Today was the day for another step-up after my surprise 12k last week. Being vaguely superstitious, I didn’t fancy 13k much, so slowed right down and went for the Big 14. 💪
Another beautiful morning down by the river. Birdsong, sunshine, dog walkers and a few runners too. Oh, and a fallen tree right across the path just after I started - I thought my run was over, but luckily there was a well trodden diversion up the bank. I wasn’t wearing trail shoes so I took it carefully, and was soon back on the proper path, dog stopping to sniff, then she’d dart to catch me up. It felt awesome. 🏃♀️😀❤️🐕
As I’d deliberately slowed down to make sure I got the distance, I was barely even breathing hard. My legs felt fresh and I felt like I could go on forever. Then at 12k (ie uncharted territory for me), they got quite tired but they soldiered on, fuelled by some Jelly Babies!
And so 14k in the bag! I’m on target for my 10 miler on my runniversary in June. Then ..... it all gets a bit scary! 😅😅
Have a great week guys. ❤️
Written by
cheekychipmunks
Graduate10
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
well done for what sounds like a great run cheeky 😊 14km! That's some distance you're making up now! One day I'll be able to run that far, until then I'll stick to my measly 10k plan 🤣
Yes, thanks Mike. Slow me and down and I seem to have no trouble with distance. Once I’ve cracked 10 miles I’ll need to start working on my pace again. 😀🏃♀️
Well I guess slow me down to a walk and I've got no trouble with distance either! 👍😊
I've got a 20 minute run later (I know, only 20 minutes) which I want to use to improve my pace, but I've got speed training on Weds so had better take it easy 🤔
Hahaha, I did think it wasn’t meant to be when I first saw it BBR - it was monstrous! If I was a nimble fingered sort, I’d have taken a photo whilst running along, but I know that wouldn’t have ended well! 😅😅
That sounds like a perfect run Cheeky, it's amazing to run so far isn't it? 😁 And planning for 10 miles is amazing, I'd recommend more than jelly babies now. 😊
I did my last long run last week in preparation for the HM this weekend! 😳
I had planned another two shorter ones but had a bit of pain so rested the legs and took ibuprofen which seems to have helped.
Wish you the best of luck for your first HM this weekend Crawlhome ! I just checked some of your earlier posts as you were making your way through C25K, I wonder if you'd considered being able to do a HM then!
Crawlhome has always been a speedy amazing runner Mike. We began C25K st the same time pretty much, and she’s a speedster for sure! 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️
The difference being you’ve always been a 🦌 and I’m most definitely a 🐌 CH!
And yes, I like to think I could run a HM - a flat one please - later in the year! 😀 Can’t wait to hear how yours goes. You’ll be epic I know! 👊 💪 🏃♀️
Thanks CH, yes it really is! I’m getting to the point where all the segments are being broken down into ‘parkruns’ which I know I can do! I can’t believe how proud I feel thinking of 5k as a short distance nowadays. This time last year I hadn’t even run for a minute yet! 😅
And there’s you planning your amazing HM. Unbelievably well done you! 👍👏💪🏃♀️👊
Wowzers! That’s a terrific run. Your 10 mile must be right there for you now. Well done for being prepared with jelly babies. Think I might add some on to my shopping list so they’re ready in the cupboard for the future! Happy running days.
Thanks Dowat! The thing is, I love jelly babies, and having them in the cupboard at home is too tempting! I tried leaving them in the boot of the car which kind of works - until I stop to get something out, and retrieve the jelly babies too! 😅😅😅
Yes I am pretty close aren’t I Deals? Thanks! I want to save the 10 miler for June 11th, which is the anniversary of me starting C25K. Quite a landmark! 😀😀
that will be fab for your runniversay!! a HUGE landmark, if you think back to starting the program. Im just consolidating the10ks for a bit then will start to increase.
This is great to read as one just signed up for Chippenham half and I'm about to creep up myself (from 8k) so it's good to hear you! Well done it sounds great!
Fantastic Rach, you’ll have no problem if you pace yourself. I’d like to be able to do a HM later this year (what AM I saying? 😱😱😅😅), and I know keeping it steady works every time for me. 🏃♀️🏃♀️
Sounds absolutely wonderful, well done. So close to that 10 mile badge now 😀 I skipped 13k for the same reason, then accidentally did one by doing a 10k with a 1.5k wu and 1.5k cd 😂
Excellent run for you yesterday cheeky, good time as well, I am sure you enjoyed it and looking forward to longer distances and your 10 miler runiversary run in June, that is a little less than 17 kilometres.
The runiversary date for my graduation run is the 18th June, to celebrate I may go for a gait analysis and buy proper running shoes on what the gait analysis recommends. This week I am running to the Stepping stones podcasts with Laura.
Thanks Al, I’m really looking forward to it! 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️
I highly recommend a gait analysis as your runniversary present to yourself. My shoes are so comfy, I even bought a 2nd pair in case they get discontinued!
You’re well on your way to get that 10 miler in time for your Runniversary, easy peasy! You’re doing so great, rocking these longer distances. It is amazing what we can do, when we slow it down.
Well done cheeky! You’ll easily make 10 miles at the rate you are going, it’s only another couple of k. I know exactly what you mean thought, about it getting scary from then on, I’m contemplating further myself. All I can say is, make sure your calves are well stretched ready for what’s ahead and enjoy! 👍👏👍👏👍
Ooo thanks TC! Yes, calf stretches are even more important now. What makes it rather real is the fact I’m starting a to think in miles. They seem so serious compared to friendly little kms! 😅😅
🤣 It’s true though! Miles sound so much more impressive too!
I did 10 miles without enough of a buildup and my calves felt like they were on fire after I warmed down. It’s a really big temptation to just go for it when you get to 9 miles. You’re definitely doing the right thing 👍
Well funnily enough I thought I might go for the full distance today but I resisted for 2 reasons - I really do want to save it for June 11th, plus I didn’t know exactly how many kms were in 10 miles (16.1 isn’t it?). Can you imagine if I’d have winged it and ended up doing 9.99 miles or something? 😩😅🏃♀️😱
Ooh that’s a long time to resist! 😁 Good for you! Yeah it is about that, I always try to go a bit over just in case! The number of 4.99k Parkruns I have from my Fitbit is really annoying! You’ll nail it no problem 👍
I know, it’s so annoying when runs don’t measure enough. This week’s PR was 5.01k, last week it was 4.95k over the exact same course! Better to be safe than sorry with the longer runs! 😀
It’s so lovely taking my dog along! ❤️🐕🏃♀️ She adores parkrun each week, and she loves her runs off the lead when I’m running the longer distances. 🏃♀️😀
You seem to be following my GSR plan CC! 🏃♂️🏃🏽♀️ I did 12k last month, 14k last week, planning 16k in June, then not sure whether to keep extending or stick at that. My 14 was paced by Dexy doing 7’30”s for the first 4k, then just over an hour for the rest of it, so around an hour and a half altogether. Only doing 2 long runs a month though, the other one being at “race pace” - so hopefully 11k in an hour or just over this week, 12k in 70 sometime in June.
I just know 🙄 you’re going to do the GSR, even if you don’t yet, but you’d better sign up soon 😀👍
Would you ever consider a HM, UTS? I want to, and I’d love to think it could be later this year. It doesn’t seem so daunting now that 10 miles is in my sights. 😀
And as for the GSR, that would be fantastic so long as it’s not at the beginning of September, as my daughter’a baby is due then! Are you guys doing it? 🏃♀️🏃
HM - I don’t think so. 22 years ago I thought about it after my last GSR, but decided getting from 8 to 10 had been so hard, another 3 would be dumb - and probably lead to another 13 on top of that 🙄
Problem is I wouldn’t be happy if I took more than 2 hours, so would probably kill myself in the attempt ......
GSR - Sat 20 Oct, I’m in, Dexy not (yet 😀). Great if you did want to do it 🏃🏽♀️👍🥂
I’m not in yet cheeky. But I feel the pressure is building. There are many at parkrun who are doing it. I might just do a little increase in distance to see what happens, but I’m going to take it in smaller bites than you.
I’m so excited to do 10 miles Jonathan, but I’m making myself wait until June 11th which is the anniversary of me starting C25K. A huge milestone! 😀🏃♀️
Brilliant. Awesome. Fabulous. Amazing...... 2 hrs running 🥳🥳🥳👏👏👏👏🏃🏼♀️🏃🏼♀️🏃🏼♀️🏃🏼♀️🏃🏼♀️. Here’s to 10 miles in June and not forgetting the jelly babies of course. So excited for you. So chuffed for you. Be super proud Cheeky. 😊
Hello cheekychipmunks, I know that I am replying to an old post of yours! I had an idea that I would have a read of someone's running journey towards that wonderful 10 miles distance. I have really enjoyed taking in your enthusiasm and the various replies from folk sharing their encouragement and stories. I think you reached 10 mies one year on from starting c25k. Brilliant! Well I ran 14km last Tuesday, my longest distance ever. Even longer than before my knee injury over a year ago (I had run 13km once, way, way back). My 14km run had an elevation gain of 236m. I have decided to make things easier for myself and instead of beginning my warm up walk from my door, I plan on driving 4 miles to a point on the River Derwent so that I can run along the river and consequently not have to run my usual hilly routes. My plan is to drop back my distance this week and then build up after that, I'm due a drop back week. All being well I aim to reach10 miles during the first week of December. An Advent gift is the plan🏃🏻♀️😊 Thank you again for your sharing your running journey and your enthusiasm. Happy injury free running to you. 🏃♀️🐕Also is your husband better now?
Oh thanks so much for your kind comments over61! 🥰 Yes, my first 10 miler was just over a year after graduating C25K, and I enjoyed building up slowly. I’ve since run HM distance several times, and much as it’s never easy, it doesn’t overwhelm me. 😀
You’re doing so well, especially after your injury. You’ve run 14k, you can absolutely run 10 miles! And good for you making life easier by cutting out some of that sapping elevation gain! I always enjoy hills, but not hills combined with a long run. 🥵
Thanks for asking about my husband. He’s doing very well indeed. He’s returned to the rowing club, where it happened, and it didn’t affect him at all - I thought he’d get flashbacks at least. We’re just waiting for the guy to have his psychiatric evaluation, but he’s still behind bars which is a huge comfort to us all.
I look forward to reading your triumphant 10 mile post before long! 👏👏👏
Thank you for your really encouraging reply Cheeky. The 5th of December is the likely date for my 10 miles!!! I'm really looking forward to a flat long run, I've never done one! It is all hills here in our part of Derbyshire. We live on road that is like the horizontal bar of an H shape. Both the names of the verticals of the H have the word hill in their name. My once a week long run plan is currently 10, 12, 14, 15 and then 16.1 or plus a bit more just to make sure. I'm getting excited! 😊🏃🏻♀️I am very pleased to hear that your husband is doing well. 😊
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.
Finally running a decent distance again
Week 5: Run 3, Gremlins at 8 o'clock 
dogs! 
