Today was my first long run of the distance version of the Magic Plan. I decided to pick up where I left off at the timed version when I got to 7k in 60 mins, so I was going to do 8K today. I was so excited to get going on this as my last couple of runs have been brilliant and I've just sort of clicked into a pace that feels right.
I passed the crappy 5 minute gasp and soon settled into a rhythm. Van Morrison was giving it 'Bright Side of the Road' and all was well; lovely and quiet on the cycle path; perfect temperature. Then radio silence. I checked my watch to see how long I'd been running and horrors - the battery had died along with the music!
The gremlins had a quick howl at me but I firmly booted them back into their cage - you could just repeat the 60 minute run, they said... I decided that I was going to keep going past my 30 minute landmark and count up to 5 minutes to take me (hopefully) an extra 1k by the time I turned and ran back to the starting point. So it went great - I started counting once I passed my landmark and decided to add on an extra minute to be on the safe side as I'd done 61.30 to get to the 7K. Then I saw an old bridge over the path up ahead and thought I'd turn back when I reached it (I do like a good landmark...). But the bleeding thing was a lot further away than it looked so I called it quits after another (estimated) minute and headed back.
I got onto mapping software once I got home and tried to map out the route. Was a tad difficult to do this accurately given the terrain, but it looks like I ran at least 8.5K today! A bit naughty, I know, but OMG I am just chuffed to bits!!!! That was an absolute belter of a run - I am so excited!!!!
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Fionamags
Graduate10
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Well my goodness!! You don't do things by half Mrs!!!! What a fantastic run without a safety net. I bet you are really excited 👏. Honestly what next for you?? That 10k doesn't seem that far off for now does it😉 Will there be a half marathon on the horizon?? Great result so.chuffed for you🖐️
Thanks! I'm going to be sensible though and follow the plan to the end - tempting though it is to charge on. I think the 10k will do me fine for a bit and I can work on fitness and improving the 5k time. But who knows? Today I'm eyeing up 10 miles ha ha ha ha. (Tomorrow morning I might be eyeing up ibuprofen...)
I've got a Garmin as well - it was my birthday present from my husband. I absolutely love it! When I lost the plot with pace and speed etc it was fantastic to keep a check on what I was doing. But at the moment I seem to have found my pace and have locked in - although what the numbers will say when I do it again next week - who knows???
That's one of the things I'm hoping it will help with, I find it so difficult to judge my pace. The C25k +podcasts helped but I really don't want to have to rely on them.
Fantastic run, it’s horrible when you have a tech failure isn’t it. I forgot to start my watch on my last run, luckily I know the Route well as was able to run the whole distance despite having no reminders in my ear. Won’t be long now before you run the 10k. 🏃🏻♀️🏃🏻♀️🏃🏻♀️🏃🏻♀️🏃🏻♀️
Well I think its around 4 weeks off as there is the increase and then repeat. But I feel like I really did something today so I think steadying the buffs and following the plan is definitely the way forwards!
We all need a triumphant snail in our lives Fionamags,’ a chuffed to bits triumphant snail,’ a great delight, what more could anyone ask for😆 well done you, brilliant run 🤗
That’s fantastic!!!!! Well done!!!! I have my 8k later this week having done the 5k middle run today- I am truly excited at the thought of it and want to go NOW but my legs would never forgive me 😂😂😂
I love the howling gremlins! You are really on a roll and are going from strength to strength Fionamags. It's interesting that without the tracking of time or distance, you actully ran further!
I knew you would like that! Now I understand how you got to running for 60 minutes 'by accident'. I think you clicked into your happy pace a lot sooner than I did!! Vive la Happy Pace!!!
10k within sight there Fionamags! Sounds like you’ve really got this sorted! Enjoy the rest of juju’s plan; I’m just redoing it as well, though I suspect I’m finding it a bit harder work than you seem to be! Happy running!
Well that's after taking many weeks to do the version to get me to 60 mins. I would have found the distance version horrendous because I was so slow. But it did the trick to build up my fitness.
Your joy radiates out of your post (maybe minus the initial tech issue rant, but we'll gloss over that bit 😉) When it all works it's infectious, not just for you but for us reading your post, I can't help but smile with you 😀. Look forward to seeing how far it actually was when you repeat it next week 😉
Mum22boys it was 8.25 or thereabouts. Thought it was further. Not exactly sure though as it was a miserable day so hubbie and I just drove nearby and walked to the point. So still a bit of a guesstimate. But still a great run!
Well done on a great run put the gremlins in their place well and truly. I’m on Wk 1 of JuJu’s magic just done my 35 minute run this morning it’s great to read about how others are now achieving so much. Really inspirational On wards and upwards. Happy running 🏃♀️ 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️
Thanks! I'm sure you'll enjoy the Plan - its good to have another programme to follow after consolidation, isn't it? Which version of the plan are you on?
Because I run with the snails I’m doing the 60 minute plan. Not sure if I’ll ever progress to the 10 k one. But heho a new challenge is good motivation so you never know. Hehe. 😀😀😀🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️
That's what I said as well! 😉 The 60 mins Plan is a great way to build up fitness - I think I would have really struggled with the distance version straight from consolidation. Good luck!
What a great run and determination, it’s amazing how when the technology fails that we find other ways to get to where we want to. You can do it now, so when you run again you can just confirm the figures -best of both worlds. Enjoy!😁👍👏🎉
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ha ha ha ha. (Tomorrow morning I might be eyeing up ibuprofen...) 
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