Consolidation 26 - shorter run dodging the rain ☔️

[Jools2020]

So, I like to mix up my runs - I’ve heard it’s a good thing 😀. I ran 5K on Monday and wanted to do a shorter run today to balance it out, before a long, slow run at the weekend; but I woke up to torrential rain this morning and I just wasn’t in the mood to get soaked, so I made a cuppa and took it back to bed with my iPad. I ordered a Notch bracelet, together with notches for C25K Graduate, 5K and 10K. I felt I deserved a little gift to myself 😊. Then I noticed it had stopped raining, so I decided to get up and go!

I was pleased with this 2K run. My pace was 8 seconds faster than the last time I did this just over 3 weeks ago. I know I can’t sustain it (yet!), but it wasn’t that long ago that I just was not even capable of it.

Now 2 days rest and already looking forward to my long run on Saturday 😀

Forgot to take a photo, but when I got home, my friendly gardening helper was sitting in his spot in the hedge.

[Tinytears60 Graduate10]

Love the fact you've ordered a notch bracelet- you SO deserve a treat

it’s making me feel guilty that I’ve not ordered mine! 🙈

I’ve spent such a lot on running so am just being sensible before purchases .. and with Job stuff perhaps that’s not a bad thing.

We most definitely need a photo when it arrives

Well done on your short run - fab pace! 👏👏

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Tinytears60]

Thanks, TT 💕 I was so pleased when I ordered it, but now I’ve got to wait up to 10 days! I want it now! 😂

I was pleased with the run and the PBs. Pace improving steadily now, but generally I don’t push too hard. I’m going for time on my longer runs - that I can do - with occasional efforts on my shorter runs. 👍

[Tinytears60 Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

Can’t wait to see it ... and sure your patience will be rewarded with a beautiful bracelet 💕

[Instructor57 Graduate10]

Nice one Jools !

Good to do a shorter one in the mix 😁👍

Thought you said you'd do the long one on Sunday next time because of traffic ?

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Instructor57]

Thanks, Ian 😊 yes, I did say that! But I haven’t kept to my normal routine this week and I don’t want to have 3 rest days 😂

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

Haha, I understand 😁

[Grannyhugs Graduate10]

Great little run for you today. Nice set of presents too, enjoy them. Happy running 🤗

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Grannyhugs]

Thank you, Grannyhugs! 😊

[nowster Graduate10]

Whenever I do any major gardening, eg. out with the strimmer, a blackbird female usually surveys the newly uncovered ground.

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

Earlier this year, I had a male blackbird that always appeared while I was weeding and seemed untroubled by my presence. I used to bring out treats for him to ‘find’ and he was happy to get really close if I was sitting down on the ground. He still appears occasionally and it makes my day to see him.

[Birdlady64 Graduate10]

Great stuff! Its great to mix it up with a short one like that.

At the moment I'm following the magic plan but I think I'll throw in some short ones like that once I'm done with that. It will be useful especially with the shorter days coming along.

I almost ordered a notch bracelet for myself, but felt compelled to show restraint after getting the new shoes and some cooler weather kit

It's a great pic of the robin - you have the catchlight in the eye and everything

Good luck for your long one at the weekend

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

Thanks, Birdlady. It does feel strange going home after only 2K, but that was fast for me and I was done 😀. I was pleased to get both kilometres well under 7:00 min//km pace.

[MccHa Graduate10]

Well done Jools2020 for the short and fast pace run 🏃‍♀️ Great mix👏👏👏

So nice photo by the way, little cutie you have bless him 😂😂😂

Needs to create a Notch group 😂 I’m waiting for my HM notch 👍👍👍 good they have offer at the moment for September buy one get one free so have ordered my star sign notch free 😂😂😂 I was going to order the marathon notch but it is a bit too far off the horizon at the moment...but not impossible 🤞🤞🤞🤞

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to MccHa]

Thanks, MccHa! I can’t wait to get my Notch bracelet. I’m not ordering any in advance in case it’s bad luck 😂.

A Marathon for you is certainly not impossible, just a matter of time, but don’t push yourself too hard! I want to get to 10 miles gradually then I will see.

[Sandraj39 Graduate10 in reply to MccHa]

Thanks for the tip off re the BOGOF offer! Might treat myself to a couple more momentos!

[Sandraj39 Graduate10]

Love that photo Jools2020 !💕 I bought a Notch bracelet a few weeks back to celebrate some of the races I have done at key distances. It's a lovely idea, I think and yes, we deserve to trust ourselves occasionally!

Love that you're mixing up your runs too - well done! 🙂

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Sandraj39]

Thank you 😊. Mixing up the runs is working well for me.

Have to wait 10 days for the Notch bracelet! It was about time I treated myself to something 😀

[Sandraj39 Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

...definately!🤗🤗🤗

[Bontobpat]

Cute little bird, I saw one of these birds when we were in Edinburgh on holiday last year. Your times seem to be getting so fast! I just got back in after my run this morning. A couple of ladies jogged past me just i was finishing my warm up walk, they seemed similar pace to me so thought I would keep pace just a few metres behind them. No, by the end of the first kilometre I was starting to struggle to keep up. Checked my watch and I had done the 1st km at least 20 seconds faster than usual. I just backed off and let them go.

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Bontobpat]

Haha, best strategy to let them go! It’s kind of a warning as to what happens on a Park Run. I’m sure it’s tempting to start too fast for your own pace, especially with all the excitement. My grandson has just started running again after a long break. He just started ‘following’ me on Strava. He’s 15 and his pace for a 5K run was 4:45 and I know he can do it faster when he runs regularly. I was pleased with my pace of 7:19 😂

My robin friend is quite tame and takes mealworms from my hand. Even while I’m mowing the lawn I can see him following me around, hopping from branch to branch to keep up with me 😊