Week 7 Magic Plan Run 1 - 5k - Perceived Effort and Another Nike Run Club Run

[Birdlady64]

My running days are all muddled up at the moment.

I intended to run yesterday, but hit the snooze 💤 button too many times in the morning, and a little emergency with the aquarium filter thwarted my plan to run yesterday evening. 🐟🐠🐡

So I left the house about 7:15 this morning to do my 5k run of this weeks plan. Fluorescent yellow long sleeved top, lightweight jacket to keep the wind off on my warm up walk and shorts.

I used Nike Run Club again as I enjoyed it on my 9k run on Saturday. I chose 5k Head Starts where coach Bennett gives you a question, or point to think about every 500 metres on the run. It certainly gave me food for thought.

This 5k felt like really hard work, although comparing the stats afterwards to last weeks 5k, which I really enjoyed, suggests otherwise.

It just shows you how important perceived effort is.

It was quite humid here this morning so maybe that made it feel like I was working harder - or maybe that 9k on Saturday took more out of me than I realised - despite the unplanned extra rest day?

Porridge and banana for breakfast - yes I admit it - winter is on it's way 🥶

[Instructor57 Graduate10]

Well done on your 5 k run !

Your right with the perceived effort !

Sometimes the stats are a surprise.

I was going to run this morning but hit the snooze button instead !

Now I see the forcast it doesn't look good for a few days ! Ah well , 😐

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Instructor57]

Thanks!

Yes more rain is on the way - and I know you don't like the rain 😁

Never mind, it sounds like you need to catch up on your sleep a bit. I'm sure it is doing you good. Plenty of time to get your next run in.

[Slothgoesrunning Graduate10]

I was thinking exactly the same thing after completing 5k with local running club last night. Perceived effort was high, stats say it was fast (for me) but not unheard off 🤷🏼‍♀️

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Slothgoesrunning]

Yes - it is weird how it just sometimes feels like that. I guess in the days before all the tech we would have just accepted it was harder than normal.

How is the running club going? I think it would be nice to run with other people - all my runs have been alone

[Slothgoesrunning Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

Running club is taking a bit of getting used to. They are an exceptionally friendly bunch. They meet twice a week but I only go once as I actually prefer running solo (now I have got so used to doing my own thing). It’s nice to meet others but chatting and running is still quite hard for me to do. It does mean I’m forced to do things I wouldn’t have otherwise done eg. Different local routes, big hills, faster paced runs, running at night with torch and hi vis.

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Slothgoesrunning]

I've never tried running and chatting. It would be weird if I was running around in the dark talking to myself 😁

It's good to try different things though

[Jools2020 Graduate10]

You are so right about perceived effort! Well done for your 5K. 👏👏👏

You’re right about winter being on its way! Im still wearing shorts on my runs, though.n

I’m currently debating whether to light the log burner and have a nice, cosy fire 🔥.

I must give that Nike Run Club a try. I’ve already downloaded it. Maybe next week.

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

Ooh - I've always wanted a log burner. Our central heating has been on for a while now.

I'm still wearing my shorts too. I would have gone t-shirt as well this morning but the long sleeved top is the only high-vis top I have.

|It's odd why sometimes it feels tougher than others like that - especially when the stats contradict. As coach Bennett said on my run this morning:-

"Running will sometimes be a struggle. Struggling doesn’t mean failure. Struggling means successfully not giving up."

Wise words I think

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

Very wise words!

[Tillybeach Graduate10]

Well done on your run. I find with me it is all about my attitude to the run. If I tell myself I am strong, I am a panther!! I seem to do better than when I'm not so positive. I did a nice 5k on Monday, along the seafront, the sea was really rough, it was lovely. It was one of my better runs. I'd quite like to to the 10k on Thursday. I'll let you know.xx

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Tillybeach]

Thank you!

Yes its a mental challenge for sure as well.

Good luck for your 10k if you go for it on Thursday 🤞

[Littleoyellow Graduate10]

Some days just feel harder than others 🤷‍♀️ but you fought off the gremlins that were surrounding you yesterday and ran a triumphant hard work 5k today with a porridge and banana reward 😀 sounds like a win to me 👍

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Littleoyellow]

Yeah - those pesky gremlins were doing their worse.

And its getting harder to get a run in before or after work with these shorter days.

Certainly a lot of positives to take from today - porridge amongst them of course 😀

[Roxdog Graduate10]

Well done. I do think the longer runs can take it out of you a bit, at least until we get used to them!

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Roxdog]

Thank you!.

I've been thinking for a while that I'm starting to feel it a bit now that I'm doing a 4k, 5k and a long run each week. I hope it doesn't get too much before I manage the Vitality 10,000.

I'm not sure I will ever get "used" to running these longer distances though...

[Roxdog Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

Yes, I'm now always having 2 rest days and sometimes 3, depending on how I'm feeling. So I rarely run 3 times a week. I don't ache or anything, but can feel a bit tired. My colleague who is a very experienced runner and has done marathons reminds me of the importance of rest and says it's normal to feel a bit tired after long runs. I also want to have 'recovery' times as I'm not going and want to run for Many years!

[Roxdog Graduate10 in reply to Roxdog]

Sorry, not young, which auto corrected to not going!

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Roxdog]

You are as young as you feel.

Sure at 56 I'm no young gazelle, but as a dedicate anti-runner, I am amazed at how far I've come since April when running for 60 seconds was such a challenge. I too definitely want to keep this up for as long as I can

[Littleoyellow Graduate10]

I concur with the above- extra rest days are allowed to help with general fatigue associated with running the best part of 20k a week 😀👍

[Hidden]

Awesome! You are keeping out there and that really is everything. Super running 🏃‍♀️

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you GTFC

Getting out there can be a bit of a battle sometimes, especially with the shorter days.

I'm not sure I've quite reached the level of awesomeness yet though.

[Hidden in reply to Birdlady64]

Each time you lace up you gain 'awesome' status unwittingly! Consistency for me is the fundamental part of running. If doesn't really matter what the run is or looks like. I felt the same finishing my marathon as I do a 5 mile run. Without lots of one I can't get the other. I think weather, time of year and life can really seem to interrupt consistency for some but if you can find it and keep it, then it's an armoury against so many things.

So awesome one, keeeeeeep running!

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Yes I think you are right about consistency.

I'm having a bit of a stressful day work wise and you have just really made me smile and cheered me up no end. Thank you!

Looking forward to my 4k interval run tomorrow 👍😁

[Littleoyellow Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

FANTASTIC advice 😁👍