12.7k to celebrate my "runniversary"!

Greetings lovely running friends and cheerleaders!

Yesterday was the day I chose to celebrate a year since I started running. I'm not quite sure when I started as I paid little attention to the date, as a) I was mentally in a pretty bad place at the time and b) I never thought I'd get past week one of C25K! Still, here I am, a year later. If you want to read more about my story, and I know many of you will have seen this already, but I posted on Couch to 5K here: healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

Today, then, I had my usual day off work. The weather was cool but beautiful, so I decided today was the day I was going to break the 10k barrier. Now often when I do these things, I give myself a get-out, with a disclaimer such as "*if I feel OK to continue". Not today. I was GOING to run my planned route. The only allowences I made were that I would stop to take the odd picture, but literally only slow down, take a picture, continue. For those of you who have been keeping up with my 10k running route, there is a really nasty stretch which is a nasty climb up from the Middlewood Way (closed railway line) up to the Macclesfield Canal. I decided to continue along the Middlewood Way for another mile or so, as it eventually climbs gradually to meet the canal anyway, so that's what I did.

I set off using a slightly slower track than usual from PodRunner, but it was one I was using whilst going through Bridge to 10k, "Road to Joy", claiming to be based on the music of Bach and Beethoven. In actual fact it was the usual mess of boppy music with the added bonus of hearing a Bach prelude and Beethoven's 9th crucified, but hey it's helpful to me The slower tempo certainly helped me control my pace, and that didn't make a huge difference to my final average pace, which surprised me.

One thing I particularly enjoyed was passing other runners coming the other way. I felt like I was finally worthy to say "hi" to them, and that I could hold my head high because I am also a runner now. Me, a runner!

I have to say I did hit a bit of a wall at 10k, but that was largely because the road which leads up to the canal from the middlewood way has a bit of a sting in it's tail in terms of gradient, but by that point I'd leveled off, so I naturally recovered.

Before I knew it, I'd passed 12k. I finished my run at the point I started, 12.73k in total. I really really tried to get my pace below 7min/km, but ended up at 7:01. Never mind - I'm very happy with that pace for what is by far my longest run ever. That's nearly 8 miles. If you'd told me a year ago I'd be able to run nearly 8 miles I'd have laughed at you.

Once again - thank you everyone for your wonderful support, especially my dear running buddy Sadie-runs who has stuck by me throughout this journey, putting up with my rollercoaster of emotions, various injuries, and just generally being a rock, albeit a speedy rock. That's it Sadie, YOU rock

See you all soon, happy and safe running!

Neil

[Hidden]

Great distance and pace, well done a great way to celebrate your runniversary 😊

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Rob. I still can't believe it, I ran solidly for nearly an hour and a half. That's a *really* long time, I'd never have believed this a year ago, I can tell you.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I am with you on the "really" long time , just imagine someone said to you a year ago . You will run for 90 minutes + .. i think we both know what the answer would have been.

That said, a great achievement all round 😊

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

That sounds a lovely run to celebrate your runniversary Neil. You are an inspiration to all of us who are following behind. Whoopie 12.73K

[Hidden in reply to Dexy5]

Thank you Dexy, you are very kind. Pretty sure you'd be overtaking me though if you were following behind!!

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

If I did overtake you Neil you’d be stepping over my exhausted body further along the line.

[Hidden in reply to Dexy5]

That'd be two exhausted bodies then lol!

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

Wow, well done Neil, 12.7K, nearly 8 miles of running and the pace was good as well. I did read your post yesterday and I got thanks from you. Who knows now that those 'rumours' you have been hinting at regarding a half marathon could be more than just rumours, I would run a few more +10ks just to make sure you will be able to go the HM distance, once again congratulations to you on your latest and longest run.

[Hidden in reply to AlMorr]

Thank you AlMorr , nope, definitely just rumours, that's all. Honest

[tony_a Graduate10]

That’s brilliant Neil. A great way to celebrate your runniversary 😀. Congratulations.

[Hidden in reply to tony_a]

Thanks Tony, much appreciated

[Ripcurlrana71 Graduate10]

Sounds like a great run! I find once I’ve hit 5k my body relaxes into a run. I think its because I go out too fast! 🤔😜

Well done Neil.

[Hidden in reply to Ripcurlrana71]

I must learn this, I really must. I went a teeny bit slower today and it was so much more fun. Still had the toxic 10 though, as always, but I think you're right though, after a few k your body does start to relax into it, doesn't it? I honestly felt I could have kept going to 15k, though I was secretly quite glad to stop

[Ripcurlrana71 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

My max has been 15 with a short break after 10K but it was haaaarrrd last K. For me it’s a toxic 3-5k! Then my body says ‘ok I see - you’re going to keep running arent you?!’ 😂😂😂

[Sqkr]

Happy, happy runniversary! I just did a comparatively terrible post celebrating my own, you've shown me right up with your lovely words Neil 🤣 I'm so glad that you're still running, still achieving and still enjoying it all a year on.

[Hidden in reply to Sqkr]

Thank you Sqkr, I've replied to your *not* terrible post too

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate10]

Fantastic effort Neil!...kudos💪✋👌😊xx

[Hidden in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

Awww thanks Jan, I really appreciate that. You know it means the world when an experienced runner such as yourself says that, right?

[Sadie-runs Graduate10]

Now you’ve made ME cry! On a train, in public! Though I don’t care, you’ve just run 12.flipping.7 km! Woo hoo! That is amazing, Neil, amazing!

What a great run, and great pictures to boot. I am so proud of you my lovely, look how far (in every respect) you have come.

You continue to inspire me, so my planned 10k for tomorrow may well turn into an 11k run. 😁

Well done, buddy. 😘

[Hidden in reply to Sadie-runs]

Oops, sorry! Hope you're OK, though I'm pretty sure no-one would have noticed, based on my experience of London transport. But thank you, now you're making me cry again. We really need to stop doing this, you know Actually I think it might be pollen making my eyes water. Yeah. Let's go with that.

And I really hope you have a great run tomorrow. I know you're bound to do at least a million km now And, btw, you inspire me too. That's what running buds are for, and you do that brilliantly. I've long-since given up trying to keep up with you, so I'll just be inspired by you and admire the dizzy heights of your achievements xxx

[Sadie-runs Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Nah, sobbing in London trains is an everyday occurrence, nobody batted an eyelid! 😂 Besides, I just had something in my 👁eye. 😊xxx

[ju-ju- Graduate10]

A joy to read.... congratulations on your runniversary.... 😎

[Hidden in reply to ju-ju-]

Thank you lovely JuJu. Now please tell me, I know you're a very experienced runner now, do you still get the same buzz that you always did when you started? Today was just amazing I have to say. Maybe that was just because it was a special run, but it was one of the most enjoyable I've ever done, so much so that I've been plotting new exciting different running routes since I got back.

[Hidden]

Congratulations Neil. That’s an impressive distance and time AND pace. Glad you slowed down (not slow though) and enjoyed the run.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Hidden . Yeah, I really pushed myself with the distance but the pace I deliberately held back in order to give myself the best chance of the distance. It didn't affect my average pace much, but that just means I normally rush too much and tire myself out. So i have learned from this experience that I don't need to push myself to achieve the same average pace as I normally would. Genius eh? Yes, I know the rest of you already worked that out

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I’m always a bit disappointed if my starting km is slow. It’s not very sensible but there you go. We have to learn the hard way 😬

[mountaindreamer Graduate10]

Happy Runniversary, Neil! 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉😊 A great achievement - and celebrating with your longest run to date seems a brilliant plan! Thanks for sharing your lovely photos. Looks a cracking place to run. 😃🏃‍♂️❤️

[Hidden in reply to mountaindreamer]

Thank you! Yes, it is a nice route, with a lot of variation. We're fortunate round here, plenty of places to run, well, in the summer at least. The towpath is great for a nice flat run, or the local roads have plenty of hills if that's your thing. There's nearly the most hilly parkrun in the country at Lyme Park, my local one if hilly trail running is your thing, and plenty of cafes if you're just looking for somewhere to end up after a run

[mountaindreamer Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Oh yes, Lyme Park Parkrun - Jay66UK ’s favourite I believe! 😉❤️😂

[Hidden in reply to mountaindreamer]

Ooh right, I didn't know that! Jay?

[mountaindreamer Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Jay tried it as his first ever Parkrun. His hilarious account of the epic makes great reading...😂😂😂❤️

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

[Hidden in reply to mountaindreamer]

Oh my word, how I laughed!!! What a brilliant account! I laughed... right up until the moment when I realised that could well be me. That's technically my closest parkrun. I have no excuse!!!

[mountaindreamer Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

It made me very carefully pick the flattest Parkrun available in our local area...😂❤️

[DebJogsOn]

Wow Neil! What a fab run - a run worthy of your runniversary and all you have achieved this year.

So happy for you 😊. Here's to the next amazing run and the next and the next...