Magic 10K plan W4R1: A change of plan?

[Stephen_UK]

The 50-minute run went well this morning. I enjoyed it and everything seemed to come together: the right music, the right weather, the right pace...

I ended up covering 7.48 km in the time – not TOO far off 8K. And this brings me to my question.

I am committed to the 10K plan and have been thinking for a while that I should switch to distance after this week. What do you think of the proposal in the attached picture?

Orange = runs already done.

Yellow = suggested runs to complete the course.

As you can see I was working to a modified version of the plan anyway as I didn’t want to drop below 30 minutes. Plus, I wanted to incorporate Saturday Parkruns every week.

Interested in any thoughts on this.

And thanks, as always, for all the inspiration on this amazing forum.

[backintime Graduate10]

Look at you with the whole spreadsheet thing 😛 Excel and I aren't friends recently

Congrats on the good run !

[Stephen_UK Graduate10 in reply to backintime]

Thank you! Yes, there are times when only a spreadsheet will do.

[Jogunlikely in reply to Stephen_UK]

Love a good spreadsheet! Out of interest why not drop below 30mins? I've found the shorter runs a good opportunity to push myself a little and I think it's improving my running. No right or wrong for any of us, just being nosey 🤥🙂

[Stephen_UK Graduate10 in reply to Jogunlikely]

It’s a fair question! I like the 30-minute unit because it often takes me half that time to warm up. I’d hate to stop just at the point when it’s clicking into place. I can reduce the runs if everyone thinks I should, but 30 minutes feels like a good time for me.

[roseabi in reply to Stephen_UK]

Ah I see!

[Jogunlikely in reply to Stephen_UK]

Absolutely right to do what's best for you 😍 I was intrigued. You never know what titbit you can pick up 😊 I like Roseabi's idea x something to have a play around with.

[Stephen_UK Graduate10 in reply to Jogunlikely]

Thanks. Yes it’s a nice new approach.

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

Do it however you want Stephen, but I agree with jogunlikely that a 4k run can be great for fitting in a fast 1km, intervals, or hill training.

[Stephen_UK Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Thanks, Dexy.

[roseabi]

Thanks Stephen! This is a subject I have been thinking about now and then - people switching from the Time plan to the Distance. I will bring it up in next week's post!

I see no problem with you doing this - go for it! I am going to kind of suggest the opposite to what the other commenters are saying - run 4k instead of 30 minutes, and slow your pace down a bit so you are running the 4k in 30 minutes. This will be great practice for the pace you will need for your long slow runs as you continue training after you've reached 10k (I'll be talking about post-10k goals in a later post). Also it will give you a nice recovery/shake-out run. You have your parkrun for speed work - and btw I trust you are planning on volunteering at parkrun after you've finished the plan?!

It's up to you whether you do 30 minutes or 4k of course! But I don't want you to fret about running a little less than 30 minutes, you won't lose anything, and occasionally you may well find that you can't fit in even as much time as that xxx

[Stephen_UK Graduate10 in reply to roseabi]

Thanks, Roseabi. I like this idea of 4K in 30 minutes so I will try what you suggest.

And yes, I do want to volunteer at Parkrun.

Thanks for taking the time to advise.

[roseabi in reply to Stephen_UK]

It's a different kind of challenge 😊😊😊

Excellent xxx

[Dottie_D Graduate10]

Well done on your enjoyable long run. It’s so much more motivating when you have a good one 😜. Plan looks good and you can always reduce your middle run if you feel you need to or want to do some speed/hill work.

[Stephen_UK Graduate10 in reply to Dottie_D]

Thanks, Dottie. I appreciate it.