Speed Challenge Week 4 Part II: Plus a Bingo Tick Bonus ✔and a (not)parkrun

[Birdlady64]

The gremlins 👿have been getting the better of me for the last 2 days, forcing me to settle for muddy welly-boot clad lunchtime strolls in the woods 🌳instead of going for a run.

They nearly beat me again this morning. I woke up, looked outside - grey, damp, dismal, breezy - and promptly got back into bed. Decided I was being ridiculous, gave myself a good talking to, got up again, kit on, warmed up and out.

It started (not)well when, whilst faffing around with my playlist, I stepped into a deep puddle around the corner from the house. 🙄 Oh well, I’ll just have to run with wet feet.

I’m having another attempt at the final weeks Speed Challenge as I desperately want to beat my previous best time from week 2 of the Challenge, which was 5.50.

So it’s the usual out and back past the Rugby Club. It’s still ridiculously muddy, but with a bit less standing water.

Nicely warmed up after a fartlek interval with sprints between alternate lamp-posts followed by a recovery speed walk I set off.

I’m a bit scared of going flat out on the muddy top section but speed up once I’m past the worst of it to try and make up some time. I reach the halfway point - it feels fast and I’m breathing heavily. I don‘t dare check my watch but just keep going, trying to hold my form. At about 0.8k I’m flagging a bit – I don’t think I can sustain this pace and back off for a few seconds. Come on Diane – you can do this! I find a little bit extra from somewhere and then its done!

I’m totally exhausted and stop, bent double, hands on hips for a few seconds trying to catch my breath.

I need some Bingo card ticks so I swap my playlist to a short one of Christmas tunes for the jog back home – Fairy Tale of New York (The Pogues & the late great Kirsty Mc Coll), Merry Christmas Everybody (Slade), I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday (Wizzard).

Well I really don’t know about the snowman bringing the snow – more like the rain man bringing the mud!

I reach the 5k point for my (not)parkrun and stop my watch. The time certainly isn’t going to win me any medals today.

Back home I check that stats and….

Wait for it…..

my time for the 1km sprint is 5.48! 😁

Yes! It may only be 2 seconds but I did it!

After synching, Strava also gives me personal records for 1/2 mile and 400m so I’m super pleased with my run today.

The Speed Challenge has been great fun. It forced me out of my comfort zone and to try something which I never would have done otherwise. I'm glad I signed up.

Now on to the 2020 Distance Relay Challenge

[Jools2020 Graduate10]

Wow! That’s amazing, Diane! I know that you’ve exceeded your own expectations with this speed challenge. A revelation for you! Plus, 2 whole seconds is HUGE! And the other PBs, too! A very successful run for you, you must be so proud!

Well done, so pleased for you! 👏👏👏🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🎉🍾👍

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

Thanks Julia! I was really at my limit this morning, but I'm pretty sure I can improve on that in time.

I reckon I earned my brunch of bubble & squeak with eggs and black pudding ! 😋

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

Ooh, sounds delicious! You definitely did earn that 😊

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

It was very tasty. We had no bacon in so was a worthy substitute😁

[RunBrianRun Graduate10]

Well done! 👍

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to RunBrianRun]

Thanks so much 😀

[Couchphoenix Graduate10]

Well done Birdlady64, a tough run that one, I admire you for getting out of that warm bed and even more so for running to Christmas songs ! 😂

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Couchphoenix]

Thanks!Well I only did the Christmas music thing for the tick on the Bingo Card. And I only used it for the jog back home 😁

[Couchphoenix Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

You definitely earned that bingo tick ! We’ve had the radio on in work this week Magic Christmas 😬 lovely at first but a bit wearing by the end of the week when Chris Rea is still driving home for Christmas 🚗 😂

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Couchphoenix]

🤣

[Grannyhugs Graduate10]

Brilliant run and great playlist. Fantastic 1k time, if I wasn’t monitoring my HR I may have given this challenge a go 🤣 but would got nowhere near as fast as that. Happy running 🤗

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Grannyhugs]

Ooh hope everything is ok with the heart rate thing....I try not to worry too much as it stresses me out. Tuesdays attempt was 32% in zone 5 according to Mr Garmin. Today's was just 7%. Who knows?....

I just saw your dog btw - brilliant!

[Grannyhugs Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

All is fine thanks, just enjoying running slower with lower HR giving cracking VO2MAX results 🤣🤣 I do find it varies a lot on how well I’ve slept the night before though.

[Forest_Run_Beginner Graduate10]

Wow, that is super speedy and a whole 2 seconds is so much to knock off your 1km time, absolutely brilliant. I hope you are buzzing now and really enjoyed that brunch, it was definitely well deserved.

And another tick on the bingo card, all round a brilliant run, well done ✅👍🏃‍♀️🎅🤶🦌⛄🎄

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Forest_Run_Beginner]

I was certainly buzzing this morning - once I had recovered sufficiently😀😂

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

That made great reading and I’m so glad I’m not the only one who gives herself a good talking to

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

😂Thanks

Hope you are both doing ok

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Birdlady64]

We are sort of ok thanks, but feeling sad that our christmas plans look like they have to be cancelled

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

Yep it's total pants isn't it. Assume you are Tier 4 too?Was due to have Christmas dinner at mum and dads. Would be for the first time since February.

Now I will have to rumage in the freezer to see what we can have for Christmas

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Birdlady64]

Yes it is pants, no not us but Willows children and grands who we planned to see I’m sorry your plans have changed too

It’s awful for thousands

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

So sad. We haven't seen the grandkids (they're in south wales) for over a year now.I'm sure next year will be better for all of us

[Lifluf Graduate10]

Wow, that's a really good time! And mud too. I've noticed that my speed is significantly slower on the muddy tracks than the road work so you could probably go even faster on a dry summer day.

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Lifluf]

Thanks. I was pleased to beat my previous time but it was hard work.You will always be faster on the road, so yes. Roll on summer then😁

I chose this route as it's a long straight road with no junctions and little traffic. I didn't bank on quite so much rain over the 4 weeks though

[Littleoyellow Graduate10]

Well done on improving your speed challenge time Birdlady 👍Respect!

[Roxdog Graduate10]

Sorry I missed your post, I had access problems.What a fantastic time for that 1k!

I had to stop because of my allotment related niggle. I'm rubbish at sticking with plans!

I hope you have a nice Christmas, whatever form your Christmas takes!

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Roxdog]

Thanks! I was pretty chuffed in the end. I hope your niggle has gone now.Christmas dinner at Mum & Dads is out of the window now we are in Tier 4 but I'm sure I can cobble something together out of the freezer. As long as everyone stays safe and healthy is the main thing.

I hope you can manage to have a good Christmas too with new doggy. Post a pic!