Not the best preparation

[DebJogsOn]

I decided that today should be the day for an attempt at Strava's January virtual 5k race and was intending to try and better my PB of 32.46.

I have (more than a year past my C25K graduation) almost reconciled myself to never running a 30min 5k, but do attempt to keep chipping away at my time every now and again and had high hopes this month after a fab 10k PB a couple of weeks ago.

Anyway, despite all good intentions, yesterday evening didn't really end up providing the ideal preparation - seeing me partake of a curry and the best part of a bottle of wine.

Nevertheless and despite the rather windy conditions I did get out there this morning and pushed myself through a gruelling 5k - that was 3 seconds off a PB! 😖

Will have to console myself with currently being 44124/ 254745 on the Strava leader board 😂😂😂. And there's always more running (and more wine!).

Happy running everyone! 😊

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate10]

Woo hoo DebJogsOn ...that's a brilliant achievement to say you were fuelled by curry and wine?!!!! Haha...chipping away at your 5k time is obviously working, there's no way I could do 5k in 30 mins, i don't even attempt it so if it did happen it would be the 8th wonder of the world!!! You're enjoying your running nevertheless and that's the most important bit x

[DebJogsOn in reply to Mummycav]

It is indeed! An despite not feeling my best I still really enjoyed being out there - or maybe that should be really enjoyed having got out there because I definitely felt better once it was over 😂.

[Sadie-runs Graduate10]

God, you must be super woman if you can run the morning after a curry and best part of a bottle of wine! 💪💪💪

I have a little chip at my 5k time now and again. But cannot decide these days if I want speed or distance. 🤔 You did great. Well done, Deb!

[DebJogsOn in reply to Sadie-runs]

I like to think I'm built for distance rather than speed (though I haven't yet pushed past 10k) - but the problem is that the distance helps the speed and then you think may be I could do 5k a bit faster....

And so it goes on.

Curry and wine definitely aren't optimal running fuels for either speed or distance though😂!

[Richard7 Graduate10]

Rather than beating yourself up about missing a PB congratulate yourself for your consistency 😃 - well done 👍

[DebJogsOn in reply to Richard7]

Thank you Richard - that was how I chose to view it. At least I haven't lost form, despite the less than adequate training diet!

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10]

Woohoo! Without rubbing it in, Deb, imagine if you hadn’t have had the curry and wine! (But not as much fun obviously!) 😅👏🏃‍♀️

[DebJogsOn in reply to cheekychipmunks]

I know! Honestly was mentally kicking myself when my legs started feeling heavy in the third kilometre! However I get stressed about so much, I'm determined not to be that way about running - so this weekend I had a great relaxing evening and not a bad run - both self care measures in their own way (but not terribly compatible 😂).

[Sandie1961 Graduate10]

I know exactly how you feel - still hope to make 30 minutes one day but stuck around 32/33 minutes for months! Your Strava position is fab - there are more than 200,000 people slower than you 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[DebJogsOn in reply to Sandie1961]

Ha - yes I guess that's right.

Have decided to try and up my a pace about over the remaining weeks of winter - may be then I'll have a bit more spring in my step for well Spring! 😊

[Tony_68]

3 seconds ... cruel you deserve more wine 🍷

I am Just back from a sunny, but blusterlly eye watering run.

Not many runners out today, ran through my usual strava segments, today four people have run bridge to bridge, you are 4/4 😊 love strava

I am a 6 month graduate and also still gauge progress on 5k

I have pretty much given up trying to PB it running on my own,

Do you park run?

I mostly start near the back and run them at happy pace and just enjoy,

But every few weeks I push further to the front and go for it, I just pick people in front as targets and try to slowly reel them in, I either get a good pacer or catch them, consolidate and choose next one, it’s worked for me, it keeps me pushing all the way round,

I find running on my own at the uncomfortable pace at some point I lose focus, have that self doubt and a bad split,

I can’t say I enjoy it but that PB is important, maybe not as important as wine but important, 😁

Happy running

[DebJogsOn in reply to Tony_68]

It was really blustery here today too - had to remove twigs from my hair after! I'm betting that's what slowed me down 😉. I don't park run as the very idea terrifies me but can see that it might help with pace. My curry and wine regime certainly doesn't seem to be doing the trick - bit think on the whole I prefer it 😂.

[Slinkymalinki Graduate10]

Sounds like the wine & curry weren't so bad after all? This is often my Friday night fare too, although I haven't shaved anything off my pb for some time! Hope you're still getting out for regular runs despite the weather & work. 🙂

[DebJogsOn in reply to Slinkymalinki]

Not out nearly as regularly as I'd like but hanging in there. 😊

[Slinkymalinki Graduate10 in reply to DebJogsOn]

I hate running in the dark & cold. Very uninspiring. Keep hanging in there - half way through now! 😃

[Deals1 Graduate10]

Mmmm. Curry and wine could be the new fuel!! 😀😀. Well done

[DebJogsOn in reply to Deals1]

😂 wouldn't recommend it before every run!