Ssh, gremlins, I can do this

[Runnf]

Snuck out for a long run at lunchtime as it looks like the weather will be pants at the weekend. A blustery but blue-sky day.

Goal was to run for 44 minutes, a.k.a. week 3 of the magic 10 plan. Even though I know I can do this time, as it's my usual 5K time, and my 39 minute run on Sunday was a breeze, this one was still tough. Grumpy gremlins & stiff legs. But I made it ☺️

Had trouble slowing down in the park again, something about my ego + passers-by = me speeding up instead of keeping to my slow sustainable shuffle. Took two small walk breaks as a result, but actually ended up doing my fastest ever 5K.

I learned from last time where on the route I am most likely to hear the gremlins telling me now would be a good time to stop and go home, and steeled myself. 5K is a few of laps of the park, and there always seems to be a good reason to skip the last one or two! Audiobook definitely helped to distract me.

Going to plan a couple of short easy runs next & repeat week 3's long run after that.

Happy running, all.

[Hidden]

Well done and good to get the long run out of the way while the weather is good, relatively speaking that is!

[Granspeed Graduate10]

Oh well done. Stuffing those gremlins into their box can be quite hard when passing a cut-for-home junction, I find. I really try (still) to plan longer runs as routes with a long out-swing. Then the gremlins are happier on their return journey and only mutter about slowing the pace, which I can cope with. 👍😊 Glad you got it over before this spell of better weather breaks. Happy running.

[Runnf Graduate10 in reply to Granspeed]

Thanks, Granspeed, happy running to you too ☺️

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

You are lucky you’ve only got the gremlins to contend with Runnf. Yesterday I had my OH asking me when am I going to increase my pace! Going for a slow run is good for you, especially on the longest run of the week. Well done for getting out at lunchtime- the weekend is not looking good.

[Runnf Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Ha, when I told my OH my normal pace the other day he said 'are you sure?' & 'but I've seen you walk faster than that' 🤣. Which, thanks to all the good advice I read on here over the last few months, didn't faze me. I go slow, I get it done. I go faster, and I have to give up. Currently. I know my fitness is getting better all the time, and it would be nice to speed up, but just getting out and finishing a run is enough for me at the moment. 😊

[Granspeed Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Slow is good. 👍🐢 as for what UTS considers a steady pace, in my wildest dreams I do not expect to get there! But you might.... 😊

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to Granspeed]

I think I’m slowing down Granspeed......

[Granspeed Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Yay! I can keep you in sight. 😄

[Jazzyrunner Graduate10]

Take that, gremlins! And your fastest 5k despite little walk breaks - well done! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[Runnf Graduate10 in reply to Jazzyrunner]

Thank you!

[Grannyhugs Graduate10]

Well done for getting out, keeping going, and finishing your chosen timed run. Maybe a change of route after the storms so you're not setting yourself up for hearing those gremlins at a particular point, even running in reverse may knock them off balance. Happy running

[Runnf Graduate10 in reply to Grannyhugs]

I laughed when I thought you meant running backwards 🤣🤣

[Grannyhugs Graduate10 in reply to Runnf]

Now there’s an interesting concept 🤣🤣🤣

[Debston Graduate10]

Well done Runnf! You showed those gremlins who's the boss! And a pb too, yes!