Well... I finally overcame the angst in my pants!

[Kertesz]

The prospect of JuJu’s finale run has kept me sleeplessly tossing and turning all week - tbh, every ‘long’ run since 7km has!! But the 10km has been the worst... What route? What day? What weather? What kit...?! Exhausting. It wasn’t soooo bad to think of it in kilometres (I break those down mentally into 1000 metre chunks, which doesn’t feel so bad in my head!), but every time I thought... ‘a bit over six miles’ I got a wobble in my stomach. Our nearest town is six miles away, so I know EXACTLY how far it is... And then I huffily told a friend this week that I wasn’t even <bothered> about running 10K anyway... and she looked at me with an arched eyebrow and said, ‘But you’re too far in now... that’s an itch that’s not going to go until you’ve scratched it!’ So that led to ANOTHER sleepless night. And an ominous feeling that she might be right. So this morning, in the windy weather warning, Coach Bennett and I scratched the itch once and for all. I love running with him - anyone who tells me to relax (and that I’m AMAZING for even starting the run!) is ✔️✔️✔️ in my book. So what now? A sense of pride... a feeling freedom from ‘the itch’ and back to 5K for me - I think fundamentally, I’m a lazy girl at heart. Thanks to Roseabi, JuJu and the community for all the advice and support. And much empathy to anyone else wrestling with the distance gremlins!! X

[Lizzisforliving Graduate10]

Wow! Well done. What a great time, too. Who is Coach Bennett? I’m hoping to start Ju-Ju’s next Magic Plan - will I meet the coach?

[Kertesz Graduate10 in reply to Lizzisforliving]

He’s the Head Coach on the Nike Running Club app!! I think it’s a brilliant app. If you download it, you’ll find loads of ‘guided’ runs there, which you can download and play through your headphones. Coach Bennett - and Andy Puddicombe of Headspace (who has also created lots of mindful guided runs with Coach B) - basically dragged me to 10K!! Good luck with JuJu - it’s a fab plan that works!! X

[Stephen_UK Graduate10]

Great post! I know what you mean about sleepless nights, but another way of looking at it is that these runs are special and exciting. They are worth a few butterflies.

And well done on your 10K.

[Kertesz Graduate10 in reply to Stephen_UK]

Thanks Stephen. And yes, you're right about the butterflies. I think Andy Puddicombe observes something similar in the NRC Headspace Guided Runs - about converting the energy used for anxiety into something more akin to adrenaline... I've never quite mastered it!!

[SeeJillRun 60minGraduate]

Whoop whoop!!! That’s fantastic, you must feel awesome! The plan really is magic isn’t it 😃 Well done!! 🥇🎉👏

[Kertesz Graduate10 in reply to SeeJillRun]

Thanks Jill! X

[JonathanP Graduate10]

Well done! That first 10k really feels special!👍🎉😀

[Kertesz Graduate10 in reply to JonathanP]

Thank you... First (and only, probs...) well... until I get fidgety next week... 😉

[Cfc55]

Woohoo well done K, great effort 👍! You’ve done this absolutely the right way in doing it at a pace you’ve been comfortable with! Onwards, upwards or backwards next, doesn’t matter, you’ve done it 🙌🙌🥳

[Kertesz Graduate10 in reply to Cfc55]

Aw thank you. It'll be downhill all the way for me now. (If I can find a big enough hill for that...😂). Are you still running? X

[Cfc55 in reply to Kertesz]

😂 nah your too modest I’m sure you’ll go from strength to strength! I haven’t ran for 3 week, no prizes for guessing why 🙄😂! I’m 95% fit tho so planning my comeback for next week. A trial 5k midweek and if that goes well, there’s a 10k in Aberdeen next Sunday that I really want to do, fingers crossed 🤞

[limberlou Graduate10]

Wow!! I’m impressed with your time too!! I’ve been doing 10ks for about a year now on and off and I’m still doing anything between 7.45 and 8.33 min per km so well done you!!

[Kertesz Graduate10 in reply to limberlou]

Aw thank you. That just seems to be 'my' pace - whether I run 1k or 10k! Very odd, really.

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10]

Awesome run! You squashed the gremlins and nailed 10k. 👏😀🏅🎉

[Kertesz Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Thank you!

[backintime Graduate10]

Well done !! Gremlins squashed.

[Kertesz Graduate10 in reply to backintime]

Thank you... and yes re the gremlins. I read a quote this week by a guy called James Clear and it really spurred me on - he said:

'Mastery requires both patience and impatience.

The impatience to have a bias towards action and to not waste time.

The patience to delay gratification, to wait for your actions to accumulate and to trust the process.'

I'm 55 now and running three times a week was causing me all sorts of aches and strains... so I slowed it down and added a few more rest days between longer runs. I think that really helped - well, that and my friend prodding me about 'the itch' 😂

[backintime Graduate10 in reply to Kertesz]

Yes, that's true, I often lack patience. I need to set lots of short term goals to combat that lol.

[Raspberrypink Graduate10]

Well done. Great time too! I have the 10k left to do. Am away at the moment so thinking I’ll wait until I get home when hopefully it will be cooler. Hope I can complete 10k in a similar time to you!

[Kertesz Graduate10 in reply to Raspberrypink]

It made SUCH a difference running on a cooler (rainier!) day. I've found running in the heat an absolute misery. Can't wait for the autumn! (And think now that beginning the C25K in the winter wasn't such a bad idea after all!!). Good luck with your own finale run!! 😃

[Raspberrypink Graduate10 in reply to Kertesz]

Thank you!

[roseabi]

Wow look at that!!!! I have awarded you your 10K badge - congratulations xxx

[Kertesz Graduate10 in reply to roseabi]

Thanks for all your support, advice... and most excellent strength pdfs!! 😉

[Footleg 60minGraduate]

Gosh you're fast! Are you saying that you'd rather just run 5k in normal general life now you've scratched that itch??

[Kertesz Graduate10 in reply to Footleg]

Yes! I’m really proud of the 10K achievement, but for me the best bit about it is that it’s made 5K seem so much shorter!! I’d rather have a 30 minute pootle than do anything longer, really!! Who knows though - maybe that’ll change! X

[RunRunRun13 Graduate10]

Huge congratulations my VRB !!! Loved reading this post it’s as though I wrote it myself 🤣 exactly what I’ve been thinking too !

So pleased for you and it had to be done even though we may not be the ”Paula Radcliffe” of today, such a great achievement !

Think we may have to share Mr Bennett during the week as I’m getting slightly obsessed with him but as it’s you...we can make it work.

You’ve nailed it !

[Kertesz Graduate10 in reply to RunRunRun13]

Only just seen this!! Thank you! I read your 10k post yesterday - well done you!!! What are we going to do now..?!!! (Apart from deal with our Coach Bennett co-dependency issues?!). I don’t feel I’m really a 10K girl at heart, so not sure I fit here... and C25K has been achieved... so... #floundering x x

[RunRunRun13 Graduate10 in reply to Kertesz]

Think we are running twins as feel exactly the same...I’m not a 10k girl either and have to push myself to get out there sometimes so running like “Forest Gump” is not my kind of thing.

I’m going to keep trying to do 3 times a week but definitely a short one, then see what I feel for the other two runs.

Also had a week off running before my 10k so will also have a short break now and again or it just feels motoninous.

Any ideas gratefully received...you should live nearer to me then we could run together (although don’t think I could hold a sentence which you would understand) 🤣🏃‍♀️