Well, my lovely runny friends, I've completed my first 10k. And it felt amazing.
For me, I reckon I got the pacing spot on... felt very slow at the start and I was having to actively rein myself in (though in reality I would have liked to have gone even slower). Slowest k was number 6, then negative splits right up to the end with my last k being the fastest! Brilliant practice for my 10k race in July.
Really felt the benefit of fuelling too - a couple of dried apricots and a slug of water at 5k worked really well. Anyone seen the Back To The Future film with the train, where Doc Brown puts in those coloured logs? Well at 7k, the apricots kicked in and that was what it felt like. So I had 2 more at 8k and got the energy rush at the end. Felt like I could have carried on for ever!
The location helped... Bournemouth beach is one of those lovely flat, slightly curved routes where you can see exactly where you are aiming for. Wonderful level surface. Beautiful sea breeze. Lots of dogs to make me smile. Fine and warm but only occasionally sunny. Perfect.
Hadn't thought about refuelling afterwards and was racking my brains trying to think of what I could get that had plenty of carbs and some protein. Then I realised... it's the seaside!! So had a lovely vanilla cornet.
I could not have had a more positive first 10k. So, folks, what do I need to do to get my badge?
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Pianism
Graduate10
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Lovely read and what an amazing straight line of a run! Sounds like you paced it perfectly as well. I bet that was the best ice cream 🍦 you ever had. I smiled non stop for a day after my first 10km. Enjoy
Not yet, I don't think. Have 3 or 4 10k races this year so just want to get that distance in my legs and perhaps increase to 15k so 10k feels easier. But then when you get to 15k, you may as well go for 10 miles! And then the HM is only a parkrun further! Lol
Thank you. Yes, I think I did do it in style actually. Felt very strong at the end, which was quite different from my 9k, when I had nothing left to give. Must be the carb loading (aka holiday beers!).
Makes me chuckle as your average pace is less than my fastest pace for my 1km in a short (fast-for-me) run! (and you were trying to 'keep it slow') humpf.
Hey - but when I lose X stone I too will be able to speed up! I'm really working on it!
What a lovely place to do your first 10k run - I wish you a very happy holiday, and I will look out for your further achievements and progress reports.
Thank you. The nice thing about running is that everyone else's pace is pretty much irrelevant. Occasionally I look at people as they whizz past me (or tell me about average paces below 5 mins per k) and wonder at how they do it. But on the day, it's about coaxing your own body to do just that little bit more than last time.
Congratulations!! What a great place to run. Our coastal path is all uneven boards and divots, so haven't chanced it yet. Would love to do a sea side run.
Yes, someone else was telling me they'd tried dates but they were just too sticky and so landed on apricots. I love them and always have a bag or two in the house so it seemed an ideal solution.
Congratulations on completing your first 10K, to get your graduation10 badge and the word GRADUATE10 next to your username leave a message on the June graduate10 homepage and tell the administrators that you have ran a 10K, well done 😀 🏃 🎓.
Well done. 🎉 You really have come on since the dark days of January! A splendid pace - well faster than my best average so far. Mr Flying Feet, indeed. 🏃🏻♂️💨 Enjoy the rest of your hols. 😄
Thank you. I'm so proud of myself... just to say that I can actually do it is amazing. I wasn't even out of breath... singing and whistling to myself as I ran. So different from Christmas.
Well done you! That’s absolutely brilliant and what a place to be able to do your first 10k. And a very well earned ice cream - they’re the best kind 😀 No stopping you now! I like dried apricots as a fuel too, they pack a lot of energy in and they don’t melt or get too sticky in your pocket if you get hot (although I suppose the more squidgy ones might).
Yay, fantastic news Pianism! I’m so happy for you, and that sounds like the perfect run! Negative splits towards the end too? Well that’s super impressive! You’ll have extra confidence for your upcoming race. Brilliant! 👏👍👊🏅😀💪
Fabulous run. A big Well done to you. What a glorious run location and can’t think of anything better than a seaside ice cream with which to celebrate. Perfect 🍦👏👏
Congratulations on your first 10k Pianism and what a lovely place to do it. I just love Bournemouth, and the beach area while the kids are at school is just perfect. Not too hot today either. Celebrate!
🏃♂️👏👏 🎼🎹 🎹 🍾🥂😁
Looking forward to your Poole Park parkrun report on Saturday too.
Beautiful place for your first 10k Pianism - congratulations! 🎉 Well done on getting negative splits for the second half of your run too!👍 Revel in your amazing achievement! 😀
Amazing ! Well done ! A great read too, never thought about refuelling (although can’t stomach apricots) do you think raisins would have the same effect ?
The ice cream at the end sounds like the perfect finish 🍦👍
Yes, I'm sure raisins would do just as well. I think I saw an ad for them in runner's world. You need sugars and I'm a big fan of natural sugars over the refined kind.
I can't believe the difference it makes. When I first started out, I thought there was absolutely no reason to consider "fuel". But of course, the collective wisdom of those who have gone before is, as always, on the money. Especially when, like me, you run in the morning and can't stomach breakfast beforehand.
Yes I’m the same, out the door in the morning before eating. I’ve nearly got to 7k so been thinking what to take with me for a bit of extra oomph to keep me going that little bit further.
Brilliant, congratulations on your first 10k Pianism. Bask in that feeling of achievement! Great Orme? Probably a little less flat than Bournemouth unless you do actually run round the bottom!
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