And so it begins...W1R1 / Parkrun 😃🏃‍♀️❤️😎

[mountaindreamer]

I’ve started! Juju’s Magic 10k plan - W1R1 - was my 3rd Parkrun at Birkenhead this morning. 😀🏃‍♀️❤️

Set off wondering what was going to happen, with a niggling right knee, tweaked right hip and twinging right lower back... Thankfully all these things weren’t related to running, and didn’t seem to mind me trying to run 5k. The very late, very large anniversary dinner we ate out last night was more of an issue though - so no food 2 hrs before today, and not much sleep but plenty of antacids last night! Perfect preparation then...😂😂😂

Surprisingly, despite feeling I was struggling more today, I still ended up with another PB, and came in at 28min 27sec. We were talking about the power of running as a group, and I really think it does make me go faster. I love that loads of the volunteers along the course at Birkenhead bring bells / tambourines (and last week even drums!) to encourage us along if we’re flagging!

Just after getting home, the postman delivered my C25k graduation present - my graduation Tshirt! Will be wearing this proudly as my club T-shirt next week! (You can’t really read it in the photo, but it even says nhs.uk under the logo - so it’s just for our NHS version of C25k too.)

PS I don’t really have a double chin, but my husband refused to get up off the couch to take the picture. (I can’t be too rude about him sitting on any couch, though, as he just ran today’s Parkrun in about 22mins...I’m realising he’s always going to come in about 6 mins faster than me however many PBs we both get!)

Glad to see everyone else doing Parkruns today seems to have had fun too! 😀🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️❤️😎

[pianoteacher Graduate10]

Well done mountaindreamer! Excellent PB

[mountaindreamer Graduate10 in reply to pianoteacher]

Thanks pianoteacher! I know it’s not about the time, but Parkrun brings out my competitive streak even if I’m only competing with me! 😂❤️

[pianoteacher Graduate10 in reply to mountaindreamer]

There's nothing wrong with that! I'm exactly the same - in fact our PB's are about the same. Mine's 28:19 set a few weeks ago. I run it with my son most weeks and he's a bit slower at the mo but next time I do it on my own I'll be aiming to go sub27:30. Not sure if I'll manage it but there's no harm in trying! x

[mountaindreamer Graduate10 in reply to pianoteacher]

Always good to have an aim! Have to admit I’m already wondering if 27mins something is a possibility once I’ve been running longer. My pace always slows down later into the race at the moment, as I just don’t have the stamina to maintain it. I plan to keep running Parkruns as my weekly 5k Run during Juju’s 10k plan, so will get plenty of practise! 😊❤️🏃‍♀️

[pianoteacher Graduate10 in reply to mountaindreamer]

I'm sure you will be able to do it. I've joined a running club and go on a 10k run with them each week. The first time the last 1500-2000m was awful but each time it's got a bit easier. Going to do some track training with them over the summer holidays to see if that will help too. Good luck xx

[Lorijay Graduate10]

Lovely pic and wow what a fantastic time, well done mountaindreamer!! Please tell me how to shave 10 mins off my 5k 😰

[mountaindreamer Graduate10 in reply to Lorijay]

Thanks, Lorijay...I watch my husband bounding off into the distance and wonder the same thing. We’re all different, and I’ve just been lucky enough to seem to have a natural pace which is sub 30mins so far for Parkruns. (I can sometimes be a lot slower running on my own.)

I’m not sure if it helps or not, but since starting C25k I’ve been deliberately trying to take short, quick, light steps. Mainly to avoid impact on my temperamental spine, but also bizarrely because more arm movement makes my pacemakers give me a higher pulserate! So short steps with faster moving arms gets me more oxygen!😊

I do less well for a pulse if striding out to run faster intervals, so the way most people try to boost their speed is possibly not going to work well for me... Similarly, running up hills isn’t going to workout as great for me, so once I try tackling hillier terrain I’ll probably be staggering. Thankfully our Parkrun is pretty flat.

I’m expecting to slow down a lot to up distance now. 🏃‍♀️❤️

[Lorijay Graduate10 in reply to mountaindreamer]

Thanks md. Really interesting. Im going to focus on 5k speed once i successfully complete juju's 10k plan 4 weeks left to go! Good luck with 10k, you'll be great 😀😀

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

Well Done mountaindreamer. That is an amazing run after an anniversary dinner. I love the t-shirt. I’d really like to promote the c25k programme so can you tell me how to get one too. Thanks

[mountaindreamer Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Thanks Eileen. ❤️ There are a number of different Tshirts colours, or a pin badge if you want something more subtle. 😊 Here’s the link...

completerunner-online.com/s...

[lexi6 Graduate10]

What a fantastic time, I’m in awe of you 🚀 your park run volunteers sound fantastic too. Keep posting please about your bridge to 10k runs. 👍

[mountaindreamer Graduate10 in reply to lexi6]

Thanks Lexi6. Don’t want to bore people silly with all my run attempts now I’ve got a proper plan again! I’m sure I’ll be on here nattering on about some of them though. Hope your recent runs aren’t as chilly. 😊🏃‍♀️❤️

[lexi6 Graduate10 in reply to mountaindreamer]

Love hearing about everyone’s runs, keeps me going as still cold here but have just decided to get on with it and do the best I can, was going to do a park run yesterday, but we just had torrential downpours all day, but bonus today is sunny, but very windy, but breakfast done, so am off now. Happy running to you. 😎

[Saartjie Graduate10]

Well done Mountaindreamer! Thats a super fast speed! Chasing your husband down must be good for your times 😉 good luck with your 10k journey...am sure you'll do great!

[Berksrover Graduate10]

Great time mountaindreamer and I am sure you will cruise through the 10k plan, interesting info re short strides and arm movements, I have found that if I can keep ny arms going back and forwards instead of coming across my bidy a bit it does drive me forward, only trouble is my legs can't keep up at the moment! Great t shirt too

[mountaindreamer Graduate10 in reply to Berksrover]

Thanks Steve! I try to move my arms forwards and back too (just how Laura taught us to!) instead of across my body, as it really does help propel you forwards. All I mean about more arm movement is that you pump your arms up and down at a faster rate in time with the shorter strides. I don’t want people thinking everyone gets a higher pulse doing that, though, it’s only relevant for my pacemaker! No idea whether the arms help my speed or not.

[sallenson Graduate10 in reply to mountaindreamer]

Not sure if it's true but my mushy brain says that my arms act an an accelerator. They can move a lot faster than my legs. And my legs will always follow my arms. So pumping with my arms, especially going uphill, works wonders... 😁

[Hidden]

Well done, and the t-shirt looks fab. I'm still searching for the double chin! As for your husband's superior speed, they have larger hearts and lungs than us, which why we get lower VO@ Max than them. but you were extremely fast anyway!

[mountaindreamer Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks FlickM3! Yeah...I think the fact he was naturally a good / fast runner at school helps too...😊❤️

[RunBrianRun Graduate10]

Well done on the PB mountaindreamer! You’ve inspired me and I’ve bought one of those T shirts which hopefully will arrive in time for me to be wearing it at the next Parkrun.

[mountaindreamer Graduate10 in reply to RunBrianRun]

I liked the idea of a club T-shirt, Brian. All the posh running club members have snazzy vests with their club name on, so why shouldn’t we all fly the flag for C25k! I was a bit disappointed to find I was the only one stating NHS C25k as their club on the results page for our Parkrun.

[RunBrianRun Graduate10 in reply to mountaindreamer]

Do you have to be working in the NHS to be in the NHS couch to 5k club? I’d like to join. There doesn’t seem to be a generic C25K club.🙁

[Crittermad in reply to RunBrianRun]

The ‘one you c25k’ app is the nhs one - you don’t have to work for the nhs

[mountaindreamer Graduate10 in reply to RunBrianRun]

As Crittermad says, it just means we used the NHS C25k programme from their app or podcasts (off the nhs website), not that we work for the NHS. I’m sure the Tshirt is as good for any C25kers, but as many of us in this forum were following the nhs version, I liked that the Tshirt mentioned the nhs website.

[sallenson Graduate10]

Well done, hon!! No wonder you look super cheery in that very stylish little blue number. Hugz!! ❤❤

[mountaindreamer Graduate10 in reply to sallenson]

Thanks - just need to get that 5.5k done tomorrow morning, then I’m properly on my way! 😃❤️