Magic10 - W5R2 - 8K that turned into…

I’ve got into a bit of a habit over the last week or so, of missing my morning runs. Which is fine when it’s windy and sideways rain, but yesterday I had absolutely no excuse. And to top it off TSword kindly posted a beautiful picture on the forum of the glorious sunrise that I’d missed. I’d been miffed about missing the sunrise for the whole day. Rain was forecast for 8pm so I’d need to get my butt out quickly after work to get my run in.

My pre-run faffage levels have increased considerably since graduating C25K, it’s getting a bit ridiculous actually… changing, getting hydrated, sorting out my lights, headphones, armstrap, apps, playlist ....faffage. Its gotten to the point now that my super efficient better-half is standing in the doorway wetting herself laughing at me “have you STILL not gone out for a run yet!” GRRRRR! Need to cut the faffage by at least half I think, to stop her laughing at me… if you have anti-faffage tips please do let me know...

Anyway out the door I went, I was going for the 8K this evening, with the option to do more, if I felt like it. Same route as my previous 8K along the main road to Lee on Solent, thankfully with less wind.

I was listening to my ‘dirty’ Drum & Bass playlist today, which always results in a similar type of run... and yep… I should've guessed, the first kilometre was waaaay too quick… I wasn't going to say this but, embarrassingly it was my quickest split 😳 OOPS!!! I know… I know… I know… epic fail at the beginning 🙄 I managed to tame the following 3k’s to a more controlled pace and reached the halfway point. Things felt good, so instead of heading back in the opposite direction, I thought I’d wing it and get a bit creative, so I looped round through a dark carpark and ventured down the sailing club slipway onto the seafront path.

Lovely I thought… perfectly flat for the next few KM… Oh balls… a huge dark silhouette stood in the distance before me, slowly being revealed by my chest torch... I’d forgotten I’d have to go over ‘The Ramp’ from this direction… a steep man made ramp up to a platform at road level, then back down the other side again. OOOF!!! The ramp hit me hard, and took a chunk out my pace for the following kilometre. After a while I was back in the game, panthering happily along the dark level beach path. 8K came and went but I’d already decided to plow on to claim the 9K prize.

Back up the last hill from the beach and into Hill Head…

9K done, in 55:17 with an average pace of 6:08 and 250M elevation gain …and no rain! I was incredibly happy on my cool down walk home, and had made up for missing that beautiful sunrise this morning.

On my next 9K I’ll get back on top of my splits with some slightly calmer music and a pre planned route that completely avoids my arch nemesis... ‘The Ramp’.

Hope everyone is ok out there, how are those runs going? X

⚡ThunderSloth⚡out

[Beachcomber66 Graduate10]

Sounds like a brilliant run and an awesome time too. Well done TS. I should be doing my week 5 4K today, but it isn't going to happen. Tomorrow morning regardless of weather, is the target. I have an avoidable hill at the end of any run over 7k, my ramp if you like , but I keep tackling it. Whether I will be able to handle it to finish a 10k remains to be seen. Happy panthering🐆Ok so it's a leopard.......

[Hidden in reply to Beachcomber66]

Ooh good for you keeping at that hill Beachcomber, it’ll definitely make you stronger if you keep tackling it, that shows you have good mental strength too 😁👍 I’m a total wuss and will be looking for a ramp free long route now!!! Enjoy that 4K tomorrow and I hope the weather is kind to you🤞

Thanks!...love the leopard 🐆 🐾

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10]

You’re such a speedy panther TS! You’re going to whoop 10k upside the head very soon, and that demon ramp will be a ‘whatevs’ as my kids say! 👍🙌👏🏃‍♂️😀

I’m volunteering at parkrun this Saturday so I’m going for my 5k on the treadmill tomorrow - see if I still enjoy it after that distance! Then I’ll pop out for an easy 4k on Sunday. It had better be easy as I’ll be having a few G&T’s on Saturday evening! 🍸🏃‍♀️🤢

[Hidden in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Hehe! We’re all gonna whoop that 10k... It’s totally going down! 🎯

You’re so down with the kids Cheeky, with your ‘whatevs’ and your boozy Saturday evening! Sounds great 🍸😁 I do like the sound of the treadmills that you use... I would love to have a go, especially with the virtual reality style videos that they display. I’m sure you’ll love the 5K on it. But you’ll definitely be roasting again at the end of a 5K... 🥵 Good for you for doing your stint at the parkrun too Cheeky 👏👏👏😁👍⚡️⚡️

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

As regards being down with the kids, if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em is what I say! 😎

Ahh yes, the heat of the gym. 🥵 Summer wear I think!

I can’t wait for us all to graduate so we can have a mass virtual partay on the podium! 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[Oggy2401 Graduate10]

Good run TS and no rain???? I returned to my running today after a week off due to a couple of issues but it was raining all day so did my 4k in the gym after a night shift and 2 hours sleep. Never again. Hated it 😩😩😩. I definitely prefer the rain 😊

[Hidden in reply to Oggy2401]

Oh glad to hear you got a run in Oggy, although unfortunately not a very enjoyable one... did the calf muscle behave itself today? I guess there was a bit less impact for it too on the treadmill...👍⚡️

[Oggy2401 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Thanx. And yes the calf behaved very well. Today I broke the rest day rule as the weather was ok. I went for a little 8k today, very bad (but enjoyable!), I know but definitely rest tomorrow😊😊

[Hidden]

You & that ramp 😱😱😱

Awesome run! 9k yeah! 🔥👊

Amazing levels of faffage... You do realise, planning a new route for your next run & selecting calmer music is only gonna send that faffage situation through the roof 😂🙃

Nice work Thundersloth ⚡️🙌

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Grrrrr! That ramp... 🏔 😂

Oh no... that’s a really good point...! I hadn’t even thought of that Dreams 🤦🏻‍♂️ faffage mayhem incoming... 🚀 💥

...Thank Dreams you’re a star, you have potentially saved me some more humiliation there 🤔

👊 ✌️⚡️🔥 🙌 ⭐️

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

Well done ThunderSloth, you did well to miss the rain. We are getting plenty in Southsea. Maybe you ran so fast you couldn’t feel it. Yes I’m a bit of a faffer too but we get there in the end.

[Hidden in reply to Dexy5]

Thanks Dexy 👍 Oh right we’ve got off lightly over this side by the sound of it. You’re too kind... maybe if I had UpTheStanley’s pace I’d have a better chance at dodging raindrops...! I’ll keep wishing... 🤞🤞🤞🤔 ⚡️⚡️

[UpTheStanley Graduate10]

Route planning faffage can be done in advance of course ...... 😀

[Hidden in reply to UpTheStanley]

That’s my next job for this evening UpTheStanley 👍 ...my better half will never let that go if I leave it until just before I run 😁

[Tartancat Graduate10]

Good run Thundersloth!

I think the best cure for faffage is summer. No coats, torches, gloves, hats etc , just minimal clothes and go.

Can't wait!

[Hidden in reply to Tartancat]

Oh yes Tartancat, I’m looking forward to spring / early summer next year it’s going to be amazing. Just got to make it through the next few months ...faffing 😁

[Sadie-runs Graduate10]

Lorks, you should really change your username from ThunderSloth to ThunderBolt! ⚡️ Great run there! And at least you recognised you bolted the first km and adjusted accordingly - good work.

As for faffage - that’s just good prep, no?! 😁

Sadie-runs x

[Hidden in reply to Sadie-runs]

Now you mention it I think it is Sloth that’s causing the faffage Sadie... maybe I will sack him... 🤔 😱

Ha! You sound just like my super efficient better-half 😁 Thanks! ⚡️

[Megettingfit123]

I’m doing my R5W2 tomorrow. Hope I feel as optimistic as you! Well done 👏👏👏

[Sandie1961 Graduate10]

Brilliant post as ever TS! So are you going to just accidentally do your 10k when you are supposed to be doing 9k? Nothing would surprise me less 🤣🤣

[Hidden in reply to Sandie1961]

Nope! I’m being a good boy from now on Sandie and sticking to the plan... what’s the long run for next week? 9.5K?...or 9.75! 😂 😉 ...No, I wouldn’t miss the graduation week party for the world 🎉 🎉 🎉

[Sandie1961 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

🤣😂🤣😂

[Hidden]

Nicely done as always!!! I think a lot of people tend to jump to the next run towards the end of the plan, I know I hopped to the last run before I was supposed to. In my case I decided I would try for an extra km and ended up running an extra 2k because I forgot it was an out and back run lol And that's a pace I can only dream of, certainly over that distance. You are amazing!!!

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thank you very much Neil, that's very kind! Yes after my last 8K the temptation was too great not to try a little bit more. I keep saying I'll slow it down for the longer distances and I'm sure I'll have to for 10K+. It looks like you're doing absolutely brilliantly with your long runs 11+K's! and Lyme Park looks like a beautiful venue for a run, despite the hills 😀 Keep up the great work.

[Empem Graduate10]

Wow fabulous.Lightening streaks emojis etc!

[Hidden in reply to Empem]

Haha! thank you Empem, I just read your 10K graduation post ...love the way you turned a 6.5K run into a 10K that made me smile! 😁👍⚡️⚡️

[JonathanP Graduate10]

Well done TS - if you feel ready to do it, do it - that's my motto! 10k definitely in your sights 😀

[Hidden in reply to JonathanP]

Thanks JonathanP 👍 although, there is a side of me that does wonder if I should listen to the advice from a man that would choose to finish the last 3K of a 10K run, by running UP Portsdown Hill 😱

Bravo sir! 👏👏👏

I’m seriously impressed!

😁⚡️⚡️

[JonathanP Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

You make a good point TS!! In my defense, when you live near the top of a hill, you don't have a lot of choice 😀