One hour run finally in the bag

[Ethelbert]

I started the Ju-Ju Magic Plan back in August, with the proviso that it was highly unlikely I'd finish in the eight weeks! My "week" can be anything up to a month at times, if I'm honest. I'm also pretty slow, so went for the time version rather than distance. Last week I eventually finished "week" 6!

So a few days ago, I dragged myself out for a post-Christmas 30 minutes to start "week" 7, and boy was it difficult ... I felt like I was running with an entire turkey still in my belly (two days after Christmas and I promise I didn't actually eat a whole turkey!)

Today, I had a choice between a 20 minute run or 55 minutes. I decided I'd put the timer on at 55 minutes, take it slow, but not beat myself up if it turned into 20 minutes after all. To make matters worse, my Nike Run Club has inexplicably lost all the guided runs which I usually use Oh well, I just set it to notify me every 0.25K, and went back to my C25K trick of using mental maths to distract myself, calculating the percentage of the run completed at each notification.

Much to my surprise, I seemed to be plodding along quite happily, so the 55 minutes looked to be on the cards. Then I realised that there was no reason why I couldn't keep going for another five minutes. And yes, nailed the hour ... then decided I could actually manage a few more minutes to get me to 7K (I said I was slow) - so there we have it, furthest distance done for me as well as the hour. Feeling not a little chuffed with myself, great way to start the year!!

[Grannyhugs Graduate10]

Fantastic start indeed, you deserve to be very chuffed. Love the maths, been known to do that for all sorts of things as numbers mean a lot to me, dont get same buzz with words😉 have a well earned rest but dont forget to claim your 60mins graduation badge. Happy running

[Ethelbert Graduate10 in reply to Grannyhugs]

Thank you, yes numbers are fun, I'd forgotten what a good distraction it can be! Already requested my badge, but not expecting anyone to be awarding them at this time!

[Grannyhugs Graduate10 in reply to Ethelbert]

Yay you have your number badge 😀🙆‍♀️ 60

[motherduckling Graduate10]

Congratulations! I also have just finished the timed plan, as I am a bit slow too, but isnt it just a great feeling!

I also use the mental maths to try and keep myself distracted - but it is definitely more helpful once past halfway! When its "ok Ive done 10 minutes (and the first 10 are always the hardest too) so I only have to do 5 more of what I already have' then it can be a bit disheartening. But I have learnt that I can do it - and once I am past around 20mins thats when I am more in a groove and find it easier to keep going.

What are your running plans for this year?

[Ethelbert Graduate10 in reply to motherduckling]

Congratulations to you too!

I actually work out (approximate) percentages as they go up faster than minutes and there's always a nice round number not too far away! So ten minutes in to an hour run, I'd be thinking ok, that's 16-17% done already, another couple of minutes and we'll be on 20%, three more minutes for 25%, next three for 30%, then two more will be a third of the way ... lots of little goals along the way! Sounds weird I know, but I really find it works.

Running plans for the year are a) to try and be a bit more consistent (I do have a reasonable amount of time, but often at odd times, being self-employed my diary is a bit unpredictable) and b) to work up to 10k. No great desire to go any further, at my pace 10k will be a good 90 minutes, probably more. Although if it took me 100 minutes that'd make the percentages easy!!!

[motherduckling Graduate10 in reply to Ethelbert]

That sounds great! Good luck with that Sometimes squeezing runs in whereever you can is the only way to go - I know that for me that means I am sometimes up at 4.30am because it would just be too hot in the evening (I am in Australia and recently the temperatures have been a bit crazy!)

[Buddy34 Graduate10]

Congratulations on getting to 60 minutes non stop running. It's funny how we can trick ourselves in to thinking we can do a shorter run if we want and before you know it you've done the longer one.

😊😊😊👏👏👏👏

[Ethelbert Graduate10 in reply to Buddy34]

Definitely works for me to do that! It's like the mini goals, just three more minutes to the next one ... so much of this is in the mind!

[Granspeed Graduate10]

Well done. 😄🎉 You’re doing more or less what I did and in my view it’s a great way to go! Keeps those milestones floating by without undue stress. I also have a very unpredictable schedule, and I found the use of time & distance without much regard for speed to be the way to go. Enjoy your runs. 🎉 You’re making great progress. And I’d go for that 100 minute target, btw, to make those % calculations lightning fast! 🤣🤣

[Ethelbert Graduate10 in reply to Granspeed]

Haha, yes now I've thought of that with the 100 minutes, I'm quite looking forward to it! It'd be the easiest way to count through anyway, as it'd be pretty close, and if I finish faster that'd just be a bonus 😀

[Zebadee1]

Great start to the new year. Congratulations on completing a whole hour of running!

[Footleg 60minGraduate]

Well done! And thank you for mentioning 'Christmas fullness'. I'm hoping to grab that 60 minute run this morning even though I could be half a stone heavier after Christmas (no I'm not going to check my weight in case it puts me off).

[Ethelbert Graduate10 in reply to Footleg]

I swear Christmas dinner just keeps expanding in your stomach for days!

Good luck with getting that hour in the bag

[Milajayne Graduate10]

If you set your nike run app to a time on ‘quickstart’ (edit clock) it will inform you every K and how long you’ve run for and also how long you have left, it’s great.

[Ethelbert Graduate10 in reply to Milajayne]

That's what I did, except I set it for every 0.25 K

[PurpleFish59 Graduate10]

Glad it’s not just me that does mental maths as a distraction 😂 congratulations on running 7k and for a whole hour!