Slowly, slowly increasing distance and now know why in the plan there's a short run.

[sunshinefish]

Today, despite not being in a great mood for various reasons I managed my longest run yet of 6k

I will eventually get to 10k, but taking it slowly adding 0.5k a week, or doing a consolidation run. I can now see why there's a 4k and a 5k in the plan, one "short" run a week will be needed as these extra 0.5ks increase in later weeks! I guess the idea is to run this short run a bit faster than your usual pace though, is this correct?

[Tartancat Graduate10]

I did the short runs at my normal pace, on the assumption that increasing distance is enough to work on, without adding speed as well

But then, I am a lazy so and so!

Once I've consolidated my 10k runs, I'll start working on speed .... honest!

[sunshinefish Graduate10 in reply to Tartancat]

I think I made be the same as you Tartancat, and keep to my regular pace as it will be a post work run anyway!

[Snuffy_T Graduate10]

I'm not sure either ! I did my first run of the magic 10 today, of 5.5 km , slowly, slowly, and I'm still knackered. I'm going to do the short run as a even slower recovery and then try and smash out the 5km on Saturday with my first park run. Well that's the current plan. Things could change

[sunshinefish Graduate10 in reply to Snuffy_T]

Sounds like a good plan Snuffy_T. Park runs fill that 5k run well. I would be doing that too, but I have to do my long run at the weekend .

Well done on completing week 1! I am feeling tired now too. Looking forward to the days when it may be a "mere" 6k and feel like a stroll in the park...if that ever happens!

[Oggy2401 Graduate10]

I'm going to try the intervals for my short run. I feel a bit like I'm cheating as I've done at least 30 mins 3 times a week for the last 3 weeks and this will be much shorter. But I will stick to the plan and just enjoy the short one x

[sunshinefish Graduate10 in reply to Oggy2401]

Yes Oggy2401! You've got it perfectly there. I did about 3 weeks of 30 min runs, then a week of 3 x 5k. Last week was 2 x 30 mins and a 5.5k. So doing a 4k would feel a bit like a backwards step.

However, last week wasn't easy, even though I had only added 0.5k so I am definitely going to drop one to a 4k run. Ties in well with it getting darker earlier too.

Good luck with the intervals, would love to know how it goes

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10]

That’s exactly what I’ve been doing SSF - ‘fast’ 4k (except it’s not fast 😅), 5k parkrun and finally another run gradually increasing. I started by adding 0.25k for a while, then 0.5k. I’ve worked my way to 9k and I’m going for 10k this week!

Thing is, I still want to do the Magic plan, so I’m going to go back and do it after I’ve done my 10k anyway! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[sunshinefish Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Yay! Go CCM!!! Get that 10k.

I think I will have another look at the magic plan, seems like I am inadventantly kind of following it. I saw Ju Ju's video about doing strength exercises too, so I may try and incorporate them as well. I don't have much core strength so it would be a good idea to do so!

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to sunshinefish]

Exactly SSF! I didn’t realise until a couple of weeks ago that I was sort of following it too! Plus I already do yoga and incorporate core strengthening sometimes, so it’s very similar indeed. I still fancy doing it though, so I’ll start next week. Might skip one of the consolidation weeks so I finish at the same time as everyone else! 😅🏃‍♀️😅

[Tasha99 Graduate10]

Only if you want to. I ran them all the same and thought about speed much later on.

[sunshinefish Graduate10 in reply to Tasha99]

Thanks Tasha99! I think my natural instinct is to stick with my usual pace. Just been looking at the interval training recommended by Ju-Ju and it looks interesting, breaking each minute into 30s jog, 20s normal pace (I think my jog and normal pace would merge into each other) and 10s sprint. I may try this and see how it goes too.