Went off plan and ran 10km!

[Debston]

Set off to Bedgebury Pinetum to do my 7km of Week 3. There are several running trails there, including my regular Parkrun 5km route. So I thought I would try the 10km trail and walk the final 3km. Set off, all good for the first km, mapmyrun tells me that I have run 1km in just under 8 minutes, great, that's my usual pace. Then a minute or so later, it tells me I've run another km. Then again. And again. I switched it off at 7km (which mapmyrun thinks I did in an impressive 11 minutes!!!!) as it was just getting too annoying. I worked out that if I just ran for an hour, that'd be around 7kmso long as my pace didn't slow down too much. Anyway, apart from a few squally showers, the route was great, took me to parts of the forest I had never been to before. Lots of lovely downhill stretches and not too much uphill. I was enjoying myself! Checked my fitbit and realised that I had been running for well over an hour. I figured that I was on the home stretch of the 10k circular route so I just kept going for another 5 minutes and made it back to the start of the trail. I can't believe that I have just run 10k - I was feeling slightly nervous about the 7km as that's when my hip started playing up in the summer. Feeling very, very happy right now!

[Jacca]

Wow!!!! Debston that’s awesome 👏 🥳🤩congratulations I bet you can’t stop smiling 😁

[Debston Graduate10 in reply to Jacca]

Still hasn't quite sunk in! 😂 I am so pleased with myself! I faffed around taking photos at the finish and didn't think to check the time until I was halfway back to the carpark but I think it took me roughly 90 minutes. Slow and steady!

[Hated2Run Graduate10]

Nice one - mine didn't go so well sadly but hey ho maybe next week!

[Debston Graduate10 in reply to Hated2Run]

My run on Monday felt a bit rubbish for various reasons, just the way it goes sometimes. Hope your next one goes great!

[Grannyhugs Graduate10]

What a magnificent way to reach 10k. Your body was obviously totally up for it. Well done

[Debston Graduate10 in reply to Grannyhugs]

Thanks, Grannytobe. Have done lots of stretching and had a lovely hot bath to try and keep my body on board, with no grumbling!

[Grannyhugs Graduate10]

Oh you are so good. Just realised I still haven't stretched off from morning run. Chucking down outside, had estate agent round photographing house so cold fire is on. Gone into hibernation mode. Hubby gentle snoring while I knit baby clothes, how old aged does that sound, and we're really not old, just relaxed 🤔

[Debston Graduate10 in reply to Grannyhugs]

It sounds perfect on a cold rainy day. Enjoy! ☺

[Slinkymalinki Graduate10 in reply to Grannyhugs]

Not old age at all! I'm a 48 year old knitter and quilter, been knitting since I was 7. What's not to like? Heat source, tea, soothing knitting maybe a movie...😊

[Coddfish Graduate10]

Sounds a lovely place to run. Well done on exceeding your expectations.

[Debston Graduate10 in reply to Coddfish]

Thanks Coddfish. I'm lucky to live so close to such a well maintained forest with lots of routes.

[Buddy34 Graduate10]

Congratulations on your 10k run Debston. You must be so happy.

🤗🤗👏👏👏👏👏👏

[Debston Graduate10 in reply to Buddy34]

Thanks, Buddy34, I am so so delighted! I think I will stick with the plan from now on though, I don't want to overdo things and end up injured again!

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Oh wow what good news that you can run so far without your hip playing up you must be so much stronger than you were

[Debston Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thanks! Fingers firmly crossed for no weird twinges... I think the problem last time was that I finished the run right by my house and stupidly skipped doing a cool down walk or any stretches after. Lesson learnt!

[damienair Administrator]

Yahoo and well done. Great running. 10K in the bag ahead of time.

7K is the perfect distance. It leaves you well prepared for parkrun or 5K races and means you only have to train for an extra week or two for a 10K.

Damien

[Debston Graduate10 in reply to damienair]

Thanks damienair, yes I think 7k would be great for a regular long run. After I finish the magic plan, I want to keep up with the longer runs and hopefully do one every week or two. Not sure I will ever want to go any further than 10k, though never say never! 😂

[damienair Administrator in reply to Debston]

I’m the same Debston. I love 5K, and every 2 weeks I usually do a longer run of 7K. It leaves me within easy reach of taking part in a 10K race. That’s all I’m interested in. Although I did recently do a 13K Mountain Run. I don’t think I will ever do a half Marathon, but never say never. I do however know I will never do a Marathon. That would be torture.

[Bike_and_Run Graduate10]

Check you out just 'accidentally' running 10k as if it's as easy as popping to the corner shop! Huge well done! I bet you're well pleased knowing you can do the full 10k. The next couple of weeks are going to fly by as you finish the plan.

🏃‍♂️🎉👏👍🏃‍♂️

[Debston Graduate10 in reply to Bike_and_Run]

😂 Thank you! Definitely not as easy as popping to the shop, nor as quick but infinitely more fun!

[marmalademonster Graduate10]

That’s fantastic! Top running today! You’re absolutely nailing it and must feel so proud! Well done 👍🏻 💪🏻🏃‍♀️👏🏻🏅

[Debston Graduate10 in reply to marmalademonster]

Thanks, marmalademonster! I am feeling a little bit smug 😏!

[trogdelight Graduate10]

Wow, that's amazing. I've signed up for a 5-mile race in February at Bedgebury - it's such a beautiful place.

[Debston Graduate10 in reply to trogdelight]

Ooh, how far is 5 miles? About 8km? I might have to check that out... I signed up (in the summer before injury struck) for a 10km race in November at Bedgebury. It was a couple of weeks ago and I didn't feel ready to give it a go.

[trogdelight Graduate10 in reply to Debston]

eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-bedg...

[JonathanP Graduate10]

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

[Debston Graduate10 in reply to JonathanP]

It really does! Thank you. ☺

[RunningChocoholic Graduate10]

Hi, well done on your 10k! Out of interest do wear trail shoes or road running shoes for Bedgebury? I’m thinking of getting trail shoes for when I venture up the Sussex Downs, Tks x

[Debston Graduate10 in reply to RunningChocoholic]

Thank you! I wear trail shoes, not tried road running shoes because I tend to avoid road running. I love my Saucony Peregrines.

[Runningmummyy]

Amazing!! Well done and that route sounds really great too

[Debston Graduate10 in reply to Runningmummyy]

Thanks, Runningmummyy! It's a lovely route, I will definitely be doing it again. Far easier than the Parkrun route!

[Yogaandrun]

Well done, Deston very inspiring

[Sammy-Lou]

Well done Debston that’s amazing! I went there last week with friends who walk and we are going to join parkrin in The New Year! I’ve turned into a treadmill runner and need to get back in the fresh air!

[Debston Graduate10 in reply to Sammy-Lou]

Fabulous! Parkrun there is a great start to the weekend and it's a really nice atmosphere.

[Sammy-Lou in reply to Debston]

Thank you - happy running

[wyrdwolf Graduate10]

Fantastic! I did a similar thing too, running in pretty places can be very distracting! 😄 Your local forest sounds amazing, especially with its marked routes, that is super handy!

[Evol Graduate10]

Fantastic, well done xx

[Debston Graduate10]

😂 It certainly can be! The route was really well sign posted, I had worried about getting lost but no need. And a couple of stretches were familiar from Parkrun but running in opposite direction. Nice to run down hills I normally have to huff and puff my way up!

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10]

Well done Debston! Sounds like it was meant to be. 👏👏👏 Sometimes runs can take you places you don’t expect, and that’s what makes it so much fun. 😀👍

MMR is pretty erratic for me too, which is why I’ve stopped using it. I was trotting along merrily one day, with both MMR and my Garmin working, and the split times it was giving me simply weren’t possible for someone like me. Turns out it had literally omitted a whole km mid-run, so now I can’t trust it. Garmin all the way for me! 👍

[Debston Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

It's funny because I am sometimes a bit of a clock watcher and with my short run of 3.5k on Monday, I couldn't wait for it to be finished. Then the next run, bam! A very happy 10k 😂 I had a similar issue with MMR a couple of months ago but it's behaved itself since then. Installed an updated version when I got home so will see if that helps. It had my top speed as 285kmph - wouldn't that be wonderful?! 🤣 🚀

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to Debston]

Well let’s just say I’d be mighty pleased with that pace! 😅😅😅

[Scobs]

Well done, but be careful.

[Debston Graduate10 in reply to Scobs]

Thanks, and yes I will be. Going to stick to the plan.

[Scobs in reply to Debston]

Good

[Elfe5 60minGraduate]

Woohoo! Very well done! 😄 👏👏🎉🎉

[Zanzibar4 Graduate10]

Fantastic well done 👍

[Jalk]

An accidental 10km, well done and go you. Running is strange, some days it feels fine and others it's a hard to keep going. I often have to talk myself to keep going. Even knowing I've done 7 and 8km doesn't convince me I can do it again

[Debston Graduate10 in reply to Jalk]

😂 I quite often talk to myself too on runs, sometimes quite sternly!

[Slinkymalinki Graduate10]

Congratulations! 🎉👏What a lovely place for a debut 10k! I love being in woodland and feel so happy when I run in the arboretum. Wishing you many more long, tree lined runs. 🌲🍁

[Hidden]

Wow well done, it looks like a lovely place to run. I can’t imagine accidentally running 10k! 🤣 great going. 🥳

[Maddee_6333 Graduate10]

Well done. I’ve done a couple of events over there, the bits of it I’ve seen have been lovely.

[Deals1 Graduate10]

Whoop. 👍😊🏃 Fabulous. Well done u