Stating the obvious but 6k is a lot further than 5k!

[TotalNewbie1]

Made the decision last night to go for 6k, went to bed and the gremlins that many talk about followed me.

Gremlin 1 advised me to turn the alarm off, this was my only day for a lay in.

Woke 7:05 jumped out of bed, running gear on and coffee made

Gremlin 2 appeared, you are too late to run now, it is going to be a hot day. Sat on sofa and debated with myself.

Off and out I went. Nike run set to 6k, 20 seconds in I had Christmas 🎄 music playing in my ear. No way was I running to that again. Stopped run, changed music and gremlin 3 appeared suggested I changed my Nike run to 5k or just 30 minutes.

Mental struggle with myself and set off with the idea that running was meant to be fun. I wasn’t at school and it wasn’t compulsory. I could stop when I want.

Feeling better off I jogged, started wondering if Nike Run had forgotten to tell me I was at the half way point - sadly it hadn’t.

I have no idea on distance but 6k seemed to be much further than 5k but gremlins firmly shut in their box I completed it 😃. Time much better than I thought as had decided 48 minutes would be good and managed it in under 43 minutes.

Back to 30 minutes for the next run 🏃‍♀️

[CBDB Graduate10]

Beat those gremlins! Yes, I also know them well! Well done 👍🏽!

[TotalNewbie1 Graduate10 in reply to CBDB]

Don’t we all just love those gremlins. If only we could ship them off somewhere 😃

[Allbarron 60minGraduate]

We'll you've certainly had a battle on your hands. Determination wins again and with a fabulous time to boot. Unfortunately my gremlins won. I drove out to a trail in the rain and when I got there it was literally bouncing off the dirt track. I got back in the car and came home. I did yoga and promised to go out tonight when it brightens up🤔🤞

[TotalNewbie1 Graduate10 in reply to Allbarron]

Do need to do something on my non run days, rather than lay on the sofa eating 😂

[Allbarron 60minGraduate in reply to TotalNewbie1]

I know what you mean but a little of what you fancy does you good or so they say 😂

[Beatlesforever Graduate10]

Yay well done! Gremlins be gone!! 👏🤸‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[TotalNewbie1 Graduate10 in reply to Beatlesforever]

Sadly gremlins are weighing me down this evening but telling myself tomorrow is anew day!

[Beatlesforever Graduate10 in reply to TotalNewbie1]

That's the attitude 🤗 those gremlins never give up but then neither do we! Keep strong my friend, you are doing so well. I'm struggling just to get to 4k, I can only dream of your stats at the moment! Let us know how you get on 💪🏃‍♀️🌻

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate10]

Well done TotalNewbie1 , it is a long way you’re right...but 5k is a lot further than 4k too...and I bet when you started this no way would you have thought you could ever run any of those distances?! I know I couldn’t...but here you are, smashing a 6k & in less time than you thought!!! Whatever distance you cover or whatever time you run for sounds like those Gremlins are going to have their work cut out beating you!! Well done for kicking them into touch!!

[TotalNewbie1 Graduate10 in reply to Mummycav]

Thank you for this positive post, you are so right. When I started I couldn’t run for a minute!

[Leosmit Graduate10 60minGraduate]

The gremlins. The gremlins. You have to applaud their consistency. However, they were there and you ploughed on. Absolutely fantastic. Something that has helped me with the gremlins. 1) Keeping slow and slower Again in terms of pace (my gremlins feed off my lack of confidence in running so when going slow, I feel more in control) 2) focusing on the benefits of being out (going over in my head, you’re out, this is good, this is challenging, this is tough but good) 3) remembering the ‘toxic ten’ and that everyone experiences it 4) listening to podcasts instead of music. Getting drawn into a conversation makes it harder to have room to argue and chat with the gremlins!

You did a great job though. Keep up the tough but good (!) work!!

[TotalNewbie1 Graduate10 in reply to Leosmit]

Any good podcasts you can recommend. Bit bored of listening to music, especially as twice now I have landed up with Christmas 🎄 carols 😂

[Leosmit Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to TotalNewbie1]

I’m not sporty at all, but I started listening to RunPod by Jenni Falconer. She interviews a range of people with a range of abilities and reasons for running. I find listening to a conservation really engaging and definitely passes the time quicker. For me, rather surprisingly, works far better than music.

I also listen Timothy Keller podcasts which are great if you fancy something a bit deeper!

[TotalNewbie1 Graduate10 in reply to Leosmit]

Thanks for the suggestions

[UnfitNoMore Graduate10]

Yeah, 6k is a long way past 5k... but no single kilometre is as long as the first one you ran. In terms of proportion of the run each km is less than the one before... I think that’s why Marathon runners leave themselves 10k to add onto their training come race day!

Great running out there despite the gremlins... they’re strong, but they never match up to a runner.

[TotalNewbie1 Graduate10 in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Is going to put on W1R1 again and I will remember how far I have come. Plan to have another go at 6k over the weekend.

[Setters Graduate10]

The last K of a run is usually the longest in my somewhat limited experience, running is such a mental challenge, not just physical. One thing I have found is not to concentrate too much on distance to go when running, now I just try to acknowledge each k buzzing past on my watch and not think “that’s 4K gone, 5k to go” . I also try to set myself mini goals on a longer run, for instance I have a long hill early on in a run, so once I have got up that I can pat myself on the back and acknowledge that’s done and dusted.

So yes 6k is sooooo much further than 5k, and hate to tell you but even after successfully running a HM the next run of 5k seemed a long run to me, running IS hard but that’s why it’s so rewarding IMO . Good luck on your journey.

[TotalNewbie1 Graduate10 in reply to Setters]

So true, I couldn’t manage 4K on Sunday, yet two weeks before I was finding 5k good. Everyday is a new day and really just one foot in front of the other is all I need to do!

[Sazzles9]

Depends what you like, but I have been listening to Rhod Gilbert’s the froth podcast and also rob Beckett and josh Widdicombe, I did have to stop the other day because I was laughing so hard, but they make the miles seem to fly by x

[TotalNewbie1 Graduate10 in reply to Sazzles9]

Thanks for the suggestions will give them a try.

[Tinytears60 Graduate10]

Brilliant!

Those pesky Gremlins! 👺 They need a good hiding don’t they! 👊

6k! Great! 👏👏👏👏 and a fab time too!

But the biggest round of applause you get off me is giving your only lay in up to run!... 👏👏👏. Respect!!! 💕

[TotalNewbie1 Graduate10 in reply to Tinytears60]

Not sure I plan to do it again tomorrow on my day off, going to the pub tonight 🤦🏽‍♀️😂

[Tinytears60 Graduate10 in reply to TotalNewbie1]

Enjoy! ... you’ve earned it! 👍 and take your lie in 👏👏