Indecisive (not not-motivated) run: +6k (my ... - Bridge to 10K

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Indecisive (not not-motivated) run: +6k (my first!) 🌞🦌

GailXrunning profile image
19 Replies

There was considerable indecision. With storm warnings all over the forecast, I’d never envisaged running today, but as midday approached the weather was palpably perfect: bright sunshine and calm. I looked at tomorrow’s prognosis, which was less inviting. What to do? I dithered.

At first, I just sat down and decided to look through the NRC guided runs. I’d only tried one of these, the first of the ones with Headspace. Again I gravitated to the mindful collection, and another session with Chris Bennett and Andy Puddicome caught my attention: a 25-minute ‘Not Motivated Run’. It was then that a force summoned me to change into my kit and warmup. I’ll go for a short gentle run before lunch, I thought, just to enjoy the winter sunshine. I was very motivated (by the unexpected turn in the weather, and by the simple thrill of spontaneity) but decided I still wanted to listen to the ‘Not Motivated Run’ podcast.

On my warmup walk, I took the direction of the destination park, but - yet more equivocation - changed my mind at the end of the street and headed to my original running venue park, a couple of circuits of which would be perfect for 25 minutes. I practised some breathing work. Arriving at the park, I was immediately struck by the huge puddles everywhere and the debris of twigs that it was necessary to dance through. Clearly I’d slept through a storm overnight. The water reflected the sky in a dazzling patchwork.

I started my podcast. The first insight was that I’d overcome the biggest hurdle already (Bennett), because I was out and had started; the next lesson (Puddicome) was to ditch the whole binary of motivation versus no-motivation (this is just life, no big deal, it’s what you do with that that counts). So, I engaged with the exercises set by AP. For my visualisation I imagined myself running more lightly, more easily and gazelle-y. 💭💭🦌

On the first leg I found myself running directly into the sun. For a stretch the railings separating the railway strobed an intense light into my eyes; it was a relief to escape it. On another stretch, four crows were tumbling together. At the end of the first loop I did a 360, to do the circuit in reverse and avoid the strobe. Most of the way around, I took another impromptu decision: what if I explore that street over there? I left the park and ran along a road I’d never been on, and thence along one I knew but had never ran. Sparrows squabbled in some garden bushes. The podcast finished, and, as suggested, I celebrated my achievement and reflected. I was definitely feeling more gazelle-y.🦌🦌🦌

I realised that I hadn’t made a photo. It was a good day for a photo but I was not in a good spot for one. Still, I was coming close to a path that could return me to the park. Back there, I took a few snaps, jogging between them, imagining I was winding down. However, the road alongside the park offered even more startling vistas: the filigree of branches against the sky, and seed pods like Christmas baubles. I explored a few side streets, one a dead-end to a building site but where five magpies were scavenging from a discarded takeaway. My approach scattered them. I felt a bit sorry for disturbing their feast, but knew they’d be back as soon as I’d left.

Returning to the corner of the park which marks the transition to the 5-minute homeward walk, I decided first to run along the street that had been part of last week’s nighttime nemesis. I don’t know why exactly - maybe I just wanted to exorcise the negative associations. At the end of this street, I was not in a good spot for my 5-minute cool-down, and didn’t fancy marching up and down my own road to compensate. However, I was in easy reach of the little street orchard, which is perfectly gauged. And so it was that I did my first 6k (albeit with some photo pauses). 6.11km; 51.01 minutes. I had deliberately tried to go slow, but the tech indicates that (removing the stop-and-start photo section) I had run much of this at some of my fastest times. 😁

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GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunning
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19 Replies
Bambi2020 profile image
Bambi2020Graduate10

Brilliant 6km completed- 👍🏻👍🏻51mins- full of gazelle moments 🦌🦌It’s going to be the 60min time badge for you very soon I think! 😁

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunning in reply toBambi2020

Thanks 🙏 Feeling so chuffed. I didn’t exactly wake up this morning with this on my imaginary to-do list! So it’s quite a treat.🦌🦌😁

Bambi2020 profile image
Bambi2020Graduate10 in reply toGailXrunning

Enjoy! Xx 🦌🦌

Indielass00 profile image
Indielass00

Sounds like a fabulous run GailXrunning and it’s good fun suddenly deciding to go different ways on your route that you haven’t run on before. I sometimes like to do that too. You are so good at describing your surroundings. Definitely have a way with words.Congratulations on the 6K too 🙌🏻

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunning in reply toIndielass00

Thank you. That’s so kind you! ☺️ It was great. Thoroughly enjoyed it... even when I was not feeling very gazelle-y. The new roads weren’t especially interesting, but it was definitely worth the effort of checking them out. I’m so pleased to have 6k in my reach. I spent a lot of time yesterday mapping prospective runs and 6k gets me ‘into’ the Lee Valley for lots of industrial-ruin-meets-wildlife. A whole new world is opening up. 😁

Juliet202 profile image
Juliet202Graduate10

Sounds lovely !!! Maybe I’ll work in some impromptu diversions into my own run tomorrow ! Need a bit of variety !! And the park is sooo busy at the moment I might have to try some of the back streets.....

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunning in reply toJuliet202

It was such a good (indecisive) decision all round. I’m so pleased I did it. I was worried about moving to more road running, but the runners tracks in the parks are now so muddy... and the park paths becoming (understandably) so crowded, that’s it been the best option... and it’s proved to be really enjoyable.

Peter44 profile image
Peter44Graduate10

Heh, your right, today was a 6k day! ☺ sounds another interesting run, it's nice to go out, and just see where it goes, still seems funny, talking about 5/6k's as normal comfortable runs, and the pace seems to be improving without noticeing really. Will you be following the magic plan now, or just play around with things? 🤔

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunning in reply toPeter44

😄👍 Yes, I want to do the magic plan. As mentioned to Indielass00 (and to Runforurlife yesterday) these slightly longer distances get me to some interesting places. So there’s some bug motivation. I know I also want to do some focused work on running form and breathing, which really interests me.

Peter44 profile image
Peter44Graduate10 in reply toGailXrunning

I've been looking at some longer routes, with not too many hills! 🤣 me and my daughter might sign up for the london vitality 10k, 31 may, next year, hopefully things might be a bit more normal by then!

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunning in reply toPeter44

Oh, we do hope so! 🙏 🤞Even if it proves not to be, that’s still a great motivator to train towards. I might look into that.

(Btw ‘bug’ in my first reply should read ‘huge’!!😂)

Runforurlife profile image
RunforurlifeGraduate10

Congrats on your 6k 🥳🥳 Sounds like a good run and a good pace too, even with photo stops! It is good to explore new roads and routes as we all gain in confidence and wanting to branch out further. Whilst these new roads are not particularly interesting in themselves, the act of exploring I find quite fun and absorbing 😊 I did laugh at your not wanting to match up and down your road for your cool down walk 😂 that was me yesterday, walking past my house and then waving at a neighbour as I walked in the opposite direction only to appear again 2mins later lol

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunning in reply toRunforurlife

Thank you. 🥳 Lee Valley now coming into range. Yippee!!

😂🤣😂 Funny, I don’t mind been seen going and returning (which seems to show ‘purpose’), and I’ve some lovely supportive neighbours (for whom I’ve done quite a few striking-a-strong-poses), I just didn’t like the idea of vaguely ‘cooling down’ (even though it’s equally purposeful). What’s that all about? ! 😂

Runforurlife profile image
RunforurlifeGraduate10

Haha..not sure what that’s about 🤔 Maybe your vaguely cooling down situ just didn’t fit with your plan today of more exploration!

RacingintheStreet profile image
RacingintheStreetGraduate10

Lovely post and congrats on your 6k . It seems to happen that some of our ‘best’ stat runs come from runs where we were not thinking about the actual run too much . Often distracted by the route or changing it or just navigating ourselves .

All good though ☺️

I have only run with Coach Bennett not with both him and Andy , not sure I could have two voices on the go although I have listened podcast interviews on runs . May yet give it a go 😂🤷‍♀️ my fave CB run is the ‘ I don’t wanna run, run ‘ 👌😂

It often seems to resonate 🙄😂

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunning in reply toRacingintheStreet

Thanks☺️. I’m feeling really good about it - and not just the 6k... the sense of feeling good about the whole thing. That point about stats is interesting, too.

Give that podcast a go - worst that can happen is that you don’t like it. And if you do like it, there’s a whole series of them.

LottieMW profile image
LottieMWAmbassador

Well done on your 6k...how lovely that it was unplanned too. It seems that as the longer the run is...the less strict people are about it. We wouldn’t have dreamt of stopping during C25k...it was all about running non stop...but you’ll often read on this forum about people walking a for a stretch during a long run. 😄

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunning in reply toLottieMW

😊Thanks. I do hope you are feeling better (and now have some heating too).

This learning to stop/slow down seems to be quite a thing among coaches. I also read about a former elite runner who had realised that he’d run single-mindedly through beautiful landscapes and passed rare animals but had not been able or willing to pause and enjoy. The destination overtook the journey. It definitely resonates... although a bit of me still worries that I didn’t really ‘run the distance’!

LottieMW profile image
LottieMWAmbassador in reply toGailXrunning

I know what you mean...I think it’s all still too new for us!

Boiler repaired 2pm Saturday...had a belated Xmas dinner at 4.30!

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