Snails can be useful!

[Gwenllian1]

Well this morning was a first in that my husband and I ran together. We started c25k together back in January but ian has always been a lot faster than I am so while we have often run in the same place, we have never run together. I'm slow, the classic snail. After graduating c25k (and amazing myself) I made my way slowly through ju-ju's magic plan, running to time not distance and got to 60 minutes a couple of weeks ago. It was hard but I did it! So I'm now in the second week of going through the plan again but trying to run to distance instead. I have finally acknowledged that I would love to run 10k although it still seems a bit of a dream! This morning was my 5k run, which I'm beginning to find, if not easy, definitely easier and mostly enjoyable.

Ian had had a month off with a problem with his Achilles. He's hoping to run the Cardiff half marathon in October so he was keen to get back to it but concerned that he would overdo it. "I know," he said. "How about if I run with you? Then you can set the pace and I'll just see how it feels."

I like my solitary runs but I like his company too so off we set on one of our usual runs. And do you know what, it was great. I didn't feel any pressure to run any quicker than I wanted to because the whole point of running together was to run at my pace not his. It was good also to find that I could talk, a bit. I know you are supposed to be able to talk while you run at an easy pace but I've never tried, not wanting to be the madwoman jogging slowly along muttering to herself. Ian enjoyed it and convinced himself that his Achilles was ready for running again. In fact he enjoyed it so much that we agreed to run our next run together too.

And I, to my amazement and without trying, knocked 44 seconds off my best time for 5k and ran it in 40.36. Now I know that's slow by the standards of most people round here but I really don't care. Slow is fine if that's the way it is but I would be really chuffed to run it in under 40 minutes and for the first time since I graduated I can see that it really is possible! Yay! Onward and, slowly, upward!

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10]

Yay Gwenllian, another member of Team Snail! I swear by them, they’ve got me to 5k, 10k, 10 miles and (hopefully) next month will be my first HM distance attempt.

So cherish your own pace. It’ll take you wherever you want to go and with any luck will reduce the chance of picking up an injury too. 😄

Your run sounded ideal, a win-win for you and Ian! 🏃‍♀️🏃👍👊

[Gwenllian1 Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

I'm generally pretty happy with my snail pace, with occasional attacks of mild frustration, but it is really encouraging to think that it might take me further! Is be over the moon with any of your achievements! Good luck with the half marathon. That's awesome!!

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to Gwenllian1]

You will quicken naturally by degrees so your frustration shouldn’t last for long. 😀

Thanks for the good wishes. No HM race planned until next Spring, just a flying solo one I’m looking forward to it. 👍

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate10]

Hi Gwen, what a brilliant result, very exciting.😊

I know exactly what you mean, I like to run by myself at my pace. I started c25k with my husband too, in 2015, and his natural pace was faster than me.

He graduated too, but dropped off running shortly afterwards because he didn't enjoy it, he ran fast and got breathless.

So I carried on by myself, with this forum as my support.😊

In the last few weeks he has started to run again, and the run we did together at my pace, side by side was really nice.

Considering how long it had been since he last ran, he did really well!

He has started to increase his pace again now, but he always lets me start before him, he waits a bit then takes it steady so he doesn't catch up to quickly. He does pass me, then waits at the end to cheer me on, which is great.

The other plus is that we are driving out to really nice running routes, instead of me just pounding the local pavements.

I hope you and Ian can continue to support each other, sharing some runs, it seems to be helpful to both of you. 😊xx

I still do my long run by myself though😉

[Gwenllian1 Graduate10 in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

I know just what you mean about going out together to find new routes. We also encourage each other in terms of agreeing when the next run will be and committing ourselves to going. The one thing we haven't done is actually run together when we get there but we might try one run a week together maybe as Ian eases back into training. I like the sound of your husbands tactics to produce something where you are together some if the time. I might suggest it!

[Tinker5393 Graduate10]

Lovely post. Snails rule 🐌🐌. 10k will soon be yours.

[Gwenllian1 Graduate10 in reply to Tinker5393]

Hope so! Don't mind if I take a while!

[Franglaise Graduate10]

That is so cute planning runs together...we argue and choose different directions on the rare occasions we ha e tried

[Gwenllian1 Graduate10 in reply to Franglaise]

We don't argue but have tended to go to the same place and then run in different directions! That's partly why it was so nice to set off the same way!

[Run46 Graduate10]

That's lovely, glad you enjoyed your run together and that Ian is on the mend. Good luck on future runs and a 39 minutes and something 5K 😊👍

[Gwenllian1 Graduate10 in reply to Run46]

39 minutes or so! Wouldn't that be sunbathing! Maybe it's just round the corner!

[backintime Graduate10]

Sounds great...I am a snail too, if that's your "go to" pace it's great, I find I can pootle quite comfortably a long way now but I also yearn after a sub 40 mins 5k lol

[Gwenllian1 Graduate10 in reply to backintime]

I'm just about beginning to believe in the idea of the sub forty minute five k! Wouldn't it be great?!

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

That’s really nice Gwenllian. I have my OH’s company when he wants to run slower, as he is increasing distance and goes too fast when left to his own devices. We have found some lovely running places nearby that we didn’t know existed before running. Sometimes we chat but sometimes I just listen to my music and concentrate on my own run. 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻