning to get the better of it and will tame it 👏👏👏
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