Ran a 5k today for my second run in week 2 of the Magic Plan! The 5k are getting easier and easier, but I do have a quandary now for me for my 5k runs.
Above 5k, I recently found a beauty of a new route which will also get me to 10k, or 11.6k to be exact. But as getting there means running through 2k of town centre running, I’ll be using it only for runs that are more than 5k.
My old route and for runs less than 5k, I have a beautiful 4.5k route and there is simply nothing more beautiful in this area. I have here and there added the missing distance by running through some housing neighbourhoods, but they are by far not as nice as the route itself.
So here I am now thinking, maybe I should stop searching desperately for the perfect 5k and consider a 4.5k fine for any ‘5k runs’. 5k is, if you think about it, just an arbitrary number.
So i can see myself running in the future 3 runs per week with 4.5k; 4.5k; and 11.6k and all of them on perfect and beautiful routes.
Any thoughts or pondering welcome
Written by
CBDB
Graduate10
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Just run and enjoy it. I usually run a couple of routes. One is a finite 5k and the other one can take me to 8 k if I want to. There is another route that is aspirational which goes up and down steep hills...about 6k but feels like 10k! It depends what I feel like!
I think that's sounds like a great set up. You've got such beautiful spots to run 😍 I only run along the seafront but I change direction depending on wind direction and whether I want to run against the wind on my way out or my way back
Yeah you’re right. But boy, seafront 🌊 in wind 💨 🌬 sounds even better (there goes my route-jealousy again!🤤)
I know from past cycling holidays in Netherlands that many find constant wind even worse than hills, but I was never sure about that. Wind had its wild, hair-flowing blustering beauty! Happy running!
I think you’re safe with your plan. Your two shorter runs add up to the same as the 4k and 5k runs on the plan so it should be fine. It’s more important to enjoy the runs and if you have a perfect route, go for it 😊.
Sounds good to me! Plus you can add the half a k on the longer one. You're absolutely right. As long as you're out there regularly that's the most fundamental part. That you enjoy it is awesome 😊
You're right. 5k is just an aim and running 4.5k regularly is hardly any difference. Run the extra half k through the housing estate if you need a 5k time. But otherwise the main point to to get out there and enjoy it.
I think it's important to run where you want if you don't like a route then it'll put you off going and it'd it's not 5k it doesn't matter. I can't do any of my routes just in beautiful countryside unless I keep running circuits which I'd find to boring. I've now found the "best" of the "worst" routes through housing estates and quite enjoy it and then my reward of farm tracks and a bridleway.
Sometimes to keep myself occupied I start giving people's gardens marks out of 10 🤣😂I'm looking forward to seeing the Xmas lights going up and may plan a new festive run through estates and go at dusk
CBDB, Enjoy your runs, and don't stress too much about distance for the shorter runs, keep one 4.5k run as intervals/speed, the other nice and steady, and then go for it on the longer runs!! Having fun and enjoying it is the most important factor 👍
Hi CBDB, I think your plan is fine. 👍🏻😄However, if you really want a full 5k sometimes, you could do a couple of U turns to re- run a favourite section of your route.
- This has reminded me of my early C25K days when hiding beside hedges & avoiding hills was a thing! -I used to run backwards & forwards along the same half mile stretch feeling safely invisible! 😂
My beautiful routes are much more limited at this time of year (mud/slippery) but I really enjoy running past people’s Christmas lights & plan routes to investigate as many streets as possible! 😄
I definitely agree with what everyone else has said - to enjoy your runs is much more important than distance. If you are getting out 3 times a week, what's 500 metres between friends?! 😂
Just keep getting out there and enjoying what you're doing because you are doing brilliantly.
Thank you! Big thanks, I think I needed to hear that, to have the confidence to let those 500m go! However, now that many have pointed out there is the added perk of seeing XMas decoration I might be tempted to play around with where I run, to explore that a bit more! 🤣🤣🎄🎅🎁
Sounds like an excellent plan. Isn't it supposed to be 2 shorter and one extending run per week? What's a few metres in the scheme of things? Much better to enjoy your route. Happy running!
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