Magic Plan Week 5 Run 1 - a (not) 4K Interval Run

[Birdlady64]

I had intended a 4k interval session as my first run of week 5 this morning.

My usual route past the rugby club was flooded in places on Saturday, so was undoubtedly impassable after yesterdays deluge, necessitating a re-planning of my route along the roads. I really do prefer running off-road.

I set up an interval based workout and synched it to my watch last night and was quite excited about trying it out. However, setting off this morning I found I had forgot about factoring in the warm up walk - which I didn't want to count towards my 4k - so I abandoned that idea and did a slow 5k instead.

The only trouble was, instead of an uphill finish of 1k, I now had a 2k uphill stretch at the end. I certainly knew I was working by the finish!

Again, I selected the wrong clothing - leggings and high-vis long sleeved top as it was still dark when I set off and because of route along the roads I wanted to be seen. Like my last few runs I ended up way too hot 2.5k in.🥵 Note to self - wear shorts and T-shirt on Wednesday!

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

That was a hot run for you today Birdlady64, always difficult to judge what to wear for a run, certainly if the temperature is above 10C/50F, wear shorts and a T Shirt, to know what the temperature is where you live just Google "temperature in? " that way you will know what to wear for your run

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

Very sensible!

I do have an outside thermometer so I can see the temperature before I go out on my run. It was actually 10 degrees this morning.

My problem is knowing how cold it has to be before it is too cold for shorts. I guess that comes with experience.

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

I was at a parkrun last year when the temperature was - 6C/21F, a cyclist 🚴who cycled to it showed me his frozen water bottle which was at the back of his bike, but despite those low temperatures there were several runners in SHORTS😂

I usually wear shorts when running if the temperature is 10C or above.

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

At minus 6 degrees I most definitely would not be wearing shorts! 🥶❄❄⛄

Long sleeves, tights, hat and gloves more like 😀

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

I was wearing quite thick clothing, certainly not shorts, I was even wearing gloves for part of the run, amazingly despite the low temperature my time of 30.56 was only 1 second over my PB of 30.55 which I had run on the same course 9 weeks earlier in shorts with a temperature of 18C and lovely sunshine.

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

That's pretty impressive. You must have been running extra quickly to try and keep warm 😁

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

I was, it was the end of November with thick frost on the ground although the course wasn't really icy, a dry frost as the call it.

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

I love cold crisp days like that. Unfortunately they hardly ever happen in this country, at least not here in the south east.

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

I am in Scotland and the loch which all the runners ran round part of was frozen, I remarked to another runner that we could take a shortcut over the ice but that would be cheating, after the run we could do a bit of ice skating but I didn't see anyone doing that, we just all wanted to get home and warm up.

[Roxdog Graduate10]

I think sometimes changing your mind after starting the run is a good idea. Following your instinct! Uphill running is tough! I totally agree about road running. I think I'm faster on roads but much prefer trails and paths, even if they're flooded! I remember when I was doing cto5k last winter breaking the ice on the canal tow path like a kid! Much more treacherous on pavements!

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Roxdog]

Ha ha! I have this image now of you rampaging along the towpath, deliberately stamping your feet to smash up the ice. A bit like Peppa Pig and muddy puddles 😀

I think I'm finally staring to learn how to take the uphill stretches a bit more in my stride. It's definitely a "thing" in my head, but I don't try to avoid them like I did when I was doing c25k.

I just prefer being in the countryside than the town, and I definitely do not like running in traffic.

[MoliJ Graduate10]

Brilliant run, I usually decide on the day how far I am going to run unless I am going for a record and then I usually psych myself up the night before. I went out this morning in the rain and found it too hot in a tee shirt. My daughter tells me you only run in a long top if the temperature is below 8.

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to MoliJ]

Thanks. It turned out alright from a bit of a disastrous start.

I'm doing the Magic Plan, so I can't be too spontaneous with things at the moment, and I need to do the longer runs at weekends when I have more time.

I only wore the long sleeved top as it was quite dark when I went out and it's the only high-vis bit of kit I have (flourescent yellow with reflective stripes - very fetching!)

[Jools2020 Graduate10]

Well done for your 5K! It is difficult to know what to wear. I made an error last week and was too cold. I hadn’t factored in the wind. My hands were numb within 5 minutes and I almost went home. I was wearing shorts and my legs weren’t cold, but everything else was.

For my run on Saturday, it was the opposite - but it was raining so I wore my waterproof jacket (and shorts). I ended up taking the jacket off and getting wet, the rain was nice and cool. You can’t win! I’m going to start walking down my garden before I set out then maybe I’ll be able to judge what to wear. At 10 degrees I’d definitely wear shorts.

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

Thank you! I was the same in Saturday - went out dressed for pouring rain. The rain stopped and I was so hot and sweating buckets with the humidity too.

There are always things to surprise and something new to learn about this running business.

[Hidden]

All these experiences make memories 😁😁😁 well done though on adapting and getting out there. You are well on your way!

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you.

I'm still learning on every run. I love it!

[Instructor57 Graduate10]

Don't know why but only just seen this 😐

Well done with your 5k !

It difficult tho know what to wear , if it's going to be under 10 c then I will probably wear the tights .

Over that then it's shorts .

However , I was caught out on my 12k as it was under 10 but by the time I'd finished it was significantly warmer 😂

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Instructor57]

Thanks! Who knew it would be such a dilemma deciding what to wear?

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

Haha I know , i have been reluctant to run the last few days as I'm waiting to for a jacket to arrive ! (Hopefully today) but probably won't need it tomorrow when I intend to run 😂

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Instructor57]

Good luck for the run tomorrow 👍

And I hope the jacket arrives

[Hedgehogs123 Graduate10]

Haha, well as you may remember from my post last week, I'm champion at putting on too many layers and cooking myself, so know exactly where you're coming from!!🏃‍♀️😆

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Hedgehogs123]

Indeed! I will definitely not make that mistake again tomorrow