A 5k PB! but Oh my goodness – that run was a... - Bridge to 10K

Bridge to 10K

16,524 members26,585 posts

A 5k PB! but Oh my goodness – that run was a bit of a mess! 😱

Birdlady64 profile image
Birdlady64Graduate10
32 Replies

After spending all morning prevaricating and procrastinating, eventually I decided to make and eat breakfast (well more like brunch – a spinach omelette) meaning it was early afternoon by the time I eventually left the house.

I was intending an easy relaxed 5k, maybe carrying on to 6 or 7k if I felt good. Following from the theme of World Kindness Day yesterday, I decided on NRC A Thank You Run, which is a 45-minute time-based run. The sentiment was lovely, but this one was a bit too cheesy for my taste.

Anyway, I decide not to check my watch on this run – it’s a “Thank You” run and pace and distance aren’t important. I set off on my usual route of recent weeks past the Rugby Club at what seems to be a nice comfy pace.

However, I can tell by my position on this route, and the time shout-outs from coach Bennett that I’m a lot faster than I intended over this first kilometre so I try and slow things down over the second.

Still trying to run by feel, the third and fourth kilometres feel good, but by kilometre five I’m starting to feel a bit tired.

I know this route well and, approaching the Leisure Centre, when coach Bennett gives another time shout-out it suddenly dawns on me that I could be on for a PB on this run! Whoa! I didn’t intend for that to happen! That can’t be possible – this was meant to be an easy relaxed run!! 😯

I don’t dare look at my watch, in case what I’m thinking isn’t true 🙈. I find something extra from somewhere and speed up for the final part of my run – a lap around the Leisure Centre. I know the exact point when I’ll reach the 5k mark and I’m giving it everything I’ve got by this point.

5k! Yes! I stop my watch, not even daring to look at the time – I glance down and the first two digits are a 3 and an 8! 😲

Somehow I restart the watch by accident – 😱PANIC!! By the time I manage to stop it again Garmin has my time recorded as 39.03. Gah! 😡

Even so, this run was my first sub-40-minute 5k, something I was beginning to wonder would ever happen, and beats my previous PB by 2min 10sec. 😁

Looking at the stats afterwards, the splits were all over the shop:-

7.10, 8:19, 7:41, 7:45, 7:59

And I must have slowed significantly on the first half of the last kilometre since the final 0.5km coincides with a Strava segment which has my pace logged as 6.57! I’ve never had anything starting with a 6 before!!!

Strava has given me 5 best efforts and 5 segments for this run, including personal records for 5k, 1 mile, 1k

I’m pretty made up with the milestone, but part of me wishes I could have made it a little bit tidier. If only I could figure out how to pace myself better.

In my excitement I forgot to take a photo so this one is a montage from snaps taken on a lunchtime walk earlier this week in the woods close to home which is my favourite place to run.

Written by
Birdlady64 profile image
Birdlady64
Graduate10
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
32 Replies
Roxdog profile image
RoxdogGraduate10

I love the photos of the woods!

That sounds like a good run, despite the 'messiness'

Some runs are a bit chaotic aren't they - you went out for 'just a run' and ended up chasing a PB!

Just getting out there at all in this rain is a feat - maybe it's dry where you are. My morning run was very wet. Goodness knows what the staff in Costa thought of me when I went in for a takeaway coffee on the way back today - spattered with mud and looking like a drowned rat!

Birdlady64 profile image
Birdlady64Graduate10 in reply toRoxdog

Thanks!

I was trying to dodge the rain, kept looking at Accuweather for a window of dry. In the end I just went. It was raining when I left, but I was too hot in my rain jacket, so that came off and went round my waist really quickly.

It was a mess - but a nice mess in the end. I just wish I could learn to control things a bit better.

dijep profile image
dijepGraduate10

Congratulations on your PB what a lovely reward at the end of your run. Funny how sometimes these things just happen when we're not trying

Birdlady64 profile image
Birdlady64Graduate10 in reply todijep

Thank you.

Yes you are right - it was totally unexpected, which made it all the better I think

Lizcanrun profile image
LizcanrunGraduate10

Well done Birdlady! A PB is a PB, Messy or not!

Birdlady64 profile image
Birdlady64Graduate10 in reply toLizcanrun

Thanks! I definitely have the runners high after that one. I can forgive myself the mess

AlMorr profile image
AlMorrAmbassadorGraduate10

Congratulations on that sub 40 minute 5K PB, enjoy the rest of the day 😊 🏃🏾

Birdlady64 profile image
Birdlady64Graduate10 in reply toAlMorr

Thank you Al

I'm definitely going to log that one as a (not) parkrun 😁

Littleoyellow profile image
LittleoyellowGraduate10

Great commentary Birdlady- I was with you all the way 😁🌧🍂🍁💨 Those splits look like one of my runs.. and at the end of the day a PB is a PB no matter how you come by it 👍well done on your first sub 40 minute 5k and I hope you're relaxing in the after glow... I will have to get myself out in the rain tomorrow... 🏃‍♀️🌧

Birdlady64 profile image
Birdlady64Graduate10 in reply toLittleoyellow

Thank you! I definitely have that runners high right now. I did enjoy that run, and the PB was a nice surprise, especially as I wasn't trying.

Good luck for your run to tomorrow 👍

Littleoyellow profile image
LittleoyellowGraduate10 in reply toBirdlady64

Even better if you weren't trying- today's unexpected gift 🎁 thank you for your kind good wishes 🏃‍♀️😁

Great PB Birdlady, congratulations, doesn’t look too messy to me, just switch the first and last split and the rest will fall into place nicely, set off like a tortoise and finish like a hare 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🥂🤸‍♀️🤗

Birdlady64 profile image
Birdlady64Graduate10 in reply to

That would be ideal yes!

MontyMooDog profile image
MontyMooDog

Great run for you there and congratulations on your PB too👍

Birdlady64 profile image
Birdlady64Graduate10 in reply toMontyMooDog

Hello Stranger!

Thank you ! ☺️

I really enjoyed that one. It was a nice surprise

cheekychipmunks profile image
cheekychipmunksGraduate10

Woohoo absolutely fantastic Birdlady, and your happiness is clearly evident in your post. I’m grinning for you! 😀🥰

Birdlady64 profile image
Birdlady64Graduate10 in reply tocheekychipmunks

Thanks!

No need - I'm still grinning inanely myself now. I keep telling Mr B I'm on a runner's high but he just doesn't get it

Had curry for supper tonight and thought of you and your sense of taste while I was eating it 😋

cheekychipmunks profile image
cheekychipmunksGraduate10 in reply toBirdlady64

Yum, curry, the perfect post run treat! I’m happy you could taste it. 😀 I’m hoping my diminished taste will help me enjoy our Sunday roast tomorrow! 🤞 😋

HappyNoodle profile image
HappyNoodleGraduate10

Yay, congratulations on your PB being kind pays off 😍

Birdlady64 profile image
Birdlady64Graduate10 in reply toHappyNoodle

Thank you!

And yes I should practice being kind to myself. Messy or not, I just ran a PB 😁

Beatlesforever profile image
BeatlesforeverGraduate10

Amazing PB!! 👏👏👏 What a fab effort, and in such beautiful surroundings 🥰🍂🍄

Birdlady64 profile image
Birdlady64Graduate10 in reply toBeatlesforever

Thank you!

I definitely surprised myself with that one yesterday

Frizzbomb67 profile image
Frizzbomb67Graduate10

Well done on yourPB. 6 something 😮. I’d be very happy with that 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Birdlady64 profile image
Birdlady64Graduate10 in reply toFrizzbomb67

Thanks!

Yes well the 6 something was just for the last half km, but I guess I can work on extending that.

Comaltdel profile image
Comaltdel

Well done you. The best surprises are the unexpected ones!

Birdlady64 profile image
Birdlady64Graduate10 in reply toComaltdel

Thank you. It was certainly unexpected and unintentional. But most enjoyable 😁

Sybilw profile image
SybilwGraduate10

Great chunk of time off your Pb! My splits often look like that - and nearly always with a ‘went off too fast’ first k!! Congratulations

Birdlady64 profile image
Birdlady64Graduate10 in reply toSybilw

Thanks. I just don't seem able to stop myself from starting too quickly. I've been trying to run more without constantly checking my watch and run by feel. I'm not sure if it's working or not, but it did result in a PB

Sybilw profile image
SybilwGraduate10 in reply toBirdlady64

Hard to not look!! 😆

Birdlady64 profile image
Birdlady64Graduate10 in reply toSybilw

It is difficult I agree

9weeks2Run profile image
9weeks2RunGraduate10

Congratulations Birdlady64 on your first sub-40-minute 5k that is fantastic, Well Done. What beautiful pictures 🌿🍂🍄🍁🌱

Birdlady64 profile image
Birdlady64Graduate10 in reply to9weeks2Run

Thank you!

I think running longer distances at a slower pace has definitely helped

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

A Whole Run - Slow 5K 😊

I knew I wanted to do a slow run this morning - about 45 minutes - but I just fancied trying...
Jools2020 profile image
Graduate10

5K and a surprise PB 😊

Up early and ready early for my first ‘naked’ run! (Inspired by @[1243350]). I did have a mild...
Jools2020 profile image
Graduate10

Runiversary 10K! 👍😀🎉🏃‍♀️

I’ve been working up to this run. Today was the day! Having checked the forecast, if I ran at about...
Jools2020 profile image
Graduate10

First 10K of the year! 🏃‍♀️👍

Always good to meet some of the challenges on Strava at the beginning of the month! 👍 I’d checked...
Jools2020 profile image
Graduate10

New shoes and a PB for 5k :)

I treated myself to new shoes for my birthday - Brooks Glycerins, rather than my usual Ghosts. They...
APScotland profile image
Graduate10

Moderation team

See all
Yesletsgo profile image
YesletsgoAdministrator
MissUnderstanding profile image
MissUnderstandingAdministrator
Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministrator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.