Slow 5K - Speeding up at the end and adding an extra 1K for luck! 😀

[Jools2020]

I woke to a dull and cloudy morning in the Fens and a plan for my run! This morning I was going to do a 5K slow run. I had pushed it on my 10K run on Saturday, so fancied an easy run today.

Having decided that it was not too cold yet, I wore shorts. The weather forecast was rain, so out came the long sleeved top and waterproof jacket. I also wore my chest torch as it was still fairly dark. And, of course, a sun visor!

I set off down a single track road parallel to the river at a slow pace. I’m glad I wore my chest torch as there were one or two cars. I’m happily jogging down the lane and as it becomes fully light, there are several flocks of Whooper swans flying overhead in their V shapes, calling to each other. It’s a lovely sound 🙂. They are off to various different fields in the area to feed on potatoes and sugar beet left over from the harvest. They are still arriving here in large numbers to overwinter on the washes before going back to Iceland in the early spring.

I run slowly as far as I can, up to the gate. Beyond the gate is private property. Tradition dictates that you have to touch the gate before turning round, which I do with a smile!

Carrying on with my slow jog out of the village, I decide to go up the Deadend Track. It’s just under a kilometre long and I just don’t fancy heading right out of the village this morning. I have to shimmy round the padlocked gate, figuring that the farmer has probably locked it to keep out fly tippers. I’m a rebel though, so I gain entry! I start to push the pace a bit! Not what I had planned to do at all! I reach 5K on my way back down the track, but I’m still a fair way from home so decide to push a bit faster and do 6K instead. I do have to fight the competitive gremlin when I run! 😀

I stop the watch at just over 6K. That felt good! Warm down walk perfectly timed and back for porridge 🥣 the Breakfast of Champions! Not quite a champion this morning, but I got up early, went out there and had an enjoyable run to set me up for the day 😀.

Splits:

8:41, 8:55, 8:35, 8:23, 7:39, 7:13

[Hidden]

Well Jools that looks just like the run of a champion to me, loved reading about your Whooper swans arriving too, and I really like the sound of those fens for running 🏃‍♀️ 🏆🤩🤗

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you! The Fens are beautiful for running; sometimes, though, I think I might like a few gentle hills to help with stamina and endurance! 😄

[Hidden in reply to Jools2020]

Jools I’d gladly swap my hills for your lovely fens for a while 😆🤗

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Fantastic sunrises and sunsets, too! 😀

[damienair Administrator]

Well done. It is great isn't it when you still have reserve in the tank for an extra 1K at a faster pace too.

Damien

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to damienair]

Thanks! Yes, it’s great to be able to do that for sure 😊

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

What a great run and lovely place to run, aren’t we lucky to have found running?

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

Aren’t we just! It takes up a lot of time. If I’m not running, I’m thinking about it. Maybe looking for stuff to buy! Planning routes and runs. I need to fill time so it suits me just fine! Looking for a bike now to take up cycling, too!

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Jools2020]

I know what you mean when you say it takes up a lot of time, and I’ve found we talk about it a lot too, a friend will say “how’s the running going?” not realising what they’ve let themselves in for lol 😂

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

Haha, yes! If anyone makes the mistake of asking me, they get the full history! Sometimes they don’t even have to ask. I was telling the postman yesterday! In my defence, I see very few people and I live alone. He knocked at the door with a parcel. He knew the risks 😂

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Jools2020]

Oh that’s funny 😂 sorry but that did make me laugh because I can so relate, I live with Willow and work with loads of people but yes it’s exactly that, anyone who will listen 😂

[Birdlady64 Graduate10]

Another great run for you, with some left in the tank for that fast extra km at the end! Fantatstic stuff!

And more Whoopers - how wonderful 😀

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

Lots of Whoopers now! Hopefully see some Bewick’s soon.

Plenty left in the tank, but it was supposed to be a slow run! Ah well. The first 3 kms were quite slow 😊

[Beatlesforever Graduate10]

Nice one! 👍💪👏👏 Great splits and a bowl of porridge to top it all off 🥣 😋 well done you 🥇

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Beatlesforever]

Thank you! Love my post-run porridge 😊

[9weeks2Run Graduate10]

What an amazing place to run, sounds so beautiful.

Well done on your 6k I am yet to do an early morning run, on the list!!!

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to 9weeks2Run]

Morning runs were fabulous in the summer! I used to run soon after 5 a.m., really loved it! Have to wait now until the half light just before sunrise. I use a chest torch to make sure I can be seen. It’s got like a harness which clips together, but you also get a red light that sits on your back.

[9weeks2Run Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

Wow 5am that is impressive.

I would love to be able to go for a run before work that is one of my goals. The chest torch sounds fantastic, great that you also have a light at the back.

I am going to go for a 5k run tomorrow.

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to 9weeks2Run]

Good Luck and don’t forget to post how you get on! 😀👍

[9weeks2Run Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

I will do, thank you!

[Roxdog Graduate10]

That's great! You are really on a roll and so committed to this and are doing a nice mixture of structure and seeing how you feel. I can feel the enjoyment you get from running!

I've lost my mojo a bit this week - Hubbie had a health scare, but all was well in the end. Tomorrow it is!

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Roxdog]

It’s true, I love it! When I think of how I used to be afraid to go out and run in case people saw me in my Lycra shorts. Now I think I must be known as ‘the crazy woman who runs wearing shorts and a sun visor, whatever the weather!’ And I don’t mind a bit, happily waving to anyone I see. 😀

Sorry that you lost your mojo this week, it must have been a tough week for you; what a relief that all is well with your husband and you can go running again.

[Roxdog Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

Haha! Crazy women! Crazy in an amazing way!

Thanks, I haven't had a long break, only 3 days, but it's felt like a lifetime and I'm a bit weary. I'm thinking of a 3.5k- ish in a local park. I love to see other people doing all their, sometimes quite whacky, exercises in the park. My runs are usually very solitary in out of the way places, but tomorrow I want to see people!

Do I detect a triathlon emerging? A bike! Do you also swim? There you go, a budding triathlete!

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Roxdog]

😊 you’ve got it in one! Trouble is, there’s a shortage of bikes. I know exactly what I want and there aren’t any. Also, I don’t feel that our local swimming pools are safe . So my triathlete attempts might have to wait 😀

[Roxdog Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

Well I thought so! Go for it, you've definitely got the stamina and resolve. Have you tried a second hand bike shop? My daughter got a great bike from one recently.

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Roxdog]

Yes, all the local ones. I want an adventure/Gravel bike and they are in short supply, new or used.

[Hidden]

Superb! I think there are real merits on finishing some slower paced runs with a bang 💥 well done!

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks. It felt right on that run, so I just went with it 😀

[Sybilw Graduate10]

Great negative splits there - something I can’t manage but I do have a similar ‘tradition’! 😆

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Sybilw]

I often aim for negative splits but it doesn’t always work!

Love traditions like that! I was walking down the same lane with my neighbour. Chatting away, we both touched the gate at the same time, and turned, still chatting. We didn’t comment on it, just carried on 😀

[Instructor57 Graduate10]

Sorry 8m late seeing your post , I have been a bit quiet lately 😐

It's so difficult to know what to wear on runs at the moment , but I am liking the tights 😁

Whooper swans ? Hmm.... Get you ! 😂

Well done with the negative splits 😁👍

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Instructor57]

Thanks, Ian 😊. Glad you are liking the tights! I’ve worn mine, but I was too warm. I’ve been trying hard lately to tidy up the splits, sometimes it works 😀. Whooper swans have been arriving a little earlier than usual, which often means a hard winter 😖.

[nowster Graduate10 in reply to Instructor57]

I'm appreciating the tights too. (Mine not yours, obviously.) 😁

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

Glad you made that clear 😂