Speed Challenge Week 4 - getting slower 😞

[Birdlady64]

I really wasn't in the right frame of mind today, after a stressful morning at work. For some reason the beans on toast I had for breakfast hadn't really settled properly so I wasn't feeling 100% either. But I went out anyway - same day, same time, same route, same interval workout for purposes of consistency.

The road past the Rugby Club was even more muddy than last week. In fact I've never seen so much mud around here in 26 years. It will be a while before I contemplate running in the woods again - we need a few dry days first.

I notice that somebody has dug out a small channel in the road to try and direct some of the water into the ditch by the side of the road. It doesn't look like it is working though and I almost have an embarassing accident picking my way past the largest flooded section as my feet slip from under me and I manage to grab hold of a tree trunk to save myself, and my pride! My road shoes are now covered in sticky mud. Thankfully there's no-one else around to notice - they all have more sense than I do!

I slip again on the mud on my recovery interval before my 1k sprint. Maybe it's not such a good idea to try and run flat out here today😒

Anyway, I've come this far so nothing else to be done than go for it!

I set off, trying to dodge the worst patches of mud. Damn - this is going to be slow!

The mud lessens as I get further away from the Rugby Club and I try to speed up a bit. This feels tough🥵 - I'm not sure I can sustain this pace so I back off a little. This is definitely going to be a slow one.

I step it up a little as the end of the road and the 1k marker approach - I don't want it to be too much slower than last time.

My watch signals the end of the 1k interval, but instead of turning round and navigating the mud again I decide to continue to the main road and loop back past the Leisure Centre and onwards to reach home.

In the end, its a 5.3k run overall today for which Strava gives me my second fastest 1/2 mile and mile, and my 3rd fastest 2 miles.

But the 1k was only my third fastest - at 5.56. That's 5 seconds slower than last week and 6 seconds slower than week 2 of the Challenge.

I'm almost tempted to try again later this week - just to see....

My goodness, I seem to have found a competitive streak that I never knew I had here.

This Challenge has been fun and I'm glad I signed up for it.

And can I claim another Festive Art tick on my Bingo Card? Does anyone else see a Polar Bear? Or am I pushing my luck too much 🤣

[Hareshaw-Granny Graduate10]

Defo see your polar bear (blue nose) . Still a pretty good time, certainly better than anything I could achieve just now.Think it would be a good idea for next year just to settle on doing only the strava Christmas art. 😂😂👍

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Hareshaw-Granny]

Ha ha yes 😁Maybe I found a new vocation. I could be like the Banksy of Strava art🖌️🎭 🎨

[SlowLoris]

Put your trailies on and go play in the mud.

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to SlowLoris]

It needs more than trailies in the woods right now. They did have an outing last Thursday but the mud is ridiculous.A couple of days without rain and they will be let out again😁

[Jools2020 Graduate10]

Wow! I think that 1Km pace was really good, considering everything that was conspiring against you today. You can’t run flat out if you’re worried about slipping. But hey, it was still under 6:00!! 👏👏👏👍 How our goals change when we discover what we can do! Only you can decide whether to have another go (I know what I’d do 😃).

BTW, great polar bear! 👏👍

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

Thanks JuliaI was pleased with the run overall. And the last 3 challenges have been 5.50,5.51,5.56. call me Mrs Consistent!😁 I was just little disappointed to not get a sub 5.50. You are right about goals changing though.

I like my accidental Polar bear

He can go with my reindeer 🦌and penguin 🐧with a shopping basket/santa 🎅with a sack of presents from Sunday.

Enough Strava Xmas art now!

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Goodness me! yes that’s the outline of a polar bear, Glad you had a tree trunk to right yourself by and that 1k speed is pretty darn good

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

My imagination is improving then!I was happy with the run overall. the last 3 challenges have been pretty consistent for me. Hope you are both feeling better

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Birdlady64]

Much better and thanks, hope to venture out for a run Friday

[Hidden]

When you calculate your run with the mud factor added in I think you must have run more than a few seconds faster Birdlady and yes, I can see a polar bear doing a handstand celebrating your very muddy run 😁🥳

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks. I think the mud might just be a bit of an excuse but overall I am happy. My last 3 runs have all been 5.50 something so I must be opting for consistency 😁Was pleased with the accidental Polar bear too 😁

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10]

Wow BL, I’d call that a great pace. Imagine how speedy it would have been without the mud! 💥💥💥

I’m heading out for my 4th one shortly. I won’t be dealing with mud today, but I do have buffeting wind and rain. I’m going to run anyway and see what happens just for a laugh! 🏃‍♀️💦 💨

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Thanks! Good luck 🤞I'm not sure the mud made that much difference tbh but I'm pleased with that compared to before the challenge

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

Just did mine BL! Headwind scuppered my chances to beat last week, but hey it’s done. Well done us! 👏👏

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

well done indeed - I just looked and your time is pretty decent. A lot faster than mine!

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

Thanks BL. I’ve been strategic though, and it’s a carefully planned downhill km. My normal pace on the same stretch is in the 6’s though, so I definitely pushed myself in the speed challenge! 😀

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

You’ve definitely got a polar bear there Birdlady64! The last 2 speed challenges I did, my best time was the first run. I think in my case it was strength of wings which determined the outcome. You can justify a pair of lovely trail shoes though.

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

You can't log the time if you flew - you are meant to run😂I wish I had worn my trail shoes but I have 1.5 k on the road either side of the sprint so didn't.

My fastest run was in week 2 and was a total surprise. The last 2 runs have been one and six seconds slower so still there or thereabouts. Pretty happy with that.

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

Ha ha, I’m sure I typed strength of wind!

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Ah - makes sense now 😁

[Lifluf Graduate10]

I see a polar bear. The mud is terrible this year isn't it Birdlady. So much rain for so long! I have trail shoes in addition to my normal running ones because the grip is much better but I need to wear them every run at the moment so I don't slip. I haven't managed to beat my week 1 speed challenge - just this week to go now.

[Littleoyellow Graduate10]

Very cute polar bear! Great speed challenge time as well- we are definitely doing what it says on the tin - challenging ourselves! And isn't that the point? You sound like you're relishing the challenge Birdlady, and really getting something out of it! You're nailing it, even in difficult conditions 😁👍💨

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Littleoyellow]

Yes - a challenge it certainly was. The last 3 runs have been pretty consistent so I'm happy with that compared to before the Challenge. I might do something similar on one of my runs every now and then in future

[Littleoyellow Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

It's tempting to want to build on the speed challenge I must admit 😁👍🏃‍♀️💨

[Roxdog Graduate10]

Definitely a polar bear!Running in the mud definitely slows things down, but you were still pretty quick!

I haven't run for a few days because I just my back a bit over doing things at the allotment over the weekend! So I envy you getting out there!

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Roxdog]

Thanks! Sorry about your back - naughty allotment making you do that! I hope you are back up and raring to go soon.

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

Glad you enjoyed your challenge Birdlady64

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

Thanks Al I had the best fun doing it and it's great to try something new and outside your comfort zone

[Forest_Run_Beginner Graduate10]

That still sounds like a good run to me and sometimes, no matter how hard we try, we can't always be faster. But, I said Polar Bear when I saw your 'Strava Art' before I even read your post so definitely worthy of the Bingo tick there. ✅👍🏃‍♀️🎅🤶🦌🎄⛄

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Forest_Run_Beginner]

Ha ha! Good to know my imagination isn't just running wild and I'm not delusional 😁 Trouble is I already have that tick - it doesn't count twice does it?Yes it was a good run overall - and I'm pretty happy with the result.

[Forest_Run_Beginner Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

It's Christmas, anything goes 🤣