Is it even possible? Running for sixty minutes - Bridge to 10K

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Is it even possible? Running for sixty minutes

Gwenllian1 profile image
Gwenllian1Graduate10
42 Replies

Well today I ran for sixty minutes, the culmination of weeks of trying to extend my running time using Ju Ju's plan and running to time. Oh boy, was it hard! Warning, long post coming up!

Whenever I try to meet a new challenge I try very hard to set myself up to succeed. In doing something new I don't run up hills, I don't run under the blazing sun, I don't run if I am feeling in any way unwell. I have been looking sideways at this sixty minutes for a couple of weeks, not liking to look it in the face in case it made me squawk and run away. Having done a couple of shorter runs this week I decided that today was the day to attempt the sixty minutes. I would go down to Prestatyn and run on the seafront in search of maximum flatness. I would go earlyish, around nine, hoping it would be cooler and quieter than later in the day. Ian, who is not running right now having damaged his Achilles a couple of weeks ago, said he would come with me and have a gentle walk while I ran. I got up, put my running gear on and had no breakfast. Let's get on with it.

It was quiet as we got out of the car. The tide was low. There were one or two families and dogs playing on the hard sand. The sun glittered on the water. A few elderly couples were strolling on the prom, here and there being passed by a tired looking parent with a baby or toddler in a pushchair. I was just about to start my phone app when I saw a shape on the ground a hundred yards or so away. It looked as though someone had fallen.

We rushed across and indeed a woman had fallen and bashed her face heavily. She was very shaken and groggy. Her husband had gone to the nearest hotel for help and soon there were two staff from the hotel as well as Ian who has had the training from the ambulance service to work as a volunteer first responder. There seemed to be nothing that I could do so after a few minutes I set off, leaving Ian with the injured lady and the woman's husband calling for an ambulance.

I had decided to use the last week of the couch to 5k app to give me the measure of thirty minutes and then to turn around. The familiar voice of Sarah Millican felt like company as I set off and I turned Strava on too to measure distance and pace. The first ten minutes or so of a run used to see me suffering terribly with the "toxic ten", where legs and lungs won't get going and your whole body screams that you have to be joking. One of the big pluses of having carried on running for a few months, however slowly, is that this doesn't seem to happen any more. So the first ten minutes were fine as I found my pace and the next twenty minutes or so were ok too. It felt like a long way and a long time but I seemed to settle down to it. Occasionally cyclists passed me or someone running the other way smiled as our paths crossed. It was hot and windless. I began to count which is how I generally pass the time because I can't seem to adjust to having music in my ears. I like to hear the birds and the water and people calling to each other. Surely I must have gone thirty minutes by now. Sarah tells me that I have only five minutes to go so no, I have done twenty five. The downside of using the app to mark thirty minutes is that while Sarah is telling me how wonderfully I have done and that I can stop now, I have to turn round and run all the way back. It is feeling like a very long way.

For the first ten minutes or so after I turn I am still feeling all right and then I begin to feel very tired. My legs slow, my breathing labours. Sweat runs down into my eyes. I start to think that I won't be able to do it. This is the point where being really stubborn is useful. I won't stop now I think. If I don't do it this time I will have to come and try again. I have run fifty five minutes before so I must be able to do that. I promise myself that if I do fifty five minutes and feel really dreadful I can stop. I look at my phone. Oh God, I have only run for forty eight minutes. Don't look, don't think. Just count. Look, up there is a lifebuoy, count to that and then you can look. Fifty minutes. Slow down, slow down, keep moving but slow down. I go so slowly you would not think it possible to slow down, but I do. Just keep going. Run to the cafe. Slowly, slowly but don't stop. God but this is hard. I look up and I am sure I can see Ian in the distance walking towards me. That's ok. I will just run to him and then I will see what to do next. Closer and closer he comes. I thrust my phone at him. "Can you look at my Strava for me. Tell me how much longer."

"Three minutes."

"What happened to the woman who fell?" See I can still speak. I must be able to run.

"The ambulance came. The people from the hotel were very good. I stayed a while and then I walked. Two minutes."

Well I am damned if I am going to stop now. Run, breathe, run, breathe. Ian walks with me, his faster stride easily keeping pace with my running.

"One minute."

I can do this. I will do this.

"That's it."

I am running with sweat. I know my face is the exact colour of my deep pink t shirt. But I did it. Sixty minutes. How is that even possible? I ran for 7k in that time so you can see how slow I am and I can't imagine that at my pace I could run 10k because that would be nearly half an hour longer and I had nothing much left at the end but hey, who knows, the body is a strange thing. Would I have believed you in January that I could ever run for an hour? Absolutely and totally not.

And now I feel good, if tired. What a strange thing this running lark is. Why do I do it? Heaven knows!

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Gwenllian1 profile image
Gwenllian1
Graduate10
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42 Replies
backintime profile image
backintimeGraduate10

Really well done! Don't forget to ask for your 60min badge.

You can totally do 10k if you work up, mine took me 91 mins, so we run at about the same-ish speed

Gwenllian1 profile image
Gwenllian1Graduate10 in reply tobackintime

Oh thanks bit! It's good to know that there are others here running at about my speed! I always feel like a bit of a fraud if I describe myself as a runner because so many people are so speedy and that's not me at all. Love the idea of your Paris run! Go for it!

backintime profile image
backintimeGraduate10 in reply toGwenllian1

Thanks

My speed is one thing that kind of puts me off signing up for races (or timed runs, I wouldn't be racing, lol). Sometimes I feel dreadfully slow, which doesn't matter when I'm running for me, but sort of does matter in a race....

There's a 10k one that falls the day before my 50th birthday, just trying to decide

For both I need a medical certificate to sign up, so it'll have to wait until I can get to the doctors anyway, I have time to decide

Gwenllian1 profile image
Gwenllian1Graduate10 in reply tobackintime

I take the view that a park run or anything which is not just me for me is not a race, it's a run! Partly because if I thought of it as a race, I would never do it!

AlMorr profile image
AlMorrAmbassadorGraduate10 in reply tobackintime

I didn't realise that in some races you need a medical certificate to be able to run, I am sure this is a new trend, does it only apply to some 10K or longer distance runs, I hope it won't affect a 5K run.

backintime profile image
backintimeGraduate10 in reply toAlMorr

In France, for any timed run you need a medical certificate - I don't know the laws in the UK, but you need one even to sign your child up for football, or tennis or any other sport otherwise the insurance that covers the event doesn't cover you and so you won't be accepted on the race

AlMorr profile image
AlMorrAmbassadorGraduate10 in reply tobackintime

Thanks for that information, so it's in France, not the UK. That means even for a 5K parkrun you would need a medical certificate, perhaps that is the reason that there are not many parkruns in France.

backintime profile image
backintimeGraduate10 in reply toAlMorr

to be honest, I'm not sure about parkrun, I will check their website

AlMorr profile image
AlMorrAmbassadorGraduate10 in reply tobackintime

I think there are a few parkruns in France.

backintime profile image
backintimeGraduate10 in reply toAlMorr

there are a few, just not sure if you need a medical certificate for parkrun because it's not a race and from what I've heard, the results are given out in alphabetical order, not arrival order (just to emphasize that it's not a race)

Lizzisforliving profile image
LizzisforlivingGraduate10 in reply tobackintime

I’ve done three parkruns at Parc Montsouris in Paris and you don’t need a medical certificate,

I’m trying to set up a parkrun in Uzès (Gard) - if anyone on here lives near me, please get in touch.

X

backintime profile image
backintimeGraduate10 in reply toLizzisforliving

oh, how did you find the Montsouris one? I know there's one at Bois de Boulogne too

Unfortunately I am in the 78, so a way from Gard

Lizzisforliving profile image
LizzisforlivingGraduate10 in reply tobackintime

Friendly, small, very British. 3 circuits of a park on tarmac with quite a steep slope. Attracts tourists. Some regulars run very fast. There have been around 25 people each time I’ve done it. It’s more accessible than Bois de Boulogne as it’s on RER B. X

backintime profile image
backintimeGraduate10 in reply toLizzisforliving

RER B isn't very accessible for me lol, it would be 3 trains away which, on a Saturday morning isn't brilliant with weekend timetables

Lizzisforliving profile image
LizzisforlivingGraduate10 in reply tobackintime

Maybe Bois de Boulogne would work for you, then? I read that it was difficult to find the start point, but perhaps not for a local. X

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate10 in reply toAlMorr

parkrun in France doesn’t really work because they won’t publish results in speed order for anything but an official race. Rather strange. 😏

Lizzisforliving profile image
LizzisforlivingGraduate10 in reply toDexy5

When I look at the results there’s a button at the top of each column to reorder so you can have alphabetical, number of parkruns done, age groups or indeed speed. I think it’s exactly the same format as for other countries’ parkruns.

I hope you’re wrong that ‘parkrun doesn’t really work in France’ because I am trying very hard to start one. And some of them seem very popular (e.g. Rouen).

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate10 in reply toLizzisforliving

I’m glad to hear you have the same adaptability on the results sheet to get around the French race rules. I think Coddfish was saying that the French do not have the same concept of volunteering and that parkruns tend to be run and assisted by mainly expats. I hope that is not the case and this brilliant concept is adopted by all nationalities. Good luck to you. And do post your parkrun number one.

Lizzisforliving profile image
LizzisforlivingGraduate10 in reply toDexy5

You’re absolutely right that all the volunteers seem to be Brits and the vast majority of runners at Parc Montsouris (many of them tourists) but I think that’s partly about getting the word out. I really hope some French people will get involved if I manage to launch one near me in the Gard. Fingers crossed.

X

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate10 in reply toLizzisforliving

I wish you well. Allez parkrun Paris 🇫🇷

Lizzisforliving profile image
LizzisforlivingGraduate10 in reply toDexy5

Merci, et Allez parkrun Uzès, j’espère 🤞

AlMorr profile image
AlMorrAmbassadorGraduate10

Good run for you today, one full hour of running is very good, onwards and upwards for your 10K.✔️👍

Gwenllian1 profile image
Gwenllian1Graduate10 in reply toAlMorr

Thank you! I'm still a bit surprised to have done it!

cheekychipmunks profile image
cheekychipmunksGraduate10

Oh my goodness Gwenllian, please don’t do your speed down, you are running perfectly. Imagine, you - YOU - ran for 60 whole minutes. Not somebody else - it was you! 💪💪💪

I hope you feel mighty proud of your achievement, knowing that yes, 10k will be within your reach, no question. 👊

We’ll help you get there. Keep posting, and keep enjoying your runs. We love hearing about them! ❤️ Don’t forget to claim your new badge too! 🏅

Oh, kudos to Ian for helping the fallen lady. 👍👍👍

Gwenllian1 profile image
Gwenllian1Graduate10 in reply tocheekychipmunks

Oh thank you! That's so encouraging. I would love to manage to run 10k but it seems a huge ask after today! But then I suppose I felt like that about running for 20 minutes in c25k!!

backintime profile image
backintimeGraduate10 in reply toGwenllian1

I did juju's plan for distance, you could always repeat it for distance or just jump in to where you've already gotten to to push up to 10k, I think after 7K, you have 2 8K weeks and 2 9K weeks then the 10K week (but that's off the top of my head and you'd need to check it), so in 5 weeks you could be at 10K :D

Gwenllian1 profile image
Gwenllian1Graduate10 in reply tobackintime

Woah! 5 weeks seems like nothing! I'm working on the basis that at nearly 65 I might need a bit of extra time! I'll see. I'm really going to try and get there!

cheekychipmunks profile image
cheekychipmunksGraduate10 in reply toGwenllian1

There you have it! It’s very doable and it’s a lovely distance. Maybe enter a race eventually too? 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃🏃 I did my first one in May and it was such fun. Walkers and elite runners all together.

Have fun! You’re awesome and you’ll get get there! 👊

Stephen_UK profile image
Stephen_UKGraduate10

Congratulations on the epic run. That’s a great achievement.

Gwenllian1 profile image
Gwenllian1Graduate10 in reply toStephen_UK

Thank you so much. Might not have been epic for others but it certainly was for me! So pleased to have done it!

Stephen_UK profile image
Stephen_UKGraduate10 in reply toGwenllian1

You certainly should be pleased. Running for a whole hour is amazing stuff.

Jell6 profile image
Jell6Graduate10

"I look at my phone. Oh God, I have only run for forty eight minutes. Don't look, don't think. Just ....."

Oh my goodness, congratubloodylations!!!!.

I actually felt tense reading this🤩

Well done.

Gwenllian1 profile image
Gwenllian1Graduate10 in reply toJell6

Thank you! It was the first run for a long time that I thought I might not finish!

Aakk profile image
Aakk

Congratulations!

Please try an early breakfast next time, cos you are asking your body to run on no fuel, I have only tried that once and I felt dreadful after I had run for a while. If youre gonna run at nine have some food at 6.30 or so. Porridge is good and breakfast in bed is good too.

Gwenllian1 profile image
Gwenllian1Graduate10 in reply toAakk

It's a tricky one isn't it? I have experimented with eating and not and with eating different things. Certainly with shorter runs I feel much better if I don't eat breakfast first. Perhaps with the longer ones I might have a banana first!

Glynis1 profile image
Glynis1Graduate10

Oh very well done Gwenllian you must be so chuffed with yourself. What an eventful run with the lady falling. I have my 60 minute run to do in a couple of days time so I take heart from your great post 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇😁

Gwenllian1 profile image
Gwenllian1Graduate10 in reply toGlynis1

Thank you! Let us know how it goes won't you? I always love to see that there are people at around my stage on here with me!

Jen302 profile image
Jen302

So good to hear that you did it!

Well done to you!!

I've slacked in my running for a few weeks and need to get back into a rhythm.

Gwenllian1 profile image
Gwenllian1Graduate10 in reply toJen302

I got into the habit when I was doing c25k of mentally booking in my next run when I'd finished one. I always think that if I let it slip too much I might never get started again although I think that's less and less likely as time goes by!

Eatrun profile image
Eatrun

Hats off to you...I shall achieve this ...only God knows ...when that will be!!😂

Gwenllian1 profile image
Gwenllian1Graduate10 in reply toEatrun

I'm sure you will! It took me thirteen weeks to get through the magic plan rather than nine, what with a bit of time out for a sore knee and fewer runs when I was on holiday, but I did just keep plugging away. Now I'm going to go back to the beginning and run the whole thing again to distance. I'm quite looking forward to the idea that the first couple of weeks will be a bit easier!

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate10 in reply toGwenllian1

Well done Gwenllian1, a seaside flat run is a good choice for something so special. And you ran 60 minutes. So enjoy that and you’ll know when or if you want to aim for 10k eventually. It’s your running 🏃‍♀️

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