After 2 days of freezing fog, I was really hoping for a clear morning, but this morning the fog was just as bad. I didn’t think it looked safe to be running on the roads, so decided to give my trail shoes an outing and run on the high riverbank along the edge of the washes. There is another high riverbank parallel to this one, about 3/4 mile away, and between the two banks is the area that holds the floodwater known as the Washes or the Hundred Foot Washes.
This was where Couch to 5K began for me! I did the majority of the programme on this man made riverbank and running along it this morning was a reminder of how far I had come. From couch to 10 miles in less than 5 months 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️🥰
This morning it was very muddy at the start of the simple ‘there and back’ route. I was on my warm up walk for this part and I knew from my dog walking days that once I passed this section, it would improve. I glanced down to the low haulage track, close to the river, to see it it would be possible to ride my bike on it later. No, I should have guessed, with the rising water levels most of it is now under water. Ah well, at least I’ll see more swans!
I start my watch and the NRC guided run ‘A Whole Run’ with Coach Bennett and Andy Puddicombe. They talk about your body and mind being active and engaged. I’m having trouble with motivation at the moment. While listening to the conversation, I realise that I haven’t really lost it, it’s still there. Like the blue sky when it’s cloudy. I’m glad I made the effort to come out and run.
I’m not taking any notice at all of my pace, but I’m enjoying being out running and conscious of everything around me. I meet another runner coming towards me, accompanied by 2 setters. I see the dogs and realise that I know her. I think it’s funny when you recognise people by their dogs! We exchange greetings as we pass. One of the dogs decides to run with me and she jumps to put her nose briefly against my side in greeting. She runs alongside me for a couple of minutes and I talk to her. I enjoy the company. Then she turns and she’s off to catch up with her owner.
I run through an open gate on the bank, curious as to why it’s open, but decide to leave it. I glance at my watch and I’m almost at 3K, so I decide to do 5K this morning and turn to go back. The Whoopers are on the washes, so very close to me with the rising water levels. They are very noisy! Chatting to each other in their groups, deciding when to take off for the fields. As each group gets louder and louder, I can hear the sound of their wings flapping and splashing as they start ‘running’ on the water to get airborne. Such a common sight on the washes, but never fails to amaze me! I can just see some groups through the fog as they take off. Their wings don’t make that characteristic ‘whoomp’ sound of our native Mute swans.
I carry on running and listening to CB and Andy. My 5K is done and I notice that it’s a sub 40 minute one, which surprises me. I end the run, but carry on listening to the guided run until it ends, after 45 minutes. A contemplative run for me this morning, but what I needed 😊
Written by
Jools2020
Graduate10
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Great run Jools you certainly have a wonderful place to run. Plan a run tomorrow so hope it’s warmed up slightly. Might try the Trent river bank here. Stay safe and warm 💗
What a lovely descriptive post Jools! Your journey has been amazing - I’ve been at this malarkey for just over a year and can puff my way round 10k but 10 miles seems a very long way off! (My New Year resolution perhaps 🤔?). Your high riverbank looks a lovely place to run - it must be awesome when the sun comes out! Happy running!
Thank you! I was thinking about my journey this morning. No-one more amazed than me 😊. 10 miles isn’t so much more than 10K if you do it in steps. I just kept doing 10K until I felt ready to increase.
The high riverbank is very straight, so the view doesn’t vary much. The wildlife, however, does vary and you never know what you might see! 😊
That sounds a lovely run, I enjoyed reading your post, I feel like I went on that run with you from your vivid description. I’ve done the NRC ‘A Whole Run’ and I enjoyed that one, especially the analogy about the cloudy sky clearing. I’m sure your motivation will return if you have a few more runs like that one.
It was! It was about zero I think, but didn’t seem that cold once I started running. Now the fog has cleared and I wish I could have run later. Sadly I had other things to do today, so it had to be first thing or not at all. 😊👍
What a wonderful post, it's made feel all zen just reading it 😊 a great run, well done on your sub-40 5k! 👏👏👏 It's great that it helped you rediscover your motivation 👍Funny you should mention recognising people by their dogs, that happens to us all the time! I think most dog owners wouldn't recognise each other unless they had their dogs with them 😂
I've done that NRC run and I found it quite reflective but also uplifting. It suited my mood at the time, and it sounds like it was a perfect tonic for you this morning.
Your description is so evocative, I almost felt like I was there too. I wish I was - it's pretty special to be able to run with those swans as your companions.
Don't worry, I never recognise people, but I do recognise their dogs. 😁
Oh - and congratulations on another sub-40 minute 5k 👏
Thanks, Diane. I’ve done that run before as well. As they said during the guided run, each run is different so you can do it as many times as you want 😊.
The swans were really close today. They don’t like to be around people, but the fog kept me hidden. 👍
Yes, exactly! If the wind is blowing in the right direction for it, I can hear them at night from the end of my garden. Hundreds and hundreds of Whoopers all saying goodnight to each other! 😊
Lovely read. You’ve written a beautiful reflective cycle... with multiple levels, both the recent cycle of feelings (mojo loss and regain) and the one that takes you right back to the beginning of your running. The account of the swans was really vivid. What an amazing landscape in which to run.
Thank you. It was your posts that inspired me to take more notice of my surroundings, especially the wildlife, and include my observations in my write ups! So thank you for that! 😊
Great run 👏👏👏 I recognise this place... from an earlier post and wow! Havent we come so far! ... especially you... 10 mile! 👌 absolutely awesome lady!Super proud of you 💕
Sounds like a tonic 😊 I’ve only managed treadmill runs for the last 10 days and I’m so looking forward to getting out. Looks like a lovely place to run.
I'm late to the party again Jools- reading run reports late at night as usual! I loved reading your post today- you possess great determination and have achieved so much- your joy in running shines out of your words and is inspiring to others 😁👍 it's beautiful to read about the lovely scenery where you live, worth the trade off with the elements I think/hope? Keep on keeping on running- look back and marvel at how far away that couch is now 🤗
Haha, no I’m still awake! Thank you for your lovely comments. The couch does seem a long way away. It was good to reminisce about how our ‘group’ cheered each other on and continue to do so, both on here and on Strava! The run today was certainly worth braving the elements for, once I decided on the safer option of the riverbank. It wasn’t cold once I was running and I even kept my gloves on today! It is very pretty here, as long as you like ‘flat’ 😊.
What a beautiful descriptive, positive post. Reading it made me feel I was running with you.
It must have felt lovely running along the man made riverbank where your journey started and reflecting on all you have achieved, from C25K to 10 miles in 5 months is such an amazing achievement, I hope you are feeling very proud of yourself, you are such an inspiration 💪💪💪⭐️⭐️⭐️👏👏👏
Massive well done for getting out there in the freezing fog, so glad the guided run made you see that you are still motivated, those clouds will pass. What a joy to not be thinking about pace and to enjoy the actual run and all the scenery and wildlife around you and then what a lovely surprise to see that you achieved another sub 40, 5km👏👏👏
Love reading your posts such a joy to read and very inspiring.
Thank you 🙏. I love to be inspiring, I get a lot of strength from that 💕
I’m trying to get back up to 3 runs a week and I hope to run run tomorrow, with a long run planned for Saturday. I’m going for a walk with a friend this morning and it’s quite pleasant here today!
Hi Julia, Oh you really are you have inspired me so much.
That sounds a wonderful plan, I hope you enjoyed your walk with your friend.
I have not been out on a run yet this week because of my rota and had lots to do yesterday and was not feeling so good. I think I may have got a bit of a chill from Sunday. I am thinking of going for a very short run now, as I do not feel up to a long run today so going to be kind to myself.
Hope you have had a lovely day, feels very cold again today
Thank you. It’s funny how it turned out. I saw the fog and my heart sank, I knew I had to run where it was safe. Yet this turned into a really enjoyable run. Isn’t that just the way! 😊
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week3run1 ✅. 3 x 17 mins with 1 min walks. 
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