AN UP AND A DOWNER......

[59er]

Haven't run all week. Not been feeling great, physically or mentally - shorter days, masses of rain, American election and Covid are all getting me down. Decided today I needed a fresh route so I drove to my starting point. It was my intention to run 9k - this was my 'next step up '. I chose to run a road I didn't know after reading Roxdog's post yesterday. I started in a fine mist of rain with a new Classical Music for Running playlist from Spotify. I was really enjoying the unknown route but I could see ahead of me that it was going to be an up and a downer! I picked sites out ahead of me to run to and when I got there checked my distance and.....ran on 😳 I slowed my pace at times because my breathing changed with the gradients so at no time did it feel unattainable so .....I ran on 😬 By this time I had decided to go for my target distance- the one I've been aiming for - the one that started me on the C25K in the first place. 10k. The last hill on the way out was a struggle - the classical was too much so I took my earphones out, just in time to hear a flock of geese flying over - joy! I did without the earphones until my last km, listening to my footfall and the sounds of nature and then plugged in again to step up the pace until I reached my car. Feeling pretty damn good at this point and the icing on the cake - hubby waiting with a crispy morning roll and bacon on my return 🙂😋.

[Roxdog Graduate10]

Wow! Lovely run! Such a beautiful place too. You just went for it, so well done. Tackling hills is tough so that's amazing and what a great time too. Glad a new route helped too. 😊

[59er Graduate10 in reply to Roxdog]

Yes, thanks to you I chose a new route and you were right - just looking around a new place is a tonic. Unfortunately where I live there are few circular routes so it's out and back for me but I enjoyed it all the same. Just got to start finding more new routes now

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

Good post and run for you today 59er, glad you enjoyed the music on Spotify that accompanied you for part of the run, yes the news those days is depressing to say the least but you must listen to some of it to know what the latest situation or changes are, Lanarkshire just avoided the strictest lockdown because of appeals by prominent people.

[Hidden]

What's great 10k 59er👍 that scenery is picture perfect, complete with geese sound effects 👍 just brilliant a super tonic

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Oh that’s wonderful, you clever thing, and what a good time

Great big grins for you

[59er Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thank you - hope you're feeling a bit brighter!

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to 59er]

Yes getting there, we have toddlers for the weekend but been planning Mondays run lol

[Hidden]

Yahooooooo! Great milestone run. Really like your time too. There are so many things we can't control and so many we can. You went out there and did it today and a massive 'well done' to you 🥇

[59er Graduate10]

Thanks GTFC - it seems we are reading each other's posts at the same time! 😂

[Over62]

What a great run for you 59er at clearly a difficult time for you. So good to get out there and enjoy all that’s around.

Lovely photo, keep on getting out there and running it’s a great tonic👍👏🎉

[59er Graduate10 in reply to Over62]

No doubt about it, running is good for you on so many different levels. You just have to get out that door!

[Grannyhugs Graduate10]

Fantastic 10k in a great time on your new run. I hope it helped to rebalance your body and mind. Happy running 🤗

[59er Graduate10 in reply to Grannyhugs]

Thanks Grannyhugs - yes I'm definitely feeling much better now 🙂

[Hidden]

A big day 59er, what a great run just when you could have curled up under a cloud but instead you took yourself out in the mist to find pastures new and found joy in a flock of geese, collecting precious moments to keep you going in strange and difficult times. Every reason, including the bacon buttie, to keep on running 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

Well done 59er and hope that good feeling stays with you for a lovely weekend 🥳🥂🤸‍♀️👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🤸‍♀️🥂🤗🎃

[59er Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks so much jorgeRuns, yes I think I'm going to rest on my laurels this weekend! 😁

[PeggySusi]

Wonderfully well done.!. That must have set you up for a more cheerful weekend..😊

[59er Graduate10 in reply to PeggySusi]

Yes, it has thankfully. Never ceases to amaze me the power a run has on your outlook of life.

[Beachcomber66 Graduate10]

A great story with a happy ending 😋😋. That is a seriously good hilly 10k 59er..,,,.I need to find some new routes!!🙂

[59er Graduate10 in reply to Beachcomber66]

Yes, it was incredibly hilly. That's what happens when you don't know a route though - you just have to dig in and run! 😄

[TotalNewbie1 Graduate10]

Fabulous views and landscape to be running in, beats my main road! Excellent run and envious time.

Congratulations on your great run.

[59er Graduate10 in reply to TotalNewbie1]

Thank you TotalNewbie1! The change of scenery definitely helped me along my way. My usual routes have become so muddy and then there's the main road with lorries thundering past. I decided that now I'll need to jump in the car and drive to some more satisfactory under foot routes which should help me through the winter! 😊

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

Congratulations on your 10k, and it looks a lovely route too. A bacon bap is a great way to celebrate this achievement 🥳🎃

[59er Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Thanks Dexy5! I don't think I've ever tasted a better bacon butty! 😄

[Gwenllian1 Graduate10]

That’s a great run and a great time! I know exactly what you mean about the multiplicity of things to get you down right now and I am so impressed that you managed to get out anyway. And what a reward for your stickability that run was. Brilliant!

[59er Graduate10 in reply to Gwenllian1]

Thank you! The difficulty as everyone knows is actually getting out there but I'd stated my plans in a previous post so kind of had to 😀 Once I was there though I knew I was going to go home in a better state of mind - that's what running does for me 😊

[Lifluf Graduate10]

Congratulations 59er. Tough run but you made it! Bacon sarnie sounds like a nice reward.

[PandaCory Graduate10]

Well done! That looks like a nice route (and a great time as well👍🏻👏). Can I ask you about the South Lanarkshire running? Is it a group? TIA.

[59er Graduate10 in reply to PandaCory]

Thanks PandaCory. It's just a road I ran along. Never been along it from this end although the further I got along it I began to recognise junctions and houses. I just parked up at a point and ran from there. I really don't know where the South Lanarkshire Running came from! Possibly because I live there 🤷‍♀️ It's not a group - just little ol' me running solo. I take it you live in South Lanarkshire? TIA?

[PandaCory Graduate10 in reply to 59er]

Thanks 59er for replying! TIA = Thanks In Advance 😀. Yes, I'm in South Lanarkshire as well & all my runs are solo efforts. I need to do more of what you did here though- just drive somewhere & run for a change of scenery. Normally I just step out of the front door & go...

[59er Graduate10 in reply to PandaCory]

Which is what I've been doing all through lockdown but it does restrict your routes to the same old same old. Drive 5 minutes down the road and hey presto you've opened up your choices 5 fold! Maybe I'll see you out there 😉

[PandaCory Graduate10 in reply to 59er]

I'll wave 😀👋

[59er Graduate10 in reply to PandaCory]

🤣👍