7K in Zone 3: The forecast this morning was... - Bridge to 10K

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7K in Zone 3

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate10
β€’28 Replies

The forecast this morning was for rain. I woke up at my normal time, but the gremlin 😈 was there and told me not to run! Now, I’m usually pretty good with gremlins, but when I opened the back door and saw the sheets of rain, I agreed with him, so I made us both a cuppa and we went back to bed and looked at my iPad! πŸ˜‰

A couple of hours later, the sun was shining, although it looked a bit breezy. Game on! I dressed for the cold, including long running tights, long sleeved top and lightweight jacket. One of my trusty sun visors, of course πŸ™‚, to finish off the look 😊

I had no plan for this run. I was still feeling it after my 10 mile run on Saturday, so decided to take it easy. How about a Zone 3 run? Yes, that fitted my energy level and mood. Off I went at my happy slow pace! Oh yes - this is just what I need! Because I was running later than usual, I saw a lot of people I knew. I was running slowly enough to brief conversations with them as I passed them. I exchanged pleasantries with a few fishermen on the riverbank. The village is busy at that time of the morning!

Leaving the riverbank and the village behind, I’m at about 3.5K and I realise I hadn’t decided how far, or for how long I was going to run. I decided just to keep going until I’d had enough πŸ™‚ seemed like a plan! Coming out of the village, there’s a headwind, so I slow down to keep my heart rate in Zone 3. The gremlin 😈 tells me to go for negative splits, but I’m not falling for it today. Zone 3!

I turn up the Deadend Track, which looks much nicer in the sunshine β˜€οΈ. The wind has dropped a bit and my music playlist ends. I decide to run without music and can hear Whooper Swans having a chat to each other as they feed in a field not too far away. I turn out of the Deadend Track back onto the main road and look at my watch. I see that I’m nearing 7K and 60 minutes. Perfect! I’ll achieve both and go home for coffee! πŸ˜€ Which is exactly what I did! Lovely easy run to match my laid back mood.

I walk towards the Washes on my warm down walk. The sky was darkening for more rain, but I snapped a picture. Water levels are rising again. Once that green patch is under water, the road will flood. If the water in that field freezes, conditions will be perfect for ice skating and we’ll have the Fen Skaters here.

Back at home, stretches, coffee and lunch! A very pleasant run. 😊

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Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020
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28 Replies
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Roxdog profile image
RoxdogGraduate10

I love your no plan run. Just a run! I love the fact that your 7k just happened naturally because you felt like carrying on! My kind of run (But then you know me well πŸ˜‚). Well done. Your return home to coffee always sounds so cosy and nice!

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate10β€’ in reply toRoxdog

My reply to you got lost! Here’s another 😊

I’m determined to do more of these β€˜no plan’ runs. It was such a joy to be running in the sunshine without any agenda at all.

Birdlady64 profile image
Birdlady64Graduate10

Gremlins 😈 and sheets of rain 🌧️ I'll be ******!! You were just looking for those fisherman weren't you!πŸ˜πŸ˜‰

Sounds like a wonderful run though. That's a pretty angry sky I must say.

I was going to go at lunchtime today but managed to get a last minute booking for a lane swim. Tomorrow morning then...

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate10β€’ in reply toBirdlady64

πŸ˜‚ I ran slowly passed the fisherman just in case there were any offers of coffee. Sadly, not this time! Yes, it tipped it down just after I got home - I was lucky to get a full hour without rain. Enjoy your swim! 😊

Vinchie13 profile image
Vinchie13

Sounds lovely.

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate10β€’ in reply toVinchie13

Yes, it really was 😊

Beatlesforever profile image
BeatlesforeverGraduate10

What a wonderful run! It sounds just perfect and perfectly timed! πŸŒ§οΈπŸƒβ€β™€οΈπŸŒ§οΈ Maybe the gremlin was looking out for you this morning ☺️ hope you enjoyed your coffee β˜•

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate10β€’ in reply toBeatlesforever

Thank you, yes I did 😊

Littleoyellow profile image
LittleoyellowGraduate10

What a great sounding run 😁 I feel uplifted just reading about it 😁 I love that your mindset is now that 7k/1 hour is a lovely, easy run πŸ˜πŸ‘ hoping to get to that happy place within 2 or 3 weeks πŸƒβ€β™€οΈπŸ€ž

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate10β€’ in reply toLittleoyellow

I know! It’s amazing that I can do that! It’s only because I was running slowly, which I love. You’ll get there, I’m sure!

Littleoyellow profile image
LittleoyellowGraduate10β€’ in reply toJools2020

Enjoy that feeling and your day of rest too πŸƒβ€β™€οΈπŸ˜Œ

Hedgehogs123 profile image
Hedgehogs123Graduate10β€’ in reply toJools2020

Running slowly???? Blimey if you were running slowly, I'm running at a snails pace!πŸ˜πŸƒβ€β™€οΈ

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate10β€’ in reply toHedgehogs123

It did end up a bit faster than I thought, but perhaps β€˜comfortable’ would be a better word! πŸ˜€ Even my slow pace has increased slightly, perhaps due to my stamina improving with the longer runs!

SueAppleRun profile image
SueAppleRunGraduate1060minGraduate

I love those, go where you want do as long as you decide at the time runs, what a great run

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate10β€’ in reply toSueAppleRun

It was, thank you! 😊

nowster profile image
nowsterGraduate10

Well done on keeping it in Zone 3. πŸ‘πŸ’“

I set out with that intention but... hills.

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate10β€’ in reply tonowster

It was tough against the wind, but mostly did it!

9weeks2Run profile image
9weeks2RunGraduate10

Your run sounded so lovely, nice to not have a plan. It really does sound so beautiful where you live. Glad you had such a pleasant run

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate10β€’ in reply to9weeks2Run

It was a lazy run, just what I needed! 😊

It is beautiful here, especially in the winter months when the water levels rise.

9weeks2Run profile image
9weeks2RunGraduate10β€’ in reply toJools2020

You are doing so amazing.

The picture looks really beautiful.

Take care

BonniesRest profile image
BonniesRest

Sounds like a lovely run Jools. Beautiful picture.

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate10β€’ in reply toBonniesRest

Thank you ! It was a lovely run. I will make sure I have more runs without a plan!

JayJay_ profile image
JayJay_Graduate10

Awww this sounds so nice ... well done πŸ‘πŸ»

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate10β€’ in reply toJayJay_

Thanks, JayJay! Strava is great, but you don’t see the reasoning behind the runs, or the joy behind them! 😊

Hedgehogs123 profile image
Hedgehogs123Graduate10

Love this post, I love the fact you had no plan but actually you planned as you went along depending on how you felt. I haven't done that, I always go out with what distance I want to do, but maybe because I'm still a relative novice in comparison to some you more experienced runners. I think ,10km will my limit, can't imagine running 10miles!!

Maybe running with no plan is something I could do with trying once I've hit that 10km target this weekend!! πŸ˜πŸƒβ€β™€οΈ

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate10β€’ in reply toHedgehogs123

It came about by accident. I usually do some sort of speed work on Tuesdays, but I was still tired after the 10 mile run so didn’t feel like it 😊.

Yes, try it after your 10K! Good luck with that πŸ€žπŸ‘

SaskAlliecat profile image
SaskAlliecatGraduate10

That sounds absolutely lovely πŸ’“

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate10β€’ in reply toSaskAlliecat

It was! I intend to do it again 😊

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