23rd Consolidation Run

[Dodgylungs]

My Boxing Day 5K was an improvement on the pre Christmas run. In fact the time on the NIke Running Club run was 37.18 but I know that the NRC app always finishes at 4.8K on my FitBit. I ran the extra distance but the FitBit paused at 4.97K which meant I walked the last 0.03K of the run adding maybe 5 or 10 seconds onto the time.

I ran with a friend today who is just getting back into running but is a proper athlete. She cantered through the run and enjoyed the ‘slow’ pace even though it was clear she had more in her locker. Every time I run with a faster third party it improves my time. I was especially pleased with this run as I’d had a huge Christmas dinner on Friday.

I’m still running my usual route except I ran up the incline on the Heath instead of the usual flat track. I then ran back down the steeper incline (instead of running around the ponds which can be muddy) and circled back to the entrance on the Heath by the tennis courts. My legs were extra achy for this run so I avoided running back up the Heath and elected to run on the road which is basically downhill (apart from one small incline). Running on a full stomach from the day before was much harder than usual and my legs were still aching from the Christmas Eve run and there were many times I felt like stopping - but I didn’t, I carried on and completed both the NRC and the FitBit runs.

One thing I’ve noticed is that when I’m on my own the desire to stop now kicks in less. On the two times I’ve run with faster friends, I feel like stopping a lot. I guess part of this is that I’m going at a faster pace but I also wonder whether somewhere down the line there is some fear in me that I might not make it and will embarrass myself. Don’t know if that rings a bell with anyone else?

I intend to increase the distance to 6K over the next month and I also want to increase my speed over 5K. I’m going to do some interval runs as I’ve read that those really help.

Hope you’re all having as good a Christmas as possible.

[Tasha99 Graduate10]

I don’t think you need to call your runs consolidation runs anymore DL. They’re just runs. You’re a runner ☺️

[Dodgylungs Graduate10 in reply to Tasha99]

Thank you. I’ll take that on board. I’ve just read your profile. Your progress is amazing. Would love to know how you improved. Especially diet and what running gear you wear. I’m probably overdressing for the cold runs but I hate being cold on the walks home. How long did it take you to hit 30mins for 5K after you graduated?

[Tasha99 Graduate10 in reply to Dodgylungs]

Oh thank you! I was so fat at one point. I lost 2-3 with slimming world then started running. My weight stayed the same really until recently I decided to get rid of the last bit of weight and did slimming world SP days and got to target losing over 6 stone altogether.

I get hot on most runs so don’t layer up really. I’ve only just started wearing leggings. I don’t like base layer and top so I’ve got some long sleeved T-shirts this year so my arms are ok but I don’t over heat. It took me 5 months to get sub 30 after graduation. I think I was about 34 minutes when I graduated. Joining a club helped and doing hills 😶🤣

I don’t do warm up or cool down walks so I run from and to my door. If I need to warm up before speed work, or cool down after, I’d run a very slow mile.

[Dodgylungs Graduate10 in reply to Tasha99]

That’s really helpful info thanks. I’m currently running 4 mins slower, after 8 weeks of consolidation runs, than you were at graduation. I’m carrying about 3 stone more weight than I was this time last year, not just due to lockdown but changes in my life generally. I was on a very good diet (well more lifestyle really) when I was slim which I’ve not consistently managed to get back to this year, but I know diet is so much to do with it. It’s interesting that despite running marathons you still have to go on what is basically a low carb diet.

[Tasha99 Graduate10 in reply to Dodgylungs]

I think people put weight on running marathons as you get so hungry! I still had 2-3 stone to lose when I did a marathon. I’d like to have another go now that I’m slimmer and have built an aerobic base.

[Dodgylungs Graduate10 in reply to Tasha99]

Incredible weight loss in your part; 6 stone is incredible. The people I know who have run marathons all lost weight in the lead up to it as they were running so much and watching their diets. Those of us who have a monumental struggle with our weight don’t shift it so easily. In order for me to lose the weight I’ve put on I’m going to have to radicalise my diet again. I prefer eating smaller amounts that compliment my exercise, but as a food addict I can’t always be consistent.

[Tasha99 Graduate10 in reply to Dodgylungs]

Food addict too.

[limu_mu Graduate10]

Nice work !!!!

I went to the park the other day and it's really easy to get distracted by other runners- until I began to consider new alteratives such as that one is doing speed work, that one is interval training, and that one is trying to impress that lady (whilst social distancing). 🤣🤣😂

Yeah sure, it might be a bit off, but it makes me tolerate distractions better and also a reminder that this is such a personal journey.

Once in a while I'll see an endurance runner and they inspire me the most...😯 They just seem to be on a different life journey... speed is almost a byproduct of everything else.

Being uncomfortable is fine and you beat the biggest one by running...all is in your stride. You got this!