Just Going for a Run in my Lunch Break 🏃‍♀️

[Birdlady64]

I had no plan for this one other than to be sure to make the time to run during my lunch break. More importantly, now it has dried out a little, to run in the woods, giving my trail shoes only their second outing. 🌳🌳

Leaving the house, I decide to go “naked” today – no music, no NRC.

Finishing my warm-up walk, I set off along the muddy, leaf strewn trail. 🍁🍂

Almost straight away I know this isn’t going to be a run to go for a new PB. It’s not even going to be anywhere close to a sub-40 minute run. Maybe the Speed Challenge on Monday took more effort than I thought. So this is going to be a slow, relaxed, easy run. I’m just not sure how far yet.

Taking on board the advice that Hidden

gave Jools2020 I just let my pace ebb and flow naturally, soaking up the sights and smells of late Autumn.

There aren’t many people around today. There’s one other runner and we pass in opposite directions 3 times during the course of the run 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️. Mostly it’s just me, the sound of my own breathing, and feet hitting the woodland floor. There’s not much birdsong today – just the odd robin, blue tit and blackbird. I didn’t see the male sparrowhawk that I’ve seen regularly on recent walks.

🦅

Nearing the end of my free time I see I’ve done 4.5km so I decide to continue on to make a round 5km. This takes me close to the path leading back to the house. Perfect!

Run done I stop my watch. I really enjoyed that! 😁 And the trail shoes were perfect in the mud and slippery leaves.

Back home, stretches done, a quick freshen up and back to work, eating lunch at my desk.

Checking the stats just now, I see this was my slowest 5k in a long time, but definitely a most enjoyable one.

And the splits? Well they look like this: 9:49, 9:39, 9:04, 8:58, 8:54.

OH YES!!!!!! 😁👍💪

The photo was taken a few days ago along todays route

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

That was a excellent run for you today Birdlady64, negitive splits all the way, congratulations 🎊 😊

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

Thanks so much Al! I really enjoyed that run today 😁I almost couldn't believe it when I looked at the lap times. I had to check several times!

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

That sounds lovely, just the sort of relaxed run we all need sometimes

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

I was so glad I made time for that lunchtime run today.It blew away the cobwebs and I really enjoyed running in the woods again.

It was liberating to run without a plan

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Birdlady64]

It’s good you can fit it in

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

It is a struggle when you are working isn't it.But I have an incredibly supportive employer that actively encourages us to get out during the day and turns a blind eye to occasional liberty taking like that

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Birdlady64]

That’s really good, we are a bit more rigid in that once we are at work we stay there, but i have a 3 day weekend off starting tomorrow so i’m all excited

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

Enjoy!

[RacingintheStreet Graduate10]

That run sounded so relaxed I enjoyed it from here in my chair 🏃🏻‍♀️😂Beautiful Autumnal woods , I could hear the birds too , great post 👌

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to RacingintheStreet]

Thanks.It was beautiful today. I love running there

[Jools2020 Graduate10]

That sounds like a lovely run for you, Diane. Ebbing and flowing! What will we do next 😂? Well done and what a gorgeous, leafy photo.

What can I say about those negative splits? Other than YES!! 👏👏👏🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️👍 So satisfying and it makes the run easier. I should think it was hard work running through those leaves (but enjoyable being in those surroundings).

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

Thanks Julia!Yes it was never going to be my fastest run over that terrain. It's also quite undulating so I'm surprised that didn't affect my pace more.The splits were a total surprise and I had to check the numbers several times

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

The first time I managed it, I kept looking at them all day! But for my 10 mile run, the individual km splits, when viewed in the bar chart on Strava, showed a number of gentle curves instead, due to the ebbing and flowing during the run. That was good, too and exactly what I had set out to achieve.

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

I must confess to having looked a few times 😁Now let's see if I can do something similar over a longer run

[Instructor57 Graduate10]

Well done , ok it might have been your slowest but so what, who cares ! You enjoyed it , that's more important and nice splits also .

I've given up with worrying to about pace.

Whatever my pace , a run is better than no run 😁👍

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Instructor57]

Absolutely agree with you there. It's so easy to get fixated on times and distances we forget why we're actually doing this.

It was liberating to run without any plan and I couldn't care less if it was slow. It was my run and I had a blast out there!😁

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

Fantastic 😬👏👏👏

[Hidden]

Steady negative splits! Wow, wow, wow! Worth a celebration I think 👏👏😃

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Absolutely! Thanks!Trouble is I've no idea how I actually managed to do it 😂

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

You’ve got to have a run with no agenda every now and then and that looks the perfect place for it. A beautiful autumnal picture. 🍁🍂🍁🍂🍄🍁🍄🍁🍂

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Thanks.It was really liberating and empowering to run without any agenda at all.

I love running in the woods and autumn is my favourite season for the colours

[Hidden]

You know that I know what you know I know 😃😃😃😃Love this lunchtime run though and to get 5k is ace. These sort of runs do more than we think, especially after we've done it. I had a slow one last night but looked at my watch and though 'Yeah let's be mellow' and I was. 7m at 11.14 per mile, average HR 126 and I was alone, like you with the tip tap of my feet. It's very comforting and trance like at times. The body and mind needs runs like this so I loved reading it 🙂

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Glad you liked reading.You are so right in what you say, especially your comment about afterwards.

I can't even begin to tell you how much better physically and mentally I feel after that run today.

I'm grinning like a lunatic typing this and still on a high.

It feel so privileged to have running in my life and I never ever thought I would say that

[Hidden in reply to Birdlady64]

I get this totally. It's a 'wonderful unknown' as Ingrid Michaelson would sing. Live and run in the moment and enjoy your freedom 🤗

[Oldgirlruns Graduate10]

What a great way to spend your lunch hour! It looks like a lovely place to run! And a good time as well. Well done you! 👏👏

[Forest_Run_Beginner Graduate10]

What a lovely place to run and what a brilliant run, negative splits but best of all, you enjoyed it, just fantastic. And this is probably quite a controversial thing to say but I think that fast running is overrated 🙊 😬😆

Well done on a fabulous run 👍👍🏃‍♀️