Gulp. Well I have somehow gone and done it and committed to doing a 10k run in Chester in March. Last night I was reading Kalessin's post about her first 10k event and thinking I wasn't sure I would ever try to do it. At the moment the idea of running for 10 kilometres is quite as daunting as the idea of running 5k was back in January when I started the Couch to 5K programme. I have been idling along for the last few weeks, running a bit less because of a problem with a sore hip, trying not to stop because I really really don't want to give up but poddling along, stuck in a rut and losing the momentum of that delightful sense of improvement. It is Ian's fault that we have booked to run the 10k. He was looking at the race details and we were talking about it. I was far from sure that I wanted to have a go. It is all very well to say to myself when I run that it is not a race it's a run. A 10k event clearly is a race, whatever I call it, and I was telling him that I wasn't sure how I would feel about coming last, which feels pretty inevitable based on how slow I am.
"You won't come last," he said. "We will run together and if I am in front of you at the end and you are last I will just slip in behind you."
For some reason I thought this was so funny that I found myself agreeing and now we have paid and the email arrived this morning confirming the place. Slightly terrifyingly, it warns you that if it looks as though you will take longer than one hour and thirty minutes to finish you may be asked to withdraw "for your own safety"! I will definitely be somewhere around that, even assuming I can get to 10k. So far the furthest I have run is 8k and that was about six weeks ago before I had my hip problem.
And I am slow, did I mention that?
So I spent the rest of last night looking at training programmes for running 10k and finding nothing aimed at the slightly overweight sixty five year old who likes a glass of wine. Everyone seems to be younger and fitter and faster so I decided that the thing to do was to rely on Ju Ju's magic ten plan which I have already done once, running to time not distance. That time around I only got to 7k so there is a way to go.
So this morning I did my Spanish conversation with my friend from Valencia, spent an hour or so in the kitchen afterwards making tonight's meal and then put on my running things and headed out for half an hour. It was cold. I had decided to run 4k (well the magic running plan had decided that for me) and to try to do a couple of intervals of faster running during that time. Well actually I had decided to do three faster intervals but I could only manage two. It took me time to get my breath and the first ten minutes of this morning's run is gently up hill. Up hill I can manage, just, but not at anything other than a snail's pace.
It wasn't the best run in the world but it wasn't the worst either. I have decided that one of things I need is just more miles in my legs. I would like to have run 10k several times before the end of February so that I know I can do it. I am going to run 7k this weekend and I still feel a bit daunted by that, never mind 10. But if there is one thing that this running has taught me, from c25k and beyond, it is that I can do more than I think I can.
Already I can feel myself more focussed and I am planning my runs more carefully as a result of having something to aim for. I think I will try just thinking about getting to 10k as a distance and not think about the idea of the event for now so that I don't distract myself with visions of being gently swept up off the course and deposited in some sort of pen for disgraced runners!
It will be fine. Probably....
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Gwenllian1
Graduate10
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Great to have something to aim for, well done. Ian sounds very supportive. Now you’ve decided all you have to do is follow the plan. You’ve loads of time so take it easy and protect your hip. Happy running
That was my hope - that with loads of time I could take extra rest days if I want them and still hope to have a reasonable chance of getting there! Yes, Ian is very supportive. We started c25k at the same time in January and he ran the Cardiff Half Marathon in October so he is much more of a runner than I am. My contribution is that I am quite determined so sometimes I get us out there when he might not have gone on his own!
Good on you for signing up and March is a long way off, plenty of time to get some 10km runs under your belt and have a realistic idea of how long it will take you to finish. I think it's a bit off to tell runners that they have to complete in a certain time, to be honest. I think if you've paid the entry fee then you can do it in your own sweet time!
I'm glad you said that about the issue of the amount of time they give you! I really hope I can manage to do it in less than an hour and a half but it will be touch and go I think. Would be nice just to be left to get on with it!
Well done you for entering a 10k run. You have loads of time to train. You've made me think about maybe entering something myself as I make my way up to 10k.
See, you've inspired one person already. Good luck 🤗
I am torn between thinking it is a really great idea and thinking I must be out of my mind! It is not so much the running of 10k. I am pretty sure I can manage to get there if I just keep on turning up and running. It is the thought of being swept up off the street! So I must just make sure it doesn't happen!
Well done & very brave! And hurray for Ian. 👏🏼👏🏼 I think it sounds like you really want to do this & will benefit from having the decision made. 😊 Ju-Ju’s Plan is a great guide. It’s got me up to 9k, even with Life throwing in multiple spanners, so I am sure you will get there with time to spare by March.
I also think you are right about miles/kms on the legs. Mine are definitely getting stronger, plus the 10k plan helps you get into some strength work which helped my “mature” muscles adapt to the new load. 🤣 We can do this, and in under 90 minutes too. 😄 And we can cheer each other on. Go you! 🎉
Yep! Pretty sure I would not have held my nose and jumped in without Ian's making me laugh! And I very much agree about the miles in the legs. It takes a long time I think to make a runner out of a non runner in some ways and the more I run the more I can run. I also do a yoga and a pilates class a week so I am hoping that the strength will come along too.
Wow that’s something to aim for I’m sure you won’t be swept off the course if you are slower maybe just not get your time or something, good luck training and i and all here will be cheering you on
You will be absolutely fine Gwenllian. 100%. 👍 You’ve run 7k, that means you’ll be up at 10k before too long. You already know what ju-ju’s plan is like, so following it to distance next time round will get you there. Even if you run it slowly, the very fact you’ll have covered the distance will be a massive boost to your confidence come race day. 😀
I’m excited for you - races are such fun and I bet you’ll have an amazing time. 🏃♀️🏃♀️
Happy training. Tell us how you’re getting on won’t you? 😀👍
Thank you! I love the idea that races are such fun. I certainly was blown away by the atmosphere when Ian did the Cardiff half marathon and while I'm sure Chester 10k is much smaller it would be interesting to experience just a little bit of that!
I sympathize! I’ll be 65 in a couple of weeks (also like 🍷) and although I ran 10k recently I’m reluctant to commit to a ‘proper run’. My daughter is doing the London landmarks one in February and I’d love to join her but she does it in under a hour! However remember to believe you can do it and just go and have fun! Good luck.
Sounds great - I did my first 10k event (and my first 10k) a month ago. I wasn’t sure about it and thought it would be a proper race with proper athletes and that everyone would point and laugh at me. BUT it was great. It was just like a longer park run in a nice location. There were athletes at the front running to win but then there were the rest of us having a nice time running our own race. Lots of people chatting, a few run/walking. A great atmosphere. I really enjoyed it. Hope you do too.
That's really encouraging! I was thinking exactly that about real runners! Thank you. I'll remember that when I have my attack of imposter syndrome! That sounds really great.
I’m rather proud to have inspired you! And I think you’ll be fine. Once I had got to 7k getting up to 10k just required persistence (and coming up with longer routes around our area).
In the Adnams event they said they would reopen the roads after 90 minutes, at 12.30pm, but the signs on the roads themselves said they would open at 1.30pm. Looking at the results a number of runners took longer than 1hr 30, I think the last was 1hr 44, so clearly they didn’t actually disallow people.
I had a chesty cold three weeks before and only got one 10k practice in, at 1hr 28. My chip time was eight minutes better than that so it shows what a race can do.
And the best bit is, you feel so smug afterwards! ☺️
It's ages away, just forget about it for a while and enjoy your running if it freaks you out!
I've recently built up to 10 miles and still haven't run a race... I guess coz running is just for me and the idea of a race stresses me out (and I can get ill when stressed) so I've not bothered.
But I love running and MAY love entering races, you don't know until you try right! 😏
Your bravery has inspired me so I asked my son if he'd drive me to Chester for the 10K and maybe Half Marathon next year if I sign up, he said yes so I'm going to give it a go 🏃♀️👍
Best of luck for your 7K this weekend, you'll ace it I'm sure 😀
Yes! That's fantastic. Go you! We might even see each other at the 10k, although if you can already run 10 miles I think you are outside my league!
I've no idea whether I will enjoy a race, and a race I am bound to lose at that. But as you say, you don't know if you don't try and my husband loved the Cardiff half marathon which I think rather surprised him. We shall see. Sometimes you just need to jump in and have a go, maybe that's the case for both of us!
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week3run1 ✅. 3 x 17 mins with 1 min walks. 
How did your parkrun or (not)parkrun go?
