Being disciplined and mixing up my runs...is... - Bridge to 10K

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Being disciplined and mixing up my runs...is this the key?๐Ÿƒ๐Ÿฝโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿ˜€

Sandraj39 profile image
Sandraj39Graduate10
โ€ข29 Replies

I have posted often about not enjoying running so much in the summer ๐Ÿ˜• - I have always preferred the colder, wetter months (yes, I am a little strange, I know). So since everything has started to cool down, I have slipped back in to a much better routine with my running and seem to have become much more organised and disciplined about my runs. I am training up for the Great South Run again so a little discipline was called for to hopefully get me ready! After a good 13k last weekend (road and trail), I have followed up with an easy 5k and a fartleking 5k on Friday, which has brought me back under 30 mins for that distance - where I wanted to be.๐Ÿ™‚. Today was an 'easy' 10k on the roads. I tend to do my longer runs on a mix of terrain as I love the trails but want to make sure that my legs are happy and ready for 10 miles on the road later next month. All ok, although it is quite warm again here, which resulted in a bit more huffing and puffing than I was expecting!

What I am loving most of all, is making sure I mix up my routes, terrain, pace and...elevation ( yes, hills have to be run sometimes!๐Ÿ˜ฎ). I think all these factors help keep running interesting and motivating. ..plus I have found a local 10k to run a fortnight before GSR, which is all off- road! Perfect! Happy running this week to everyone.๐Ÿƒ๐Ÿฝโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿƒ๐Ÿป๐Ÿ™‚

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Sandraj39 profile image
Sandraj39
Graduate10
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29 Replies
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linda9389 profile image
linda9389Graduate10

Such a good feeling when it all falls into place. I do tend to be a bit 'samey' with my running - partly for fear of more injury and partly because there isn't much variety outside my front door. I'm still away and have really enjoyed the new routes and very different surroundings, but soon it will be back home and I will need to be a bit more creative I think, especially to keep the longer distances interesting ๐Ÿ™‚

ju-ju- profile image
ju-ju-Graduate10

I think mixing it up makes it more interesting too. I do this and it stops any boredom. Like you I also prefer the weather in the autumn, winter. I love drama in the weather when Iโ€™m out running.

Sandraj39 profile image
Sandraj39Graduate10โ€ข in reply toju-ju-

..an overcast and blustery autumn day is my favourite, I think!๐Ÿƒ๐Ÿฝโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿ’จ๐Ÿ‚๐Ÿ™‚

SaskAlliecat profile image
SaskAlliecatGraduate10

It all sounds lovely. Enjoy your off-road 10k (I do love me some trails!) and best of luck with your GSR.

Sandraj39 profile image
Sandraj39Graduate10โ€ข in reply toSaskAlliecat

Thank you!๐Ÿ™‚

Mummycav profile image
MummycavAdministratorGraduate10

Lovely Sandraj39 , itโ€™s good to mix things up from time to time, I love running on the canal but Iโ€™ve done it so much lately that this week I am planning a couple of new routes and I am incorporating a HILL!! I avoid them but am starting to feel guilty that Iโ€™m not pushing myself as much as I should & when thereโ€™s a hill to be run up it has to be run down too so thatโ€™s a bonus! Looking forward to getting back out there this week after my dodgy Achilles pain of last week so it will be steady away for me, happy running to you too ๐Ÿ˜‰

Sandraj39 profile image
Sandraj39Graduate10โ€ข in reply toMummycav

I have avoided hills in the past too, so you are not alone! There is one on my favourite trail route that I now make sure I run EVERY time I am on that run (usually once a week) - and I do kind of love it now! (It's a tough and cruel kind of love though!๐Ÿ˜‰) Go steady on your achilles, good luck๐Ÿ™‚

AnnieW55 profile image
AnnieW55

I think itโ€™s the Anglosaxon in us ๐Ÿ˜€ possibly! Iโ€™m happier in cooler, and dare I say wetter weather (noticed a huge flood across a road just in time to miss being drenched by the solitary passing car who wouldnโ€™t move over this morning ๐Ÿ˜ฎ๐Ÿ˜ฃ). Mixing it up is a key to training - and keeping off boredom when using the same routes. Sounds like youโ€™ve got it sussed.

Sandraj39 profile image
Sandraj39Graduate10โ€ข in reply toAnnieW55

Oh yes, I am afraid I often splash through puddles when I'm off road - sometimes it's easier!๐Ÿ’ฆ๐Ÿƒ๐Ÿฝโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿ’ฆ๐Ÿ™‚

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate10

Good luck with your preps for the GSR in our part of the world Sandra. If you've done it before you'll know about the cobblestones in the historic dockyard, which come as a shock to some. We'll be cheering you on somewhere along the homeward route.

Sandraj39 profile image
Sandraj39Graduate10โ€ข in reply toDexy5

Thank you๐Ÿ™‚. No issues with the cobblestones, they come quite early in the race if I remember? I love the Historic Dockyard and we made great use of the discount voucher in the goody bag a couple of years ago! In fact I spent my post-run afternoon clambering up and down the steps of various vessels, including HMS Victoryโค๏ธ - my favourite...(as if I wasn't quite tired enough!๐Ÿ˜ฎ)

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate10โ€ข in reply toSandraj39

Did you know Equi-geek on the forum is doing it too?

Sandraj39 profile image
Sandraj39Graduate10โ€ข in reply toDexy5

I think there's a few... linda9389 too.๐Ÿ™‚

linda9389 profile image
linda9389Graduate10โ€ข in reply toSandraj39

Yep me too! and thanks for the cobbles heads up Dexy5 ! Postponed my long run tody on account of a. heavy, heavy rain and b. heavy, heavy drinking with late night last night :D :D :D

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate10โ€ข in reply tolinda9389

That sounds like a good plan Linda. Hydrate before that long run. Iโ€™m way behind you on jujuโ€™s plan and cannot imagine doing the GSR myself. But then I didnโ€™t think Iโ€™d run 5k at this time last year.

mountaindreamer profile image
mountaindreamerGraduate10

Doesnโ€™t sound strange to me at all, Sandra...Iโ€™ve found starting to run in the heat of this summer pretty stifling, and am looking forward to more lovely cooler runs! Mixing thing up to add interest sounds a great plan. Good luck for your GSR plans! ๐Ÿ˜ƒ๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธโค๏ธ

Sandraj39 profile image
Sandraj39Graduate10โ€ข in reply tomountaindreamer

Thank you๐Ÿ™‚

Agelesslass profile image
AgelesslassGraduate10

Wow you sound an amazing runner, I am aspiring to be just a fraction of your achievements, so well done by you, fantastic runner that you are.

Sandraj39 profile image
Sandraj39Graduate10โ€ข in reply toAgelesslass

No!!... just like many on here - returned to running at 49 and fell in love with itโค! There have been a couple of injuries along the way but I keep on getting back out there and plodding on!๐Ÿ˜

Agelesslass profile image
AgelesslassGraduate10

You are so humble Sandraj39

aliboo70 profile image
aliboo70Graduate10

Glad to see all going well for you Sandra! I'm with you ,much prefer the Autumn weather xxx

Sandraj39 profile image
Sandraj39Graduate10โ€ข in reply toaliboo70

Thanks Ali, almost scared to say it sometimes! I don't want to jinx myself and get injured! Are you doing the GSR again this year? ๐Ÿ™‚x

aliboo70 profile image
aliboo70Graduate10โ€ข in reply toSandraj39

Yes I think so need to book in asap! ๐Ÿ˜Šxxx

Fabulous450 profile image
Fabulous450Graduate10

Great experiences Sandra!! Well done you! ๐Ÿคฉ Best wishes for the training and of course for the big GSR day! ๐Ÿ˜โค๏ธ

Sandraj39 profile image
Sandraj39Graduate10

Thank you - training going well at the moment....! ๐Ÿ™‚

skysue16 profile image
skysue16Graduate10

I agree, Autumnal runs are great! Although up here on the NW coast of Scotland we can have wet and windy weather all year round ๐Ÿ˜ฌ. Well done on achieving 30min 5k ๐Ÿ˜€. I am struggling to improve my pace after injury but happy to be running continuously for 30 mins, even though it is very slow ๐Ÿ˜‰

Sandraj39 profile image
Sandraj39Graduate10โ€ข in reply toskysue16

It is so hard sometimes after injury - my pace is still slower than it was before sciatica damaged a nerve in leg but I am getting there! Like you, just building up my running again was the goal! Take care.๐Ÿ™‚

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate10

Hi you....I am not sure why I missed this... This is brilliant... and I think quite a few of us feel like this, Just finding the runs and the routes and let things just evolve sometimes, setting out and then allowing it to change, without getting bothered by it:)

Loving these Autumn runs too...you are right.. the chillier mornings, the crisper starts to come and even the wind!!!

As ever , my friend .. an inspiration for so, so many of us :)

Sandraj39 profile image
Sandraj39Graduate10

...and your wonderful words are always an inspiration to me, Oldfloss! I am planning a 10k today but as I sit here typing after a very busy and emotionally tiring week, I do not know where the energy is going to come from! I am going to just trust in the run - that whatever the distanceor the pace, it will be the run I need!!xx

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