My Bri28K Plan has started

[Brian-P6]

So I've changed my mind on the Bri27.5K and decided to make it 8K. As some of you are aware, I'm a full time carer for my young onset Alz wifey and getting out for an hour isn't going to happen, so I'm going for 40 minutes.

For Week1 Run1 (last week) I started off with my first ever ParkRun, well that was quite an experience and what a great crowd with all those people there for the fun of it to organise a regular event like that - Kudos!

The ParkRun went well, I knew what I wanted ... close to 24 mins. I'd done a 5K in 24:42 on the road and was hoping a course fairly flat-ish and having everyone running around me would 'carry' my enthusiasm to a good time. I didn't expect 23:51 WooHoo! I was so pleased for a middle aged old fart who feels like Peter Pan haha.

So, that has spurred me on. If I can't do an hour's run, why can't I work on pace and reach 8K in 40?

Week1 Run2 and Week2 Run1 have been intervals (instead of a normal short run). I've a road loop that is 1.1Km half downhill and half uphill. I'm taking the downhill half nice and slow at a pace of 7min/k ish and the uphill half at a fast 4:15min/k ish (usually ends up at 4:30+ by the end of it). Strewth that's hard! After finishing one 4:15 section it's all I can do to not walk and the 7 min section feels fast! But everyone says it builds strength and speed and I can do it in my half hour (ish) running time.

The weeks middle run is a normal 30 min run and on Thursday I'll be up to 37 minutes and I'm hoping that pace will soon follow if I keep up with the intervals.

Our kind neighbours have agreed to sit with wifey again this Saturday so I can go on another Park Run I'd better take Tuesday and Thursday easy or I'll be out of juice for the weekend!

Happy Running

Bri.

strava.com/athletes/brian-p6

[Buddy34 Graduate10]

You are doing amazingly well , I'm so impressed and that 8k will be no problem for you.

Hope you enjoy going to parkrun again and what lovely neighbour's you have to help when needed. 😊😊💪💪

[Brian-P6 Graduate10 in reply to Buddy34]

Thank you Buddy, we are very lucky to have them as neighbours. They're the best sort - hardly ever see them, but if you need anything they're always first in line

I'm not sure about the 'no problem' though. I still have 52 year old knees that think they're 72 - although they never bother me running, only when I squat or climb stairs, been like it for years. I hope they don't start to grumble at me (hope I've not jinxed it).

[Grannyhugs Graduate10]

Fantastic Pb at park run, and great hill intervals. You are certainly making the most of every minute you are out running. So glad to hear your neighbor is allowing you to go to park run, im sure it’s good for all of you that you get out doing something you love with other like minded people. Happy running

[Brian-P6 Graduate10 in reply to Grannyhugs]

Thanks Grannytobe, I work best when I have a plan to work to. C25K gave me that and now I've got my own to keep it going and something to measure against. Well that and the toys ... do love my Garmin

[SteveWebbo]

Great going Brian 👍 🏃🏻‍♂️🏃🏻‍♂️🏃🏻‍♂️

[ktsok]

Holy cow, 0.55K uphill at 4’15” 🥵

It’s impressive to hear how you are turning a difficulty into a focus. I’m sure we will all be cheering you on for the 8K in 40!

[Brian-P6 Graduate10 in reply to ktsok]

Thaks and Yup, bu**ard by the end of each lap ktsok, but I think that's partly the point. It's not a big hill (12 metre ascent over half a Km) - not like my nemesis during C25K but uphill is uphill and you only properly realise where hills are when you try to run up them!

4:15 is my goal time but I actually did (on 5 laps)

4:13, 4:24, 4:31, 4:54 and 4:33

and on the down hill bits

6:44, 6:38, 6:39, 6:36 and 6:42 to recover.

We'll see how I get on!

[ktsok in reply to Brian-P6]

Uphill is indeed uphill and you are right, running helps to define where they are! Impressive times 🙂

[Granspeed Graduate10]

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Excellent progress. I agree with Ktsok about your fantastic turning of “a difficulty into a focus.” Bravo. I am much slower than you are, but I also have limited run times. So I am shamelessly going to copy your plan (much slower.) I know just the hill I am going to get to know! Many thanks - I think. 🤔😄

[Leosmit Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Brian, good to hear from you. What an impressive Parkrun time! That’s the stuff dreams are made of. Glad you’ve work out a plan that suits you. Hope you and wifey coping as well as you can.

[Brian-P6 Graduate10 in reply to Leosmit]

Thank you Leosmit, we're coping as well as we can