Why I decided to do a 10K run on a Thursday, I’m not quite sure. I usually do my longer runs on Saturdays! First, I wondered if I should do an 8K today, Then I just thought I would do my 8K route in reverse, which would mean I would pass the turning for the Deadend Track as I’m coming back into the village. The track is conveniently about 2K to the end and back. If I wanted to continue on to 10K, then I would.
I used the NRC guided run, with Coach Bennett. I’ve listened to it before and it’s good, but today I found myself zoning out now and then. It crossed my mind that maybe, just maybe, I don’t always need to be listening to something. I filed the thought away for future consideration.
I’m dressed for the cold with a long sleeved top over a short sleeved t-shirt. Warm running tights, buff and windproof jacket. I select a light green sun visor from my collection, pop on my fabulous sports glasses and I’m ready!
Off I go heading out of the village, listening to Coach Bennett telling me to start off relaxed. Actually, pretty much the whole of my run was relaxed 😊. I ignore him when he tells me to run the 4th km as if it were the 8th. I didn’t feel like doing it 😂.
I notice that the early morning drivers are not as tolerant of me running on the road and I have to take care, occasionally having to step onto the narrow verge. Once I turn onto the single track road I can relax as there’s very little traffic there.
I’m allowing the run to ebb and flow and enjoying the sensation of this happening. I’m getting a much better idea of my pace when running like this. Now that I’m warmed up, I enjoy the feeling of opening up and increasing my pace, and then pulling back slightly to rest.
Arriving at the turning for the Deadend Track I decide to run along it. I had actually already decided while I was running along the single track road, but it wasn’t a final decision and could have been subject to change 😂.
I almost wished I’d carried on, there had obviously been farm vehicles using it and it was so muddy. I was doing a hoppity skippety while I was running along, trying to miss the big clods! Must have looked hilarious. A couple of times it felt almost like I was playing hopscotch!
I come back out onto the main road at 9K. Coach Bennett is encouraging me to finish strong, but I decide not to. Then with 500m to go, I change my mind! I pull out all the stops, concentrate on my form and what my arms are doing and fly down Main Street! I’m finding the abrupt change in pace exhilarating, even though it’s at the end of a 10K run; it must be because I listened to my body for the previous 9.5 km.
Run ended and I stop briefly to catch my breath. I did have a bit of a workout for that last 500m but I’m not exhausted and saunter home 😊
Written by
Jools2020
Graduate10
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Well done Jools2020, an unexpected 10k, I went out 6am this morning and completed 9k, the weather was quite nice, not too cold. I did the NRC Run With Shalane, which took up 45 mins of it and was quite pleasant, like you I zone out sometimes but it’s company.
Thank you 🙏. The weather was milder for sure, I may have been a tad overdressed. When I got home, my hair was, dare I say it, damp! And sticking out in all directions! Horrifying 😂. I quickly went and showered in case anyone knocked at the door 😊
Really like this! I like to go with my long base layer then t-shirt over the top 😄 I like the way you think and muse on the runs. I do most, if not all my runs (especially under 10m) without listening to anything. I don't really mind either. I've found that a strong finish is good (as you know) but not always, just when it's there. I use this rather than do many intervals or fartleks really.
The great thing is that you went and the icing was 10k because not so long ago it wouldn't feel as comfy and routine as it may do now. Super stuff 😁
T -shirt over the top. Hadn’t thought of that! Seems the wrong way round 😊.
I’m going to try not listening to anything. Just on a shorter run and if I’m in the mood for silence.
I do like to finish strong. I love the feeling at the end of a longer run when I’m flying down the street. 😀. It’s liberating! I have tried interval work and it certainly helps to improve my pace, but I find it much more rewarding to be able to go on a 10 mile run, rather than shave a few seconds here or there off my PBs. It seems to me that the more miles I clock up, the less I’m concerned about the time it takes to do it. 😊 I just have to be able to develop the stamina to stay on my feet!
Fantastic run and beautiful picture. Do try running without voices, I've done for 13 months now and cant imagine how annoyed I'd be if there was someone telling me what I should be doing 🤣 sounds like a great route, those muddy tracks are such fun😏 but great for balance. Happy running 🤗
I’ll give it a go for sure. It’s not really a muddy track as such, it’s part concrete with lots of muddy clogs on it! The trails around here are far too muddy as they are under water now until the spring.
Oh I know that under water feeling, I ended up on those tracks at the start of the week only because anything that wasn't mud was an ice rink🤣 the things we do to get our mileage in.🤗
I think my over motivation is the problem, I hate missing runs and have entered garmin and strava challenges for distance in December. I could easily have missed the icy run🤣
Thanks, Diane. I never fail to be amazed that I can just go out and run 10K and barely know I’ve done it! I am a bit achy after 10 miles - but 10K is very comfortable now. Still takes a long time 😊
Well done, awesome run. And sprint finish too! I don’t listen to guided runs but have never tried running without music, I think I’ll also try this on a short run as I sorry in case I have a tech failure. I thought one run I’d run silent as phone said 3% battery at half way point but bizarrely it kept going 🥳🤷🏻♀️ I need noise to drown out the voices in my head 🤫
Thanks. You know, I thought I needed noise, too - especially earlier on in my running journey. I was drowning out the voices, too. But when I started listening to the guided runs, there are silent parts to consider what’s being said. Sometimes I decide not to consider anything - just enjoy the quiet. My thoughts didn’t come crowding in like I thought they would. Maybe I am ready for a silent run!
That was advice from GTFC. I’ve tried it on a number of longer runs. It feels like a very natural way of running and means I don’t keep looking at my watch!
Sounds like a lovely run. And a pace I can aspire to
I have to say that I panicked a bit the first time I realized I had not charged my headphones as I usually listen to a book when I run (novels, which I otherwise would never have time to read). But I discovered that, unlike when I was doing c25k, I don't need the distraction. I think because I have gone from forcing myself to get through a run to now quite enjoying running. I don't think about much of anything when I run without sound. I focus on the sound of my breath, the sound of my footfall, the sound of the birds...everything else recedes. Best thing ever for my mental health! I think I probably run naked one in three runs now.
I only found out about the wonders of silence when I started listening to the guided runs. There are spaces between the conversations for you to consider what has just been said, and I found myself pondering for just a few seconds, then letting my thoughts travel elsewhere! If they travelled to unwanted places, then I would park them and draw my focus back to the run and my surroundings. I don’t like to hear the sound of my breathing if I’m working hard, but mostly I’m not 😂
This is a fab run but i have to tell you I"m in awe of you!... I read your post on half Marathon but as I"m not a member I can't reply!...... You just go from strength to strength!.... Phenomenal Jools2020 x
Haha, you should join! It’s just a click of a button 😂 I joined just to congratulate MccHa, not really believing I would soon be posting when I did my first 10 miles!
Thank you so much, Jane 💕. I’ve just done it a little at a time, just increasing my long runs when I realised I was never going to be fast. It felt so good to complete that half marathon ❤️ And I’ve had lots of help and encouragement along the way, giving me confidence to trust my body and push on when the time was right 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️👍💕
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