Happy Sunday Runners!
I’ve just got back from my first benchmark run in my programme. Let’s just say it was tough and I’m dripping everywhere, but it was satisfyingly doable!
There are 3 segments: 7 mins warm up, 3 mins going for broke running (hard) and then 5 mins warm down. 15 mins in total! I wasn’t naive to think that 15 mins wasn’t going to be tough 😯. I was dreading the 3 minute section, thinking going hard for 3 minutes is quite an ask, as you still need to carry on afterwards. And it was a challenge 💦 😓. I kind of wish the coach didn’t do the updates to say “your half way now” 🙄 and “one minute to go” (not quite as bad as half way 🙃), but then something just kicked in and I say “come on, we’ve got this”! Shoulders up and a bit more power in the legs and I’m feeling good. Then we’re done!
You can walk after in the warm down (now she tells me), but it’s recommended to get back to a jog, so I just forget the walking bit (the hard bit is over 😁) and jog for all of the last 5 minutes, while trying to regulate my breath again of course.
Wooh...benchmarking is a whole new experience! 😲 Now I’ve done it, I won’t be afraid next time. Mystery over!🧐 😉 These type of runs are ideal for the little park close by, as the surface is flatter. So my little park is not going to be totally redundant after all. I will go to the big parks for the long runs though. I’m not keen to go around and around for what now feels like eternity.
So I did 2.12k in 15 minutes! That’s further distance in 15 than my last run. I’m happy with that, especially considering 12 minutes of the total run was actually a light jog. Hey...not bad!! Feeling good on my new programme!🏃🏾♀️ ❤️
Nike Run Club! who would have thought it? 
Morning run with Hector!!
