8k!!!!

[Glossy]

Omg 😮 I managed it!!

Set off this morning all ready for my 8k, has my coffee an hour before I left but no food (my preference!). Decided to go the other way down the cycle path next to our new A road usually run down as my husband said it is flatter.

Immediately get a whiff - something smells, is it my top? No it’s the hat borrowed from husband (toddler has hidden mine), which has had a few runs without a wash. Not a good start.

So off I go, husband says not to go over the bridge, keep going and that will get me to 3.5k but I need 4K so I ignore this advice and go over the bridge. Now have no idea where I am, come to massive main road and have to cross six lanes and can see path over the road is a huge hill - argh!

Decide to follow the road round and get back onto normal roads and off the A road. Ah I know where I am now, will just head back home via the roads I know.

Never run down this way before, it’s super-annoying, loads of drop kerbs and it’s bin day so bin dodging all the way. Hat still smells.

Ah just realised I’ll have to run through my village, no, you can guarantee I’ll see someone I know. Have mild panic.

Still doing well, must be nearly at 6k now. Look at watch 4.5k, are you joking!! Feel like I’ve done miles. Think I’ll be home before 8, this is not going to plan. Christ, this hat smells!

Get into edge of village, turn left rather than right (the way home) realise I can head down this way and then back to village where I can buy a drink to celebrate my 8k!

Have slight wobble between 6 and 7k and had a short walk. At 7k Take That come on my playlist, I’m seeing them tonight, woop! V exciting, get a new rush, I can do this 8k. Nearly at Sainsbury’s, yes!!

Look at watch, oh no 7.8k - don’t want to run through pedestrians in village, head into Sainsbury’s car park, run round it and get to 8k - hurray!!!!

Bottle of water purchased, thank goodness for Apple pay and a nice walk home.

Hat REALLY stinks now. It is in the wash!!

Just over three weeks to the Manchester 10k. JuJu’s plan going well 👍

[E27M14 Graduate10]

Wow well done. It’s fun isn’t it trying to find new routes and not get home too soon but not end up too far away. My partner just runs a few laps around the local park if he gets home too soon but I really struggle when I am so close to home! I did 7k last week and ended up running past my house at 6.8..... it was SO hard not to stop 😂 Surprised you didn’t just dump the hat in a bin as you passed and deny all knowledge!!!

[Glossy Graduate10 in reply to E27M14]

Yes I should consider the park, I have one near home. I am sticking to my normal route in future!

[Deals1 Graduate10]

well done!!

I often go out with out a plan and end up either going further than planned or shorter!

[Couchpotato2]

that's fantastic, well done. All your comments are so similar to my thoughts when I did my 7km, the paths, stepping off, the surely I've done 20km by now, such similar thoughts.

Amazing well done to you! (oh btw personally I had a day's rest and run the day after but in hindsight, after having running a new long distance, I'd take an extra day's rest next time - up to you of course!)

[Glossy Graduate10 in reply to Couchpotato2]

That’s a good plan. I have done loads this week. A two day break before I attempt it again will be a good thing (especially to ease my blisters!)

[JonathanP Graduate10]

Hats off to you! 😀

[Glossy Graduate10 in reply to JonathanP]

🤣

[Pianism Graduate10]

Fantastic achievement - you're going great guns. And I did laugh out loud at your post.

My work are doing the Manchester 10k run but I don't trust myself not to push it too far and I don't have a fartlek in a rainstorm's chance of getting to 10k safely by then. So I'm waiting until the September Salford one.

[Glossy Graduate10 in reply to Pianism]

That sounds like a good plan. I’m considering signing up for Alderley Edge in July to make sure I keep training.

[Pianism Graduate10 in reply to Glossy]

Now July I could manage (in fact my first training 10k is due in June). What's the course like?

[Glossy Graduate10 in reply to Pianism]

Do you know Alderley Edge? It’s literally down the (fairly) new bypass and back. No big hills 😀

[Pianism Graduate10 in reply to Glossy]

Yup - am definitely going to be doing it (barring injury!). It won't be my first 10k as that's now in the plan for June, but it will be my first ever race. I'm so excited!

Haven't officially signed up yet but only because I'm procrastinating over what size shirt to get... have dropped 2 sizes since I started running but have a long way to go yet. Am going to sign up for all 3 as they all sound good and you get a nice discount.

[Thecko Graduate10]

Discovering new routes while out on runs is the way I do it too, the problem is I always seem to end up running uphill in the last 5/10 minutes of my runs 🤦🏻‍♂️ I can't work out if I'm just bad at picking routes or if I'm subconsciously trying to punish myself for something!

Congrats on the 8k! The 10 is there for the taking 🙂

[Glossy Graduate10 in reply to Thecko]

Absolutely!! I really feel I can do it now.

I hated working out the route on the hoof. Going to stick to my cycle path for now I think. I know where I am then. It ‘undulates’ so I can’t complain there are hills thankfully.

[Thecko Graduate10 in reply to Glossy]

Don't forget to throw the hat in the washing basket 😁

[Glossy Graduate10 in reply to Thecko]

It’s been washed! And even better I have found mine so no need to borrow it again 😀

[grumpyoldgirl]

😂😂😂 so funny, glossy, did the whiff of hat spur you on? Well done on the 8k, I think I need to hold fire before attempting it myself. Hope you enjoyed the concert 😊

[Glossy Graduate10 in reply to grumpyoldgirl]

It was fab thank you. When they played my 7k song I had a big cheer!

[Rebounder]

Well done you Glossy! This morning I too did my first ever 8k and found myself doing exactly the same thing - trying to make up the 8k so close to home. Onwards and upwards to our first 10k 🥂

[Glossy Graduate10 in reply to Rebounder]

Brilliant!! Well done. Won’t be long before we’re at 10k. Are you doing JuJu’s plan too?

[Wimborne]

Brilliant run G. Made me smile all the way though your post 😀. My only advice is find your hat soon 😀

[Glossy Graduate10 in reply to Wimborne]

I have done!! Thankful not to have to wear husband’s again (although it has now been washed 🤣)