Holy moly , I have always been mildly incredulous when I've read posts from people expressing surprise to find they have reached 5 or 10k. Like , how do you " accidentally" run 10k?? Well now I know. It happens.
Set off with 6.5 in mind. Starting with an uncomfortable first 2k or so, felt as if I wasn't settled, but took it mega-slow as I've been working to build calf strength and don't want to ruin the work. Some of my discomfort was that I had two layers on so took off a top and hid it in a bush so I wouldn't have to carry it. " All I wanna do is have some fun" and the path was smooth managed to get happy.
The lock I cross was filling so I knew I would have a while before being able to cross back over so found some inner reserve and kept going around some bumpy fields and overgrown paths I've run only once before. After about 7k I knew I would need to make a choice. Do I abandon the shirt in the bush and walk home on the horrid rush-hour roads or keep running, back-track via the lock and go back along lovely river paths?
Now I know what happened to those people!
.......thanks to Radiohead in the last km and changing the lyrics from " I'm a creep , I'm a wierdo" to " I'm a freak , I'm a winner" in my head, my metaphorical ribbon moment was in the middle of the rec. with nobody but the crows to cheer.....
....so anyway, I guess a shirt in the bush is worth two 5ks! I am so very very pleased and glowing and I don't care who knows it!