12K and still standing! Windy run 💨

[Jools2020]

Although the weather forecast for the fens was wind this morning, Instructor57 told me that the wind was going to drop overnight. I believed him, forgetting that we actually don’t live in the same area 😂.

I had problems keeping in Zone 3 on this run. I even had problems keeping in Zone 4!! What was going on ?? On my warm up walk, I had encountered a rather nice fisherman, who chatted to me, making no attempt to hide his appreciation and offering me a coffee at the end of my run. Maybe he set my heart racing 😂😂😂. Or maybe it was running into the wind at the start of the run 😬

My watch did something strange - it went into some kind of ‘testing’ mode. When that had finished, it exited the run, so I had to start again. I was annoyed, but quickly moved on. I only lost just over a km.

So - to make up the distance, I went up the infamous Deadend Track, often referred to on my runs! Still struggling with my heart rate, I just stopped measuring it. It was going to spoil my run, so I figured if I can sing along to Santana 🎶 It would all turn out wonderfully well. ‘Ay, ay, corazón espinado - como me duele el amor’ 🎵

The kilometres rolled by as I was singing and about 4 kilometres in, I was really enjoying myself in spite of my cold hands! Changing music to Missy Higgins, I carried on singing to monitor my heart rate. All going well! Back into the village I realised I needed a few extra km, so I used a couple of side roads and then turned up a side road parallel to the river which has newly laid tarmac. It is slightly soft to run on - perfect!

It was glorious to be running along the side of the river. I had been looking forward to this run all week. I saw some swans and had a quick look to check if they were Whoopers, but no. I guess the milder weather has kept them in Iceland for a bit longer this year. Soon we will have thousands.

Back into the heart of the village again. My plan was to stop at about 11.5 km. I am working towards 10 miles, but in stages. I get to 11.5 and decide to push on to 12 km. I’m not out of breath, just getting tired. 12K - tick! Warm down walk and home. Can’t really believe that I can run for this long.

Porridge for breakfast - the breakfast of Champions 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️😀

[Instructor57 Graduate10]

Great run Jools , I was tempted this morning but still a little tired do settled for the 5 🙂

Yes, the wind has picked up here now , it was quite calm when I was on my run 😂

Sounds like you enjoyed it , but I did wonder about the HR from the Strava stats 🤔

Enjoy the porridge and a rest 😁👍

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Instructor57]

I did enjoy it, once I’d stopped worrying about the heart rate! No idea what happened there. Pleased with the 12K.

Best to go with what your body is telling you 😀

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

Perhaps as you say, that stranger offering you coffee! 😁

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Instructor57]

😂😂😂

[Beatlesforever Graduate10]

Wow that's absolutely amazing, 12k! Great going, especially in these winds 💪 and it's definitely the right morning for a steaming bowl of porridge 🥣

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Beatlesforever]

Thanks 🙏. The porridge was delicious, the hot bath even better! 😀

[Beatlesforever Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

You're making me jealous now! 😃

[nowster Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

You're like a Ready Break kid now? 😁

[Roxdog Graduate10]

Wow! How amazing! What a lovely day for it. Have just posted about my run. Go us! Isn't this all so brilliant!

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Roxdog]

‘Go us’ indeed! 10 miles is peeking its head over the horizon! I want it 😂👍

[nowster Graduate10]

About the watch, I think we have similar if not the same Garmins. Last Friday mine crashed whilst I was fiddling (checking the time) with it during a walk, showed the Garmin triangle logo, and paused the recording. (And lost track of the step and stairs counts. 🤬)

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

My problem was partly my fault, I think. I had pulled my sleeve over it - I realised straight away and pulled it back, but it had already gone into some kind of testing mode.

[Ping-pong 60minGraduate]

Well done for the run Jools and the great photo.

I live in a South Coast city on the side of a hill, so cannot avoid hills on any of my runs. I often think fondly of my birthplace in the Fens and wonder what running on the flat would be like there (although I also remember the bitterly cold wind blowing in from the Urals).

Also adore Santana and birdwatching and on my last run I suddenly thought it was getting to porridge time of the year so your post resonated a lot with me. Lovely!

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Ping-pong]

Sounds like we are virtual twins 😀. It’s wonderful running on the flat. I love the landscape of the fens and the big skies! Although not a birdwatcher as such, I’m a photographer and the lines often cross over. I’m a member of the WWT Welney and have worked there. The photo is of the Old Bedford River looking south. 😀

[Hidden]

😁😁😁😁

Reading this had me in stitches! Awesome achievement here. 12k is just terrific. You are doing all the right things on your journey to 10 miles.

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks, I appreciate it! I did look for the fisherman on my way back, but sadly couldn’t see him. He probably heard me singing 😂

[Ping-pong 60minGraduate]

Definitely twins, you must be in my head! I know the Old Bedford River very well. My first interest in birds came from paddling through Welney Wash in wellies as a toddler and looking at the moorhen and water voles swimming past. Then life got in the way until I revived my involvement in birdwatching a couple of years ago. I will look out for more of your photos and reports from the Fens 😀

[Birdlady64 Graduate10]

Wow! 12k!!👏👏👏

And fancy flirting with some random fisherman. Shameful! 😱

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

Made my day 😂

[MccHa Graduate10]

Well done for yet another great distance of 12K 👏👏👏 10Miles is not that far now 😂😂😂

Good on you 👍🤞👍

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to MccHa]

Thank you, MccHa! 10 miles is getting closer 😀

[Tinytears60 Graduate10]

Wow Jools2020 snd I think I read you lost about 1km.... so reality a 13k run?

Absolutely brilliant!👏👏👏👏👏

You did make me giggle when you said Ian had checked the wind... 🤣 that’s the kind of ditzy thing I would do .. 💕

What a lovely snap of the water - another brilliant run chalked up 👏👏

x

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Tinytears60]

Thanks TT! 🙏 Yes, total of 13K. No wonder I was tired! I was pleased with the run and intend on doing a similar run next Saturday 😃 Love these long runs. Well on the way to 10 miles.

Sorry to read you’ve had to postpone your Race for Life and hope you get to run it tomorrow 💕

[Tinytears60 Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

Aww thanks 🙏🏻

Me too!

I was gutted, especially as I posted on here about rallying g everyone ... but had to do the sensible thing!

Zoe had much deserved date night which included wine 🍷 so hopefully we will be there tomorrow 🤞

💕