Finally...magic plan ends...and begins....

Well, finally, dear VBR’s spurred on by your many and varied achievements, I have come to the end of the timed plan of Juju’s magic plan. Yay, yay, yay 😁

Couchto5k not in 9 weeks, but YES Couchto10k in 10 months here we come 😃

It’s taken me approximately 11 weeks, starting first on the distance plan for 3 weeks and then switching when I realised the longer runs would take me beyond sunset!!!

Since getting over my disappointment of not smashing the sub 30 minute 5k in 9 weeks plus a few , I’ve been on a mission to find the joy in running and have spent a very enjoyable September slow running, listening for beeps to keep heart rate and pace in check but determinedly ignoring distance and time.

Verdict:

Running can be joyful.

Slow running all the time makes for achy hips, need to shake it up next month and stretch it out. More hip flexor stretches says physio bro and stretch it out on some of your runs.

So what next? October, a lovely month, the month my son was born,( nearly 36yrs ago, eek!) great things can happen. I’ve signed up for the virtual vitality London 10,000 to raise some £££ for our local Cancer Unit which will mean more local care for residents in North Norfolk.

So I am moving on, the Magic 10k plus plan is afoot and I’ll be waiting to savour that first 10k the w/e 24/25 Oct. I am so looking forward to my first medal and t shirt. Little things 😬

Meanwhile in another virtual world le jogging LEJOG5 after bunkering down for the night at Cheriton Bishop just east of Exeter, today I will be finally moving off the A30 where I’ve spent September reminiscing holidays past.

Happy running or chilling if you’re spending le weekend on the IC

🤗🤗🤗

[Hidden]

Ooh, I like your plan Mrs Jorge - I could be quite tempted to make myself one of those for October to help to keep me on track 🤔....

October is one of my favourite months, not just because it's my birthday month, but having lived for four years in the Lake District as a student, I have a real love for autumn, its changing colours, the autumn air and the watery sunshine.

Meanwhile, in the Land of LEJOG, I am running alongside the course of the River Exe and will spend the night at Exe Valley Glamping at Bickleigh 💤🏕 as it's been a strenuous day.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Ah nice, I’ve not seen much of the Lakes as every time we’ve been it’s been covered in mist and poured it down! I think I’m going to need a dog if I’m going to catch you now, not sure my cats will be so keen though.🙀 enjoy your birthday month cake 🎂 🤗

[Roxdog Graduate10]

This all sounds fantastic! Happy October running!

[Timotea Graduate10]

How wonderful JorgeRuns! That’s how it should be and I am sure that 10k will happen in October! My birthday month too!

Just got my first postcard on LeJog which I am thrilled about!

Look forward to hearing about your progress.

[Hidden in reply to Timotea]

Well done on that 50 miles Timotea, enjoy your birthday month 🎂🤗

[Instructor57 Graduate10]

Sounds good !

Good luck with your October 10k 😁👍

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

Well done jorgeruns. 10k conquered. There are a few of of us doing the virtual vitality 10k on 25 October . There will be a tsunami of posts ! Happy training in the next few weeks.

[Hidden in reply to Dexy5]

I hope so, good to know there are others running in the virtual 10k, I’m so looking forward to the day when I can run alongside other folks for real 🤗

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

I was so looking forward to running around London, but actually I would have been building up to 10k from the IC . Hopefully, next year. I have deferred.

[Hidden in reply to Dexy5]

Definitely hoping to do the real thing next year, my mum had Dementia so a great charity race to run for, it would be so exciting to run in London and around such iconic sights, something to aim for in the longer term to keep me running 🤗

[58soon Graduate10]

Wow! That's so inspiring jorgeRuns. I'm gradually finding the joy of running - but only 50% of the time. The other 50% is a slog and hurts my hip. But reading your post reminds me that there's no pressure - no time limit. Just run for the fun. So that's what I'll do. Good luck with your next venture!

[Hidden in reply to 58soon]

Thanks, and yes good to take the pressure off and take your time, it seems there is an art in running joyfully and as with most things it takes time to nurture, it’s teaching me patience, ...all good things 🤗

[Beatlesforever Graduate10]

Nice one! I've also discovered the joy of slow running, September hasn't been such a bad month after all 😃 happy birthday to your son! And best of luck with your 10k plan 👍🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️

[Hidden in reply to Beatlesforever]

Thanks, thats great Beatles we’re both well on our way to 10k, how fantastic 🤸‍♀️🏃‍♀️🤗

[Beatlesforever Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Yay so exciting! 🤸‍♀️

[59er Graduate10]

What an encouraging post. Just goes to show that everyone's experience, enjoyment and satisfaction are different. There's joy to come for us all! 🙂

[Hidden in reply to 59er]

Thanks, I truly hope so 59er, keep on tying those laces and sniff the air 🏃‍♀️ and one day we’ll have fun running alongside others 🤗

[Hidden]

As we learn we grow and as we grow we develop strengths we didn't know we always had but were there. This sounds like you. Whatever it is, it is and you'll be ready. When you try a longer slower one, pick up the pace on the last km or two in order to mix it up.

Enjoying it is crucial. I will leave you with a quote...'What we're looking for is where we're looking from'

Go achieve what's yours 😊

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

😃 thanks GTFC , I’ll try that at the end of my long runs....you bring to mind a much loved book which I just had to unearth, ‘wherever you go there you are’ by Jon Kabat -Zinn , a quote from within for you, ‘what lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us’ Exciting 🤸‍♀️🤗

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Absolutely love this!!!

[Fionamags Graduate10]

So lovely to hear about your joyful runs. I bet you do that 10k with joy and end up with a massive grin!!! Looking forwards to the updates.

[Hidden in reply to Fionamags]

Thanks very much 😃 It’s a great journey of discovery now I’ve stopped chasing PB’s 🤗

[Fionamags Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Totally know what you mean. LeJog has prised me off the Garmin plan and onto 3 runs a week - one of them long. Good enough for me at the mo!