My first max effort run 🏃💨 feat. baby swans

[Mike_Bravo]

Well, that was an interesting experience!

To go from always running slow and steady to running as fast as possible was a pretty dramatic change. It really felt like I was in some sort of fight or flight scenario - and I was very much flight-ing.

Speaking of flighting, I hope you like the above picture. It was taken using my mobile (sorry about the quality) at a nearby nature reserve I was scouting out for possible longer runs. The place proved too hilly for me at the moment but on the way back to the car I stumbled upon these very cute baby swans with their mum/dad. Did you know baby swans like these ^ are called cygnets?

Learning something new every day ✅

I'm definitely going to start keeping my old DSLR in the car for future scouting expeditions, digital zoom just ain't got nothing on optical.

Back to 🏃💨

I had 2 x 2-minute max effort runs to do, with only two minutes of relief jogging between them. I felt like I needed to sit down for at least 5 minutes after the first run, rather than jog. I've not been so out of breath for years. Unsurprisingly, for the second 2-minute run, particularly in the last minute or so, my pace was no faster than my usual steady or tempo pace. But, I suppose the important thing is that it was my max effort, however fast that may be. At some point in my first run, I was going at 3:27 per km - can't keep that up for long though ha!

If you've recently had or remember your first max effort experience I'd love it if you could share it below. It really felt like something else for me so I'd be surprised if you couldn't remember it 🤣

My next fast workout is in 2 weeks and has me doing this three times instead of two 😂 I think I'll probably be crawling by the end of that! I won't pretend that I'm looking forward to it 😅 What I am looking forward to is my 45 minute run on Tuesday, though I'm still not sure where to do it.

As always I hope you're doing well, I hope your runs this week have gone well and the next week's go even better. I hope this was interesting to read, or at least you enjoyed the picture.

I hope as well if you've taken part in the Birmingham 10k today that it was fab.

Thanks very much if you follow me. I wish I could see who you are to thank everyone specifically. You're awesome 🤸🏻‍♂️

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

Lovely photo of the swan and the cygnets, good post from you Mike, good luck for your 45 minutes run on Tuesday, why not run it round the lake that is in the photo. 😊 🏃 although you say it's a bit hilly, all you need to do on hills is run a little slower.

[Mike_Bravo Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

Thanks AlMorr , you're right. I suppose I could run the 45 minutes around that nature reserve, and just on every hill work to only go at the pace I can breathe at. I had been dreaming of a flat area that's at least 8km long 😅

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10]

Awww love baby things, and cygnets are no exception. 😍 Thanks for posting that pic Mike! 👍

Wowsers, that sounded brutal. I will (WILL) be doing an intervals session this week - I use the JogRunSprint app which is amusing for onlookers, and I’m mighty pleased when it’s over! 🏃‍♀️🥵🏃‍♀️

And what an incredible fast pace you achieved! 👏👏👏 You’re sure to reap the benefits. Good luck with your 45 minuter this week. My next run, probably tomorrow, will be 15k. Getting the pre-longest run attempt jitters as I type! 😅

Happy running to you! 😀👍🏃

[Mike_Bravo Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

You're welcome Cheeky 😊 I'll keep an eye out for more baby animals for you, and if I take a better picture of the same animals I'll change this one and let you know.

It was pretty brutal indeed! I believe in you cheeky, you will will do intervals next week! I've no doubt other people in the park this morning were wondering what I was running from! 🏃💨🐯🦁🐮🐧🦆🐺🐗🐴🐝🦖🦕🦄

Wow 15k! I've no doubt you'll do it, but I wish you all the best non-the-less. I look forward to reading your what-will-inevitably-be-popular post 😊

Happy running to you too! 😄🏃🏻‍♀️👍

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to Mike_Bravo]

I love your selection of emojis! I think I’d run like the wind if I met some of those in Bristol! 😅😅😅

Yes, now I’ve said it I will 100% do intervals this week! 🥵🥵🥵

Thanks for the good wishes for the 15k too. That’s more my style, trotting along ticking off the kms at a leisurely (🐌) pace! 😀

[grumpyoldgirl]

Way to go Mike, I'm not brave enough for a Max effort run, I'm not sure I'd survive! Love the photo too 😊

[Granspeed Graduate10]

Very cute cygnets (and the picture looks fine on my phone. 😊) Love the thought of being able to run in a nature reserve. Absolutely hate the thought of max effort intervals 😱, so filled with admiration. Think I’ll live the whole interval-speed thing vicariously for a while as I watch your progress! 👏🏼👍😄

[Mike_Bravo Graduate10 in reply to Granspeed]

Vicariously is absolutely fine Granspeed 😊 thank you so much. I'm glad you like the picture.

I wouldn't recommend max effort runs unless you had the urge to go faster anyway, which isn't really for everyone.

I'll keep you posted on how my runs are going in the future

[Granspeed Graduate10 in reply to Mike_Bravo]

In general I have stamina, not speed, and that’s fine. But I have learned never to say never.... 😂