Snails a’plenty but I’m alive! 👍

[cheekychipmunks]

I wasn’t going to bother posting about yesterday’s run as it was unremarkable - but then I had a reality check - how can running 10k be unremarkable? How dare I 😠

I started off feeling great, the only pre-run faffage being me deciding which route to pick. I opted for my tried and tested undulating 3 looper. I’d have preferred my flattie along the river, but it would have been too muddy (and I didn’t fancy falling in. 👎)

So off I set, Garmin and MMR primed. Felt controlled and good, pace was ok (for a 10k attempt) and I trotted on. Felt awesome between 4 and 7k, then my legs decided they’d had enough - err no guys, you’ve agreed to carry me for 10k so get a ripple on. “No thanks” say my legs, “we’ll just stick at our pace and might even go a bit slower if that’s ok?” Not really, but my legs are obstinate it seems. 🙄

So. running at the pace of a sleeping snail, I continued on and made it to 10k in one minute less than my first one in November, but 4 minutes slower than my Boxing Day (but flat) one. 🏃‍♀️

I was pleased to make the distance for a third time, but cross with my legs for being such wimps.

But what made me laugh out loud were my Garmin stats. Clearly the pace decreased, but so did my heart rate! I was in Zone 1 for the last couple of km! Really legs, that slow?! 😅😅 At least I was alive and in Zone 1. Any lower and I might not be around to post this!

Anyway, off for some restorative yoga now. 🧘‍♀️ I’m doing Intervals on Thursday! 😳

Have happy days guys! ❤️

[Jell6 Graduate10]

Cheeky, did we not agree that you would let me know when you were going to do this and I would send you speedy thoughts?!!!!

Brilliant that you have done your 3rd 10k and shocking that you would even consider not mentioning it.

Congratulations and well done 🍾🎊🤞🎈🤩🤩🤩

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to Jell6]

Oh I know you did Jell, but it was kind of spontaneous and the weather was perfect. ☀️ 🏃‍♀️☀️ Serves me right! I’ll take some speedy thoughts for next time though - maybe even next week.

I want to make 10k second nature. 😀 It was only my legs yesterday - my puff was fine, so I’m confident I can get those old pins of mine moving! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[Jell6 Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Crikey, another next week 😬🤯

I think it will be a while before I have another go🛌🛌🛌

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to Jell6]

Got the bit between my teeth Jell! 💪😀🏃‍♀️

[grumpyoldgirl]

You showed those legs who's in charge (err, they are??😁)

But seriously, I'm still only dreaming of running 10k, so hats off to you, and to your snails. Enjoy your yoga, that sounds like a lovely way to restore your inner calm 😊🙏

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to grumpyoldgirl]

Hahaha GOG, yes they were in charge yesterday, but I’m determined to make them work for their living next time! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

10k is a fun distance. You’ll be there in no time! 😀

[lexi6 Graduate10]

Well done Cheeky! 👍 🥂

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to lexi6]

Thanks Lexi! 👍😀

[Irishprincess Graduate10]

10K is such a lovely distance and always worth a fanfare 🎺🎺

Well done and now you can enjoy your yoga 🙂

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to Irishprincess]

Just finished my session and it felt even better today after yesterday’s run. All loosey goosey now! 🙏❤️

[SANDI_runs Graduate10]

Well done cheeky, a 3rd 10k that's awesome! Well done for keeping at it! I've still only managed the one, as injury set me back. I'm still running 3 times a week with a 6k as my "long run". Think I will be building up again when it gets a touch warmer out!

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to SANDI_runs]

Well done for your 3 times a week though Sandi! It’s been challenging in this recent weather..... but ..... just maybe we’re on the run-in to spring now? Please ...... 🙏

Bring on the warm weather runs! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

Well done on finishing the magic plan for the 3rd time cheeky. So was it trail shoes or road shoes? The choices will make extra faffing of course. 😉

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

It was road shoes yesterday Dexy - it’ll be trail shoes for my river route when it’s dried up a little more though. I can’t wait to test them out there - but I’ll be wearing them for my intervals run on the common on Thursday. I’m *almost* looking forward to it! That’s just silly! 😅

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

There’s no doubt about it, you are hooked . 🏃‍♀️🐘

[Fabulous450 Graduate10]

Congratulations Cheeky! A 10k Whippet or a 10k Snail, it’s 10k your way!! Brilliant!! 🙌🏽🙌🏽🤩🤩❤️

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to Fabulous450]

Thanks Fab. That’s one thing I’ll never ever be, a whippet, even when my legs are at their most perky! 😅😅🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[Sadie-runs Graduate10]

Good work Cheeky (and legs)! 10km is ALWAYS an achievement. 👏👏👏 Keep consolidating on those long runs, your legs will eventually catch up with your head. 😂 Intervals have been working wonders for me, too. xxx

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to Sadie-runs]

Thanks Sadie! Good to hear that intervals are working for you. I’ll be up and at ‘em on Thursday and it’s almost exciting! First outing for the trail shoes too! 🏃‍♀️👍

[ju-ju- Graduate10]

well done, you have a healthy heart!

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to ju-ju-]

Thanks ju-ju, yes hopefully my relaxed heart rate is a good thing. I certainly wasn’t struggling - it would have been nice if my legs had joined the party! 😅🏃‍♀️

[alisonx Graduate10]

Brilliant Cheeky. It's a great achievement whatever the pace. You are only in competition with yourself

Can't believe you considered not mentioning this. Now show those legs who is boss ready for the next attempt! Happy running

I have also done 3 now....looking to get #4 on Thursday

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to alisonx]

Haha I’d post something every day if I let myself Alison! I love this forum and want to share everything - I just wasn’t sure if a snaily 10k was worth it until I remembered I’d just run ten kilometres and how dare I brush it under the mat, slow or not! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️ This time last year I hadn’t run a single step. I gave myself a stern talking to! 😅

Good luck with yours on Thursday. We expect a report, of course! 🏃‍♀️👍🏃‍♀️

[alisonx Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Exactly...10k is a long way! I know people talk about HM's and stuff, but like you this time last year i could not run for 5 minutes, so 10k is massive! We are all awesome and this forum is the best. I don't think i'd still be running if not for the people and support here.

ps - i'd happily read your daily post

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to alisonx]

Absolutely spot on Alison! 👍 Reading everyone else’s experiences is so inspiring, and being able to share our achievements and laugh along with some of the silly happenings along the way is fabulous!

Brilliant forum. It deserves a forum BAFTA or something! 🏆❤️🏃‍♂️ 🏃‍♀️

Oh, and don’t tempt me - I have to restrain my posting as it is! 😅😅

[Rooster678]

Amazing Cheeky, well done you. I'm attempting the first 9k on Saturday on Juju's plan. Loved your post, made me laugh, your snail legs must hang out with mine. Congrats on your 3rd 10K x

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to Rooster678]

Thanks Rooster! It’s always my legs that get me. My puff is fine, I could just do with little rockets to power my lazy pins! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

Good luck with your 9k! Hope you’ll let us know how you get on? 😀👍

[Deals1 Graduate10]

yeah well done!!! 3rd 10K in the bag!! excellent

Can I just ask Cheeky.. your last 10k was boxing day, what distances do you do average in a week?? I'm just wondering/thinking if I could do a 10k again, or if would need to build upto it . thanks

hope you are nice and relaxed now from yoga

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to Deals1]

Thanks Deals! 👊😀

I pretty much stick with 3 x runs per week, so I’d say on average I run 16-17k. I always do parkrun (or 5k elsewhere), a shorter 4k and then I built up the long run following the Magic 10. This time though, I went straight from 8k-10k. I’m pretty low maintenance on myself though, due to my speed! 🐌

When did you do your last 10k? It’s a good idea to build up using the 10% rule. 😀

And yes, yoga helped! Thanks. 😀🧘‍♀️

[Deals1 Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Thanks for the reply.

My last big run was 12 Jan and 11k. So I think I'll need to start building up to it again. I just don't seem to be finding the time,which is crazy as the days are getting lighter!

I want to keep it up tho.

I'm slow too! 🐢

Hope u r still relaxed 😁

[Bridget007]

Your post really made me chuckle! Well done you and your obstinate legs 😂😂 another 10k under your belt! 😃

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to Bridget007]

Thanks Bridget! I laughed at my stats - my legs were obviously having a day off yesterday! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️😅😅

[Bridget007 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

I’m always laughing at mine I tend not to look at them too much 🤣🤣🤣

[Hidden]

Well done for getting that 3rd 10K done Cheeky... Your legs are so strong now they've grown a mind of their own?! ...…Or your feet have just been spoiled rotten recently 😆

Good job for pushing on regardless.

Speed Intervals you say? This Thursday... I want front row seats for this please...🍿⚡

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Oh hello TS! 👋 I might have guessed you’d crop up and zero in on the intervals!! 😅😅😅 I’m not sure I ever mentioned the word “speed” however. Snails are good at intervals I’m told!

But yes, Thursday it’ll be. Arrgghhhh! 😩🤣😩🤣😩

[Hidden]

Well done cheeky!! 10k is always worth celebrating. I'm still working my way back from injury, so this is the motivation to post about it when I next hit 10k. 10k is always worth shouting about!!

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Neil, yes I realised that after I’d given myself a stern talking to! I can’t believe I can run 10k, let alone do it 3 times, having never run before last June. It’s definitely worth celebrating! 🎉🎉

Will be looking out for your celebratory post when it happens - and it will! 👍👊🏃😀

[Hidden in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Well I've not done a long run since early January, I'm hoping to push beyond 5 tomorrow, not sure 10 is wise yet, I'll see how it goes! I just miss the slow long runs, that's all!! I promise I'll post

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Take it easy and you’ll be there before you know it. I have spare snails you can take with you to make sure you keep your pace down. Here ..... 🐌🐌🐌🐌

[Hidden in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Lol thank you! Knowing me I’d either slip on the slime trails or accidentally step on one!

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

🤣🤣🤣

[Deals1 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Good luck!! 👍

[JonathanP Graduate10]

Congratulations on your 3rd 10k and PB Cheeky! Funny isn't it how parts of your body rebel against what you want them to do - with me it's my lungs!

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to JonathanP]

Thanks Jonathan, it wasn’t a PB I hasten to add though, as I ran 10k faster last time. Having said that, that was on my flat route, and yesterday’s is fairly undulating. My legs didn’t fancy playing games after 7k, but I beat them into submission in the end! 😅

[JonathanP Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Sorry - my speed-reading is a bit flaky! 😀

[over61andstilltrying Graduate10]

Brilliant! 🥂🏅👏🏻😊🎉👍☀️ 💥⚡️ 🏃‍♀️🤸‍♀️🏃‍♀️🤸‍♀️🏃‍♀️🤸‍♀️ Another 10k! Super! Well done to you!

My Garmin will not use the max heart rate that I entered manually, but uses 220-age which isn't right for 60+ folk. Consequently my average zone is 4 and it tells me that I run with a heart rate above my maximum! I confess I have to ignore it! Sorry Garmin!

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to over61andstilltrying]

Thanks 61, I do love 10k as a distance I’ve decided. Long, but achievable. 🏃‍♀️😀👍

My natural heart rate is low (resting it’s in the 40’s), and I barely ever get into zone 5 - it’s normally 3-4 on runs, so never very high. Even so, zone 1 came as quite a shock to me! I’m not sure it was correct - after all I was still running and not sitting doing nothing! I think I’d better ignore that detail this time, and see what happens on my next run! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[over61andstilltrying Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Do you wear your watch 24/7? If we wear our watches while we sleep they will give us lower resting heart rates. I'm not really sure whether resting heart rate is while sleeping or say, just sitting. I think I read that resting heart rate should be measured shortly after waking. It is fun how much reading around we could do if we wanted, isn't it!

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to over61andstilltrying]

I only wear my Garmin whilst running and I’ve always had a low resting heart. Now, for example it’s 44! I’m wondering if the watch had slipped a bit because zone 1 after running 8k+ is low even for me! 😅

[over61andstilltrying Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

I understand that low heart rate is an indicator of fitness, but I am no expert. Happy onward running to you! 🏃‍♀️😊

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to over61andstilltrying]

Thanks, I’ll definitely continue to enjoy my running no matter what my heart rate is up to. 😀 As long as it’s besting, that’s fine by me! 👍🏃‍♀️😀

Happy running to you too 61! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️😀

[Wimborne]

I am so glad you finally saw some sense!!! Way to go you 👏👏👏🌟💐. 3rd 10 k is just brilliant and most definitely something to shout very loudly about 📢. And bendy time too with yoga 🧘‍♀️. ( I won’t mention HR bits. Have no idea what Zone is what. My heart beats. I am ok with that 😂)

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to Wimborne]

Thanks so much Wimborne! 😀 I’ve decided 10k is my distance, much as it’s tempting to progress to 10 miles or a HM. I’d be running all day at the speed I go! 😅😅

I’m going to assume the watch slipped a tiny bit. Zone 1 is when you’re basically doing nothing, and I was definitely running even though it wasn’t exactly gazelle pace! 🙄😅

[Wimborne in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Gazelles are overrated Cheeky.... 10k is a fabulous distance... not too short but long enough to make those legs work and to get that real sense of OMG I just ran 10k feeling 😀👍

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to Wimborne]

Absolutely, and I still pinch myself that I run 5k as a ‘short’ run regularly, and 10k doesn’t faze me at all! 💪 Aren’t we amazing? 👍💪❤️

[Beachcomber66 Graduate10]

Well done CC. 10k is always something to shout about, especially when you have wilful legs to contend with! 🐌🐌🐌 rule!! 🥇😊👏👏

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to Beachcomber66]

Thanks BC, you’re right there. My legs had other plans, but I was able to override them even though they were sulking! 💪🏃‍♀️

[nhs2015 Graduate10]

good stuff 👍

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to nhs2015]

Thanks nhs! 👍😀