Run 3 Week 5 Magic Plan - a Wet 8k, a New Car, Calf Compression Sleeves and Fresh Bread

[Birdlady64]

I haven't run since Wednesday and was starting to get a bit antsy. I didn't run on Friday as I just don't have enough time for these longer runs on a work day.

And I couldn't run this morning as we had to go to the car dealers and collect our new car. We have only been waiting for it since March - a BMW 3 series plug-in hybrid. Very smart.🚗

So the dilemma was go out in the new car this afternoon - or go for a run?

Well the weather forecast decided for me. Rain 🌧🌧🌧 I'm not taking the shiny new car out in the wet!!!

What to wear again? It was 11 degrees, windy and with rain expected. I opted for shorts, T-shirt and tied my jacket round my waist. I left my cap behind as it makes me too hot, and Accuweather only said "light rain".

I also had on a pair of calf compression sleeves for the very first time. My legs have been quite tired on the last couple of longer runs so I thought I'd give them a go - just a cheap pair from Amazon.

I was cold during my warm up walk so the jacket went on. After 3k I was taking it back off and tying it round my waist again. At 5.5km the heavens opened and the jacket quickly went back on again. So much for "light rain" - it was a deluge! I couldn't see out of my glasses. I really need to get a sun visor like Jools2020 . On the plus side the jacket was surprisingly waterproof and kept my top half nicely dry.

The run itself was uneventful apart from a blocked path early on necessitating a change of route. My splits were a bit all over the shop, with a ridiculously slow fourth km, but overall I was quite happy - 8.04km at an average pace of 9.10/km and a time that beats my previous 8km by 3 minutes. 😀

And as for the compression sleeves - I've always been a bit skeptical about these sorts of things - but I have to say they surprised me. My legs didn't feel tired at all during the run. I will see if they make any difference in terms of recovery.

I arrived home - very much the drowned rat look - to find hubby had been baking fresh bread. What a lovely smell to come home to! 🍞🍞🥖🥖

[PhoenixRise Graduate10]

Great run Birdlady64! 💪 So super jealous of your new shiny car 🚗 and giggled when reading you didn’t want to get it wet!!! 🤭 Reminded me off the boys not wanting to get their bikes 🚲 wet story - was that you?!

I hope you enjoy the bread 🍞 it looks delicious 😋

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to PhoenixRise]

Thank you!

Yes it was me with the boys on bikes, but the difference is mountain bikes are meant to get wet and muddy!😂

The bread is delish!😋👍

[Jools2020 Graduate10]

Oh, well done for your 8K 👏👏👏🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️👍 3 minutes faster is a lot!

That will teach you to believe the weather forecast! Now, we don’t mind getting a bit wet during our runs but I could see all the rain on your glasses in the photo and I could feel your pain! Sun visor urgently needed!

I’ve never tried compression sleeves, but great that they seem to help you! 👍

How lovely to come home to fresh bread 😀

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

Yes I definitely need a visor or three👍😁

Let's see what the fatigue levels are like after the compression sleeves. I thought I would try them. They are cooler than compression tights or socks and definitely easier to put on and take off. I'm not sure I'd wear them all the time but they might help on the longer runs.

The bread is lovely. He bakes all our bread, so much better than shop bought

[Instructor57 Graduate10]

Great 8k for you !

AND You didn't get the car wet 😁👍

You can take it for a spin tomorrow .

And the fresh bread looks good , bet it smells lovely 😋

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Instructor57]

Thank you! I very nearly didn't run today but I am glad I did. I wanted that long run out of the way as it was starting to burn a hole in me.

Yes I think the weather is going to be better tomorrow so will definitely go for a drive - hopefully all electric

The bread was just an ordinary white loaf and some bread rolls, but the house did smell lovely

[Beatlesforever Graduate10]

Amazing, 3 minutes off your 8k time!! 🤸‍♀️ What an achievement, it certainly deserves fresh bread, well done you and your hubby👏👏👏 btw that bread looks so delicious 😋

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Beatlesforever]

Thank you it tastes delicious too! 😋

I was pleased overall with my run today.

[Sandraj39 Graduate10]

Sounds like a great day Birdlady64 - a new car and a good run!😀Congrats on a PB too! 👏👍

[nowster Graduate10]

That reminds me it's almost a year since I last baked bread. I'll have to get out my mixing bowl again. I do it all by hand. Tinned dried yeast, not the packet fast yeast. Honey to reactivate the yeast.

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

The bread was good. Hubby bakes all our bread. Much better than shop bought. Mostly it is natural ferment sourdough but this was just a quick bake using dried yeast as we are low on supplies. Normally it takes 2 days to make a loaf but so worth it for flavour and texture.

[Beatlesforever Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

Oh yes, I also make my own sourdough. Once you get the starter right, there's nothing like it 😋

[ju-ju- Graduate10]

Wonderful, that sound wet, but that bread makes it all worthwhile... yum

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

That all turned out well then, i can relate to that jacket on jacket off thing

Ooo new car lovely!

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

Yes I enjoyed getting wet in a weird kind of way. I just wish I had been able to see out of my specs properly.😂

The new car will be treated to a trip out somewhere today. All charged up and ready to go 👍🚗

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Birdlady64]

Sounds perfect, it’s wall to wall blue sky here today and the run was lovely in the sharper cooler air but I felt the meal out we had last night lol

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

Yes it's a beautiful day here too. I bet it won't be the same for my run in the morning though...

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Birdlady64]

As long as it doesn’t rain too hard

[Scruff55 60minGraduate]

Well done on an enjoyable run and a PB. The bread sounds amazing too. Can I ask what jacket it is that you are wearing as I need one for heavy rain. I’m up in Cumbria and light rain is just a summer shower up here. My jacket is ok for the summer but not good for heavy rain. 🌈🌈👏👏🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Scruff55]

Thank you!

My jacket is a Ron Hill everyday. Bright neon pink is not really my colour but it was cheap in the sale.

It is actually only a really lightweight one. I got it more to keep off the wind and drizzle than anything. Yesterday it really chucked it down but only for about 5-10 minutes. I suspect it wouldn't stand up to a more extensive period of heavy rain.

In fact I reckon anything that would keep you dry in those conditions wouldn't be breatheable enough to keep you dry on the inside when running.💦

[Scruff55 60minGraduate in reply to Birdlady64]

👍👍👍 thanks for the info re jacket. I suspect you are right re waterproof running jackets. Keeping dry on the inside is probably more important that keeping the wet outside 🤣🤣🤣

[MoliJ Graduate10]

Fabulous run, a new car, 3 mins off your time and fresh 🍞 to come home too. All in all a perfect day 😀

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to MoliJ]

Yes it was a good day. Taken the car for a little spin today and planning on an easy 5k tomorrow.

Who would have thought I'd ever say those words?!!

[Littleoyellow Graduate10]

Sounds like a very satisfying run Birdlady- great to have shaved 3 minutes off your time taking jacket adjustments into account etc 👏😁 and I can almost smell that delicious bread afterwards. Time does start to become a factor fitting the longer runs in doesn't it 😬 hope you're enjoying a ride out in the new car - try and avoid any big puddles ☔- I'm still chasing you just about to start week 5 😊

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Littleoyellow]

You are not that far behind though...

And I definitely had to disengage shoulders a few times yesterday 😁

Been for a quick spin in the new car today. I Iove it😍

[Littleoyellow Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

Exciting day for you 😁 hope you kept it clean 🚘 😁

[Slothgoesrunning Graduate10]

Great run bird lady 64!

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Slothgoesrunning]

Thank you!

I enjoyed it - even the getting wet part 😁