Just Not Feeling it Today

[Birdlady64]

Today was 1km Speed Challenge Run 3 day for me, but I was just not feeling it.

I slept quite well last night😴, but not for long enough. I still haven’t caught up on the lost sleep of the previous week, despite being on holiday. My tummy isn’t feeling quite right 😟, and I’m also back at work today so I need to consciously make time to run during daylight as my speed challenge route is along an unlit, unmade road.

All morning I was thinking I wouldn’t run, but although it was a chilly 3 degrees the grey murk had turned to weak sunshine by lunchtime so I decided to get kitted up, get out there and “suck it and see”. After all it’s just a bit of fun right? The time over 1km doesn’t really matter does it?

Oh yes it blooming well does!!

So I do the same interval workout as on the previous 2 runs - 1km warm up jog/fartlek speed runs, 0.5k recovery, 1km sprint, 0.5k recovery, 2 km jog/walk intervals to reach home and a total distance of 5km.

The road past the Rugby Club was much more flooded than of late, and muddy much further down the road. I don’t want to run over that so I have to walk further to safely start my sprint. I hope I don’t run out of road before I reach 1k 😨

My watch buzzes to start the sprint interval and off I set. I changed the display to show interval distance, interval pace and interval time, but I’m not looking at it, just concentrating on putting one leg in front of the other as quickly as possible.

There’s a big muddy patch in the road. Do I go through it, or round it? In the end I deviate slightly off my straight line to avoid the worst of it, but my legs get splattered with mud anyway. Why on earth did you just do that Diane?

Boy this feels tough today and I'm getting a headache. 🥴 I’m really not going to get anywhere near my time of last week am I? Come on Diane, what are you thinking? This is a Speed Challenge! Keep going woman!

I’m rapidly approaching the bottom of the road where it joins up with the tarmac and main road into town. Oh No! The road is running out! 😱 How much further? I glance at my watch - distance says 0.95 km. I don’t have time to see what the interval pace or elapse time is. Keep it up Diane - nearly done!

I reach 1km just before I reach the main road. Phew! That’s a relief! 😌

I turn around and start walking the 0.5k recovery interval. My respiration rate is through the roof again. I check my heart rate – it’s just inside Zone 3. Why am I so puffed then?

I jog/walk the final 2k interval, coming to a virtual stop whilst navigating the flooded sections of road. Reaching home I stop my watch and see my 5k time is 1 minute 15 seconds slower overall than last weeks speed run. 😥 Oh well!

Back home I check the stats and Mr Garmin tells me my time for 1k was 5.51. That’s just one second slower than last week. Gah! Now that is really annoying!! 🤬

By way of consolation prize, after synching, Strava awarded me PRs for 400m and 1/2 mile, and my second fastest mile over the entire workout. So I guess I should be reasonably happy with that. It’s just a shame about the 1k, but there is always next week 😁

The photo is a montage from my weekend away at RHS garden Rosemoor – much more interesting and prettier than the muddy road by the Rugby Club.

[Hidden]

Well done for going out when you weren’t really feeling it Diane, quite challenging conditions out there at the moment but there are a lot of positives to take from your run even though you felt disappointed with your speed challenge ... I think it’s perhaps hard to improve week on week. Your trip to Rosemoor sounds lovely, your photos make a great postcard of your weekend away. 🤗

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks!I'm glad I went out and it was fun although I don't know that I enjoyed the sprint bit at the time.

In hindsight, as you say, lots of positives to take away.

Rosemoor was lovely and just the change of scenery for a few days that I needed.

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

I love how you talk to yourself, keeping you going, what’s in a second, you did better than us as we haven’t done it yet 😀

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

Mr B says I do that all the time. 😁There is still plenty of time left in the week to have another go

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Birdlady64]

Yes plenty of week left, I talk to myself as well, my boss walked past me today and said “talking to yourself again?” I just said yup lol

[Roxdog Graduate10]

That was pretty fast considering you weren't really feeling it today. Be proud of yourself!

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Roxdog]

Thanks.Well yes I guess it's consistent with last week so it proves that wasn't a total fluke😁

[Jools2020 Graduate10]

Talk about suspense, I was at the edge of my seat! So close with that 1 Km dash; but you know that’s a really good time, especially with the other things going on like lack of sleep, unsettled tummy. You did really well with PBs as well.

There’s always next week for the 1K sprint and I hadn’t realised you were so competitive 😂

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

Thanks Julia. No nor did I. Something has been unleashed from within I think 😁

It's only really a competition with myself, but I never would have tried to do this if it weren't for the Challenge and I'm glad I signed up.

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

Once unleashed there is no hope for you 😂

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

I think I was doomed from about week 4 of c25k

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

I think it happened a bit later for me - maybe Week 8 😊

[Hidden]

Lots of great achievements there today 🎖️😀. I think you are being a tad hard on yourself Diane. ⭐

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

I know I know I know....Thanks Delly-dot.

In hindsight I have to be pleased with that run.

[Runjilly Graduate10]

That post was great reading Birdlady! Your 1k time is very good, 1 second slower is not disastrous! You set your bar pretty high on your first run and well done to you for going out when you were under par 👍😉

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Runjilly]

Thanks!No not disastrous at all. I was just a little disappointed to be so close to another PB. And I never knew it would matter so much

Nobody apart from me and all my VRBs on here are in the slightest bit interested so Im making up for that 😁

[Frizzbomb67 Graduate10]

It is annoying when you don’t beat your time but your 1k time is pretty fast already! Way faster than me! Well done got just getting out there 👍🏻

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Frizzbomb67]

Thank you.I needed to get out there and run and am glad I did. Ok it wasn't a PB but still well over a minute faster than before I started the Challenge😁

[Littleoyellow Graduate10]

Great run report Birdlady 😁 and great running too 🏃‍♀️👍💨 the best bit was that you made the decision to get out there 😁👍 hope you're feeling better 🤗

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Littleoyellow]

Feeling much better thanks.So I wasn't on top of things yesterday but going for a run was just the pick me up I needed. It was a fun run to do too though not necessarily at the time 🥴

[Littleoyellow Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

What is it that coach Bennett says, "even though you try your best not every run will be your best run," or something along those lines 🤣 - I have to admit that the thought of a run in the cold today isn't appealing to me atm, but I'll throw myself out of the door later 😬

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Littleoyellow]

Yes he absolutely says something like that.Good luck for your run!

[Littleoyellow Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

I can never remember coach B's pearls of wisdom after the event 🤣 I'm still steeling myself to run later- 5.5 hours sleep last night after a stressful late work session 😬 but I'm thinking a slow 5k will do to keep the legs going and lift the mood today 😁👍maybe NRC recovery run? With background Christmas music? 🏃‍♀️🎅🎄

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Littleoyellow]

sounds like a plan to meplus you'd get a tick on your festive Bingo Card (if you are playing)

[Littleoyellow Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

Of course I'm playing 🎶🎵🎄🎅👍🤣.... just getting kitted up- currently wearing just about everything out of the wardrobe 🤣👍

[Catho78 Graduate10]

Great running even when you were not feeling it, you did it, and you may not have a new PB yet but it’s an epic time to beat, awesome work! Happy running 🏃🏽‍♀️❄️

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Catho78]

Thanks!

It's weird isn't it how you really don't want to go, but when you force yourself you're always glad you did 😁

[Lifluf Graduate10]

Well, good for you for getting out there. What's 1s between friends and its still a cracking time.My last week dash was like that. Hopefully this week will be better 🤞

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Lifluf]

Thanks!Yes it's only one second.

Good luck with your next speed challenge run - fingers crossed for a faster time🤞

[Lifluf Graduate10]

Thanks. Hope to give it a go tomorrow.

[Instructor57 Graduate10]

Well done in completing another speed challenge 👍Especially as you were not feeling 8n the mood for it .

I'm struggling with motivation on and off ,

It's tricky now i'm working again ,

I must try harder 😐