Having accidentally run week 1 of Bridge to 10K last week, I foolishly put my name down for ju-ju's latest plan. Today was W2R2 (5K), and it went OK. Am a bit nervous about the longer (and longer) runs each week, but will give it a go. It's forcing me to map out some new routes as I'm not keen on circuits.
Any advice for a newbie to longer distances? (apart from don't go off too fast, which is my default setting!)
Thanks, and I look forward to seeing how other people are doing. Happy running. 🏃♀️🤞
Written by
JoP61
Graduate10
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Hello! And well done for starting ju-ju’s plan. It does work!
Advice... run really slowly! I just kept plodding along until I got there. I also find it easier to run further outside as you can’t clock watch so easily. That might not be an issue for you though 😉
Also, run really slowly 🏃♀️and don’t put too much pressure on yourself if you don’t make it first time. It should also be fun!
Think I'm getting a message here - something about running slowly?!
Thanks so much for the advice - I do tend to put pressure on myself - I was dreaming about the 5K run last night! I do all my running outside and I agree that it helps the time to pass as there is always something new to look at - particularly as I am going to be running some new routes.
I do enjoy the structure and the challenge - I feel like I did when I was doing C25K - having been a bit purposeless with my running lately. So I will try to enjoy the whole experience, as you suggest! Thanks again 😀👍
When I was doing my bridge to 10k I would often plan a route that was about 1k longer than I planned to do. Mostly I used this as a "cool down" walk before I got back to the car or back home but on occasions I carried on running and it encouraged me to go that slight extra distance.
The advice is the same as it always is, slow and steady Slowing down buys time and saves puff. Longer runs have a beginning, a middle and an end, so you get more time to hit your stride, and maintain it, before slowing down - or even - having a quick burst before the end
Hey misswobble - lovely to hear from you. You always give such encourgement! I do find the first 10-15 minutes horrible, and then I can be quite slow for a bit but manage to settle/speed up towards the end. So I'm hoping that I can do the same over the longer distances. WIll keep posting. Thanks again! 😀👍🏃♀️
Maybe you’re a slow warmer-upper. I know I am which makes fast five k’s such a horror for me. I like a longer run so I’ve got more time to find my run rhythm.
On longer runs you can have a breather when you need one and then run on when your breathing is normalised. I’d you go slowly enough you can go longer Maybe a snack would be a good idea It’s something to look forward to certainly 🙂
Yes I do listen to music - Supertramp this morning (harking back to my student days!). The music definitely helps, and there are a couple of banging Arctic Monkeys tracks that synchronise perfectly with my running rhythm! They help me to get up hills. 😀🎵🎵
I've given up trying to get stuff to synchronise and just listen to things I might not otherwise get a chance to - currently it's Dylan's out-takes from Blood on the Tracks! 🎧
The Arctic Monkeys' tracks were a pure happy accident! Sometimes I listen to up tempo stuff but am just as likely to listen to slow, dreamy stuff like Portishead or Talk Talk. Radiohead, Steely Dan and Santana are also favourites. So - quite a wide range of stuff. It's best when you can get lost in the music and therefore not worry about breathing or aching legs. 🏃♀️🎵
Sounds just like my approach, particularly for longer runs - other recent faves have been a Clapton compilation and a collection of African tracks. All the best for completing ju-ju's plan.😀
Thank you so much. A year ago I hadn't run since I was 15. Now I have been running for a year and covered 300km. Which I wouldn't have believed if you had told me. It's thanks to this forum and runners like you that I have been able to achieve anything. Good luck with whatever you are doing beyond Bridge to 10K. 😀👍
You're very welcome but I should point out that I too have only been running for a relatively short time (less than a year) so we are all in this together! Thanks -currently I plan to stick with regular 10is and parkruns, but who knows! 😀
Yes, I was a bit anxious before my first one, but turned up early and spoke to one of the volunteers, and then there is a first-timers briefing. I really enjoy it as it is nice to also run as part of a community if most of the time you're a lone runner.
Don’t forget that juju has also set up the plan to increase time rather than distance, so you might find that is easier to cope with.
Many of us found increasing distance on the plan was easier than doing c25k because our bodies were used to running to some extent . I found that setting up a new playlist and listening to downloads of desert island discs helped on the longer runs. And yes as you say - think snails 🐌
Snail-mode it is! I'm going to try to do the increased distances and see how I go. I haven't tried speech radio as opposed to music, but I have read that it helps during long runs, so I will probably download of some of my favourite programmes and give it a try. Thanks for the tip! 😀👍🐌
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
🍼🍼 it 🙄
7 weeks to go until 10km
I’ve done it! 10k!
Fingers crossed I can go longer
