CR10: (Unintended) First 5k πŸ’«πŸ“£πŸ“£πŸ“£πŸ¦Œ - Bridge to 10K

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CR10: (Unintended) First 5k πŸ’«πŸ“£πŸ“£πŸ“£πŸ¦Œ

GailXrunning profile image
β€’37 Replies

Blame it on the tech. Or on my fumbling with the tech. In my vision, I would be reaching 5k by Xmas... and maybe on the 25th itself. Today was meant to be a stepping stone, similar to CR9, more like 4.6k or 4.7k. But the audio-stat function was playing up, and I accidentally paused Runkeeper - not once, but twice - in the first 10 minutes. All in all, a bit of a mess on the measuring front.

I was again running solo; again heading to the second park; and even earlier than on Monday to catch the beautiful dawn light. I set out at 7.30 after a decent set of preparatory exercises and some foam-rollering. A further 5-minute warm-up walk - with some photos to help with my festive-bingo effort - took me to the start of the tech-mishap episode(s).

It took a while to realise, of course, and led to more fumbling at a point I’d have preferred not to be distracted by such things. Retrieving the phone from my makeshift β€˜running’ belt (an ancient travel accessory); adjusting eyes to read that it was paused; ensuring that it was actually on; then trying to get the whole thing back into the tiny key pocket instead of the one designed for cash notes: all while moving. Not a good look and not a great set-up for a run. It had an adverse impact on my mood - amazing what can throw one off. I’d rather have been thinking about being patient with my run’s early stages and with my body at this point (thanks to advice I really like from Andy Puddicome), but I was feeling impatient with this darned belt, the phone, and the app! That took a bit of a while to overcome despite everything else being perfect.

There were water fowl aplenty, flocks of gulls on the grass. Still no dabchicks (are they late risers?) Some ducks I still can’t identify after consulting my pocket guide; they’re probably the female version of some β€˜ornamental’ birds. As I circled the ponds, the moorhens would scurry across the path in front of me. There were gorgeous colours in the sky, to be admired in places through the dark lacing of tree silhouettes. The huge puddles of Monday had now gone even though there was rain overnight.

After rounding the water a few times, I headed back up the central incline and ran around the network of paths on the higher ground, past the deer enclosure (they were just visible at the far end). I thought about my breathing. However, today I was more successful focusing on my footfall - aiming for short strides, slightly faster cadence, and on quick-lifting feet. Not sure I was skimming the ground exactly, but, as we will see, it did improve my handling of the rises.

I took a different exit gate so that I could avoid the busier streets around the schools, and looped homewards. I was on a new route here, a residential road, and then found my way to some ancient lanes that survived the 19c urbanisation, a mix of garages, workshops and a growing number of experimental architect houses. Parcels were being unloaded into the most dramatic of these homes from a hired Luton van. I wove my way to the back-snicket orchard, the mini-park (taking a different undulating path), arriving the street orchard that marks the transition to the cool-down walk. I took the photo above here.

Anyway, all this without audio-updates to alert me to time, distance and pace. Just guesswork. This was the result:

41:27, 5.37km, 7:44.

7:50, 7:55, 7:36, 7:30, 7:23, (8:43).

Caveat: As far as I can tell, the app continued to record progress despite being β€˜paused’. (Times on my photos before and after the run suggest this.)

Of note (to myself primarily) is that I almost achieved negative splits for the main part of this run; that the incline in the park did not hinder my increasing pace; that I ran further than I’d planned, and further than I’d planned for Xmas; that this was the best average pace of the three runs I’ve taken to this park; that the mess at the start didn’t do much damage. A lot of surprises!

Enjoy your outings, fellow runners! πŸƒπŸ»β€β™€οΈπŸƒπŸ»πŸƒπŸΏβ€β™€οΈπŸƒπŸ½β€β™‚οΈπŸƒπŸΌβ€β™€οΈ

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GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunning
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37 Replies
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Jericho2332 profile image
Jericho2332Graduate10

Jealous! I'm stuck at work πŸ₯ΊπŸ€£, well done on the run! πŸ‘πŸ»

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningβ€’ in reply toJericho2332

Oh, that’s a shame, especially today. πŸ₯² But thanks for checking in while at work and for sending me wishes! πŸ˜‚πŸ‘

Grannyhugs profile image
GrannyhugsGraduate10

Well done reaching your 1st 5k, such a milestone run. Happy running πŸ€—

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningβ€’ in reply toGrannyhugs

Thank you!

Imoca profile image
Imoca

Well done Gail, knew you'd be doing that 5K any day now. How does it compare to the feeling of graduation ?

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningβ€’ in reply toImoca

Thanks, Imoca. That’s a really good question, which has made me think. I guess I’m really sad that Buddhagal is laid low on the IC; we just had such a wild time in the run-up to graduation (with you just behind us), so it can’t compare. This run was more sober, and more solitary (I don’t mean the running solo bit). On the other hand, it feels more like a starting-of-a-new-journey milestone (even though I thought of graduation as that, this is more so) and it’s like I’ve now got a real footing on the Bridge.

Imoca profile image
Imocaβ€’ in reply toGailXrunning

Understandable. I really hope Buddhagal has some answers soon, and gets better quickly. I think we're all starting to feel like actual runners now ?

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate10

Well done for your first 5K, and a sub 40 minute one to boot! πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸƒβ€β™€οΈπŸƒβ€β™€οΈπŸƒβ€β™€οΈπŸ‘ Took me months to achieve that 😊

Enjoyed your post as always πŸ˜ŠπŸ‘

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningβ€’ in reply toJools2020

Thank you! I hadn’t made that connection (sub 40), but you’re right. Imagine it’ll be much longer before I get it closer to 30 (if ever)! Now that I’ve blown out of the water my little Xmas project, I need to figure out what I’m doing over the next week. πŸ€”πŸ’­

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate10β€’ in reply toGailXrunning

I’m nowhere near that, either. It’s not been my focus lately. Yes, you’ll have to have a new target! πŸ‘

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningβ€’ in reply toJools2020

πŸ€” Help M get back on his running feet; throw a few km into the collective pot on the 2020 challenge; try more gps art for the bingo; test the distance to another running destination (one I’ve wanted to get to since starting running)....

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate10β€’ in reply toGailXrunning

That little lot is going to keep you busy! 😊

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningβ€’ in reply toJools2020

😁

LottieMW profile image
LottieMWAmbassador

Crikey! Well done! ...and with a good time and splits πŸ™ŒπŸΌ

Bet you’re well chuffed! Defo celebration time!!!

πŸ‘πŸ™ŒπŸΌπŸ‘ŠπŸƒπŸ»β€β™€οΈπŸ¦ŒπŸŒŸπŸ’ƒπŸ»πŸ₯‚πŸ₯³πŸŽ‰πŸŽŠπŸ’₯πŸ”₯

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningβ€’ in reply toLottieMW

πŸ˜†πŸ¦ŒπŸƒπŸΌβ€β™€οΈβ˜„οΈπŸ’ƒπŸΌπŸ’₯πŸ™ŒπŸ‘ŠπŸ’«

Thanks - and yes I am. As I just replied to Jools, I’ve now got to find a new project for the next week.

LottieMW profile image
LottieMWAmbassadorβ€’ in reply toGailXrunning

Well it looks like you’ve come up with some ideas already πŸ˜‰

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningβ€’ in reply toLottieMW

😁

πŸ₯² Unfortunately, the last one (the one I’d been dreaming of) is thwarted. While checking the opening hours, I discovered that running/ jogging is no longer allowed there. There are still some bits that are runnable, but the very best sections are now walk-only.

πŸ€”But, hey, I’m just realising as I write, the limitations could be te-functioned as some (rather long) β€˜jeffing’ intervals! 😁

LottieMW profile image
LottieMWAmbassadorβ€’ in reply toGailXrunning

...and why not πŸ˜‰

Peter44 profile image
Peter44Graduate10

Blimey, must be something in the air, everyone going a bit further than planned! 🀣 another interesting post, i might try a run with no app notifactions, split times, etc, just my music! Sounds like you did the 5k, quite comfortably, hope M is ok, after his fall. πŸ€”You'll have to make a new plan for the 25th now!!! 🀣

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningβ€’ in reply toPeter44

Haha! A special ingredient in the gazelle fodder! I definitely need a new plan now. M is doing well, thank you, and should be back for the weekend (by his own reckoning). The run felt perfectly comfortable - apart from all the messing with the phone bits, where I thought I might also tangle my own legs. Funny how the one thing influenced the other! πŸ˜‚

Peter44 profile image
Peter44Graduate10β€’ in reply toGailXrunning

Maybe santa might bring you a new running belt, for your bits!!! 🀣

Bluebirdrunner profile image
BluebirdrunnerGraduate10

Well done GailXrunning, the tech can be a faff sometimes, but so satisfying to verify our efforts! 5k done without doubt. Super work!πŸƒβ€β™€οΈβœ”πŸŽ„xxx

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningβ€’ in reply toBluebirdrunner

Thank you, BBR! Feeling great, and no longer have imposter syndrome on the Bridge! πŸ˜‚Totally true about the tech. Love it and hate it all at once. Without it, we’d not be here, and I for one certainly wouldn’t be running.

Bambi2020 profile image
Bambi2020Graduate10

Yay- 5K!!!! That’s brilliant!!! πŸ‘ πŸ‘ Look at you- calm as you like- just did an accidental 5K- Yes you did- 5 whole K - let’s celebrate! πŸŽ‰ Gazelle of the week badge now passing to you πŸ… 🦌 😁

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningβ€’ in reply toBambi2020

πŸ™Œ Thank you. 5.3k it turns out!πŸ˜† It’s the special seasonal ingredient in the fodder. 🦌πŸ₯¦πŸ₯¬πŸ₯­πŸ₯•πŸ₯œπŸŒ°πŸ«

πŸ§˜πŸ»β€β™€οΈ πŸ§˜β€β™‚οΈπŸ§˜πŸΎ!!!

Bambi2020 profile image
Bambi2020Graduate10β€’ in reply toGailXrunning

That’s practically 6K- there’s one of your next goals πŸ‘πŸ»

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningβ€’ in reply toBambi2020

πŸ‘ I think that’s very doable. First job will be to get M back up to speed (so to speak).

StoneDragon profile image
StoneDragon

Fantastic - well done Gail. It sometimes takes a technology mishap for us to accidentally hit a new milestone - just goes to prove you always had it in you πŸ’ͺπŸ‘πŸ€£

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningβ€’ in reply toStoneDragon

Thanks, SD! So true. I am running very comfortably. I know I could continue, but (given my history of injury and my aging joints) am holding back to keep progress slow and steady. What always surprises me, now I monitor distance etc, is how easy it is to cover another few hundred meters without realising it. That zone at the end where I slow down to the walking section and struggle to rescue phone from its pouch to β€˜stop’ the session... that’s usually a third of a km! πŸ˜‚

Buddhagal profile image
Buddhagal

GailX.... yabadababloodydoo πŸ˜πŸ˜πŸ˜πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘. How fabulous and without planning. Gail you've made that bridge happen so naturally how wonderful, and 5.37 k. Just shows you what all that gazelle 🦌 like running has done for you. Another immensely enjoyable read..sorry I couldn't be with you..but chuffed to bits for you. Onwards πŸƒβ€β™€οΈπŸƒβ€β™€οΈπŸƒβ€β™€οΈπŸƒβ€β™€οΈ. Xmas 🎁 arrived early. πŸ™‹πŸ™‹πŸ™‹

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningβ€’ in reply toBuddhagal

Thank you, Bg! 😁 It’s so great to hear you cheering us on. I hope you are feeling a bit better day by day. (And I know you’d have been steaming ahead had this injury not hit you! )πŸƒπŸΌβ€β™€οΈπŸ¦ŒπŸ™‹πŸΌπŸ™‹πŸΌπŸ™‹πŸΌ

LittleMissie profile image
LittleMissie

Well done Gail πŸƒπŸΌβ€β™€οΈ

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningβ€’ in reply toLittleMissie

Hey! Great to hear from you. How are you doing?

LittleMissie profile image
LittleMissieβ€’ in reply toGailXrunning

I’m getting there, thank you for asking. How are you? I’m really pleased for you reaching that 5k milestone, now onwards to 10k and beyond. You can do it πŸƒπŸΌβ€β™€οΈ

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningβ€’ in reply toLittleMissie

Thank you. It was nice to get there - symbolic, really! Just found your post. Weird how you found it hard to get beyond 20 mins after what you’d achieved. Maybe just the anticlimax of post graduation? Great to hear you’re feeling back on track. And you’re getting close to 5k. For me, it helped to take a little project onto each run: β€˜let’s try a bit of’. ...Just gave it a purpose, even if I didn’t sustain it.

Smile23 profile image
Smile23Graduate10

Well done you on your first 5k. Early xmas pressyπŸ˜πŸŽ„

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningβ€’ in reply toSmile23

Thank you! For me it was as big as 10 was for you!!! πŸ˜‰

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