After a tricky few days last week, which prompted Mymojo to stick her head in the sand, I thought it would be helpful to plan my runs and routes for the week ahead 📝 (no going back once posted on here ✋🏼🛑!).
Today was my first run of wk6 on ju-ju's Magic Plan and it felt do-able after the stresses of last week, a nice 20 minutes through the woods and in the shade - a proper "restorative run" as Grannyhugs said to me last week 🌲🌳. On my return I ran by the fishing pond. The huge heron, that I regularly see there, was proudly perched on the semi-submerged tree that sticks out of the water and searching for his breakfast.
My second run will be through the woodlands and onto the heathland commons which smell so lovely at this time of year. The smell of the huge pine trees and the sand reminds me of childhood camping holidays in France 🌲🏕.
I am mulling over two ideas for the long run, which is 55 minutes this week. I feel a bit daunted by it but, thanks to an idea Roxdog gave me in her reply to my last post, I have hatched a plan and roped in my husband. Roxdog's idea is to "run away" and for her husband to pick her up where ever she ends up 🤭. My plan is a little less "green" as it involves two cars at either end of the cycle route, as my husband wants to run with me (-ish, we will each do our own thing and meet up at the end, so in effect he will actually be running away from me..... hmm 🤔). The alternative route is a circuit from home, a lovely route, but no running away.
It feels good to have a plan in place - varied runs and a little bit of company too.
Happy running everyone and keep cool 😎🆒🍦🧊 and safe in this hot weather ☀️. 😊🏃♀️🌷
What a lovely set of runs you have planned, I hope you enjoy them all. Another idea if out with hubby on your next longer run might be to do your own thing ending at a cafe. Happy running 🤗
Ooh, a cafe run. I like that idea Grannyhugs. I will probably clear the place though, as I am so beetroot-faced by the end of my run that I will scare everyone off!!
What a lovely post and such uplifting plans! Enjoy your running away! I'm going to do that on Saturday, along the canal with some accidental detours and see where I end up!
I love your accidental detours 😊. I have just been reading your post - the joy of running plan free. There is so much to be said for that! As a teacher my life has been so planning driven it is hard to let it go! I guess it is like apron strings and I will get to a point where I can cut them eventually ☺️😉.
That's what I call organised Delly-dot! You're run today sounds lovely. It's great when you encounter wildlife. I saw a heron too today but I was only walking. Whatever you decide for your longer run I look forward to hearing of your success. Positive vibes DD!! 🏃👍
Yes I'm taking a leaf out of your book. Home from holiday tomorrow and have only run once in the week. That was a runaway with my husband. Of course he was much faster than me and that didn't motivate at all. The plan will also include food and drink intake. I have 3 weeks to get sorted🥺
I'm all for roping husbands in!! Looks like my lovely husband is going to have more time on his hands now so I am planning to get him running with me more often.
That's great! I got mine to start running but he had achilles probs and had to stop - he was incredibly fast but has really good cardio fitness from cycling so thought it was all a doddle. He's doing lots of stretching exercises so hopefully he can get back to it as he was really enjoying it. Would be lovely if we could run at tbe same time - won't be together .. 😀
My husband ruptured his achilles playing veterans rugby 🙄 and it was a long slog (5 months in plaster/boot), and 6-8 months to get back to near normal. He only gets an occasional ache from overstretching it but has every confidence in it again now.
He hasn't actually ruptured it but when I compared the one that was bothering him with the other it was scary - one was so tight it felt like it was at breaking point. So he stopped. Maybe could try to access physio now.
Wow I'm so impressed with that amount of organising, but also a bit jealous of what sounds like some lovely routes you have available.
Your Heron sounds like a lovely wild life spot, it's great when you start to learn where certain animals are likely to be. My spot today was a lovely Red Kite soaring over the fields
We are so lucky to have so many pairs of red Kites now where I live that there's barely a day I don't see them, but it is always a treat to see them overhead. A real success story for these beautiful birds.
I quite like the timed one. I’ll get myself to an hour of running and then I’ll move onto the distance version and try for that 10k. Can’t believe I’ve just written that!
I think I have been having a senior moment! I thought the timed one meant you had to run the distance in that time! Hence I thought I would suffer near death experience !!! I see now that they are not linked. But I have started so guess I will finish on that one.
I did wonder..... 😉. I went for the timed version because I thought it would be a stepping stone to the 10k goal in a similar way that roseabi’s bridging plan was in getting me started. Good luck with your plan Timotea 😊
Love your plan, not so sure about running away though, my daughter did suggest she drive me somewhere and i could run home and that appeals but probably not for Willow, i’m hoping this 10k plan will increase his distance
The places you run sound delightful and the wildlife a bonus
😊 Yes, I’ve run home a few times and that’s good. I love my local runs but also nice to run somewhere different so planning to come and run down by the coast at some point 😊.
Those routes sound great Delly-dot - good luck with them! 🙂
I usually run alone but did a very hilly run with my husband last week which we both really enjoyed ( in a tough but satisfying kind of way!😉) We already have plans to repeat it (and go a little further😯) then have tea and a bacon roll at a cafe afterwards! 😀
Lovely DD. 🥰 Having some sort of plan is fantastic, as long as you’re able to think on the fly and adapt if needs be. Ie (more so in winter) if conditions aren’t conducive to a trail run due to footing etc, switch the run up with a different one. But still run! 🏃♀️
How wonderful seeing the heron. 😍 I have a river route and sometimes see one too. They’re so beautiful.
Nice that you have your timed routes sorted. You’ll be amazed how quickly you’ll get to 10k once you’ve nailed 60 minutes. It’s all psychological. 🏃♀️🏃♀️
Good luck with your ongoing training, and keep enjoying your running. 😀
That's a great plan and such lovely routes! I might need to do something similar for next week, the thought of running for 44 minutes is quite daunting but I have to keep reminding myself how I felt about the 20min run on the c25k! Good luck with it, keep us updated on the wildlife ☺👍🍀
Yes, it's good to look back and remember how far you have come already. You will be fine on your 44 minute run, just take it nice and slow from the start and run as early as possible to beat the heat. 😊
Thank you 😊 I will definitely try to get up as early as possible, it looks like it's going to be hot next week!🌡️🥵💦
It's so great to see you building ideas and plans around your running! Settle in to the long run and mentally break it into chunks. I always do this in my runs. So as an idea, your first 20 mins steady away, find your rhythm and settle in. Next 20 mins let your mind go and take it all in. Breathe in nature, then last 15 is for 'you'
I always have the last part of my run for me; I can do it, I deserve it, I have trained for it, I need it and I will do it.
in reply to
Thank you for sharing this GTFC - I will definitely give it a go and I think it will help, especially the thinking behind the last 15 minutes. 😊
Great idea, when I did marathon training, my husband dropped me off and I ran home. I also got the train to Bath before ( I live in Bristol), and ran home, and vice versa, meeting with family in Bath for lunch... it really works well. Well done
Thanks ju-ju. Getting the train and running home is brilliant!
I'm loving doing the timed version of your plan and having the 60 minute goal. I hope to work towards the 10k distance afterwards, so I guess I will just slot into the distance plan at point that suits the distance I reached during my 60 minutes and go from there?
Yes I am so pleased, and that sounds like an excellent plan. If you aim to increase no more than 10% each week on time, distance or pace, then that will protect you from injury too. So, for example, when you get to 60 minutes, aim to run for 66 at the next one. Also, as you will be spending a long time on your feet, doing each leap for two weeks in a row would also help you too. These are just suggestions and you should do whatever works best for you...
Thank you. That’s great advice and I will follow it. 😊
It was lovely reading your post yesterday morning just before I was heading out for an early run. Beautiful descriptions and sense of place, I took them with me as I’m getting a bit bored with my ‘same old‘ ... lovely too that you had some great plans and some company for the running week after a difficult time.
I need to get thinking what I can do to spice my runs up, with no Parkrun or Real Running buddy I’ve been feeling a bit lonely out there despite all my lovely VBR’s here 🤗
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Gentle run turned into a 10k run
So the countdown begins … but I need help with a plan please
10k plan completed!! 
End of the Garmin 5k Plan
Asics running plan query
