5.2km job done ✅

[Runforurlife]

My main aim this morning was to just get out and get moving. No fireworks and no fast splits today. After 30mins of faffing and delaying 🙄 I got myself out as it started to drizzle..

After my 5min warm up walk, I stopped to set up all my various gadgets for the run (Garmin, Strava and music) and my left ear pod decided it wasn’t going to work today 😑 great.. Briefly considered going back home to swap for wired headphones but binned that idea and set off with my new 70’s playlist playing in my right ear..

By the time Marc Bolan came on to tell me to “get it on” I was well into my run at about 2km and all was well. I deliberately kept my pace slow and steady, I just wanted to be out and moving today not pushing it and the knee niggle was occasionally making itself known.

By 4.5km, “YMCA” was pounding its familiar beat and with a smile on my face remembering many an evening in various clubs and parties doing the YMCA dance with friends 😂 over the years, I pushed on with a bit more spring in my step to just over 5km and job done.

After the lockdown news last night, I needed that. I can conquer anything after a run! Running and music is the best therapy out there. We got this 💪🏼

[Hidden]

I definitely recognize that pre run faff I thought it twas just a me thing Runforurlife 😳 but yaaaay I'm not alone 🤗

[Runforurlife Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Oh yes, the pre-run faff is real! And this morning, I even caught myself faffing and had a word 😀

[Hidden in reply to Runforurlife]

Oh ditto, ok so excuses aside the silly nightshifts etc, but in general from waking it's taking me two hours to wake properly, get breakfasted and dressed and out, tried the running without food once 😬 never again.....

[Peter44 Graduate10]

Sounds, nice and comfortable, still a bit strange talking about 5k as a short run 🤣 weather here not great either, drizzley, but me and both girls, going out for a walk, want to make sure i get out, everyday, and so glad we've got running, to keep us going! ☺

[Runforurlife Graduate10 in reply to Peter44]

Hope you got out for your walk, albeit in the drizzle!! So important to get out every day, helps so much 👍

[Grannyhugs Graduate10]

Fantastic effort, getting out running is a freedom they have left us with. Happy running 🤗

[Runforurlife Graduate10 in reply to Grannyhugs]

Thanks Grannyhugs 😊Here's to running freedom!

[Bambi2020 Graduate10]

That’s the perfect length to just go out and fully enjoy it- you feel good because you’ve gone out and completed a distance that will make a difference but it hasn’t taken too long either or been too tiring - perfect 👌🏼

[Runforurlife Graduate10 in reply to Bambi2020]

Completely summed it up!! It is the perfect distance to feel you've put some effort in but not too much that you regret it if you're not on top gazelle form 🦌🦌😀

[Jericho2332 Graduate10]

Absolutely right, I think of be lost without running and tunes at the min 👍🏻

Sounds like a great run too, despite earpod issues 🤣🤦🏼‍♂️

Nothing better to get out and sort your head out than a good run 💪🏻

[Runforurlife Graduate10 in reply to Jericho2332]

I know, same.. Makes me wonder what DID I used to do to keep sane before 🤔

[SkiMonday Graduate10]

Hi Runfoturlife, well done for getting out there despite the drizzle!

To ease the kit faff, have you considered setting up your music before leaving the house? That's what I do and then put it on pause whilst I leave the house (just don't leave it on pause for more than five minutes because the player might switch off). Your Garmin should be able to do that (on mine, I hold in the bottom right button which gives me the option to pause & skip tracks).

Other than that, I just start the Garmin after my warm up. Most of the time I let Garmin update Strava afterwards. I sometimes use a tracking app on the phone as a backup but for most runs that's too much of a faff (especially when my phone's strapped to my arm inside my jacket).

This was supposed to be a short note but it's gone on longer than I intended. Anyhow, happy running!

[Runforurlife Graduate10 in reply to SkiMonday]

Thanks for the tips, I definitely need to streamline my kit! I like to have no music on my 5min warm up walk and set my playlist to go as I start running. I just like hearing the sound of the morning first thing! I have a basic Garmin, I know I can't stream my music through it unfortunately so have to stick with the iphone for that and Apple Music. But I am wondering now if I can sync my Garmin to Strava 🤔sounds like I might be able to from what you say. Do you set it up via an app or on the actual Garmin watch? I am still learning all this stuff!

[SkiMonday Graduate10 in reply to Runforurlife]

My music is on my Android phone. The Garmin just acts as a remote control. Can be handy, especially if the phone is tucked away. I think it should work with Apple too.

My watch is a Forerunner 35, one of the more basic models but it does most things I want pretty well.

Connecting is done using the app. I think you can do it from Garmin Connect or from Strava. You just need the login details for the app you're connecting to.

[Runforurlife Graduate10 in reply to SkiMonday]

That sounds interesting.. I will investigate 👍🏻 Thanks!!

[acountrycabbage 60minGraduate]

Oh man, running and music *is* everything! So good for the soul 💛

Well done getting out there to blow away the lockdown blues. YMCA can’t fail to have a hand in that! 🤠👮🏻‍♂️👷🏼‍♂️🎶

Also love ‘Oops Up Side Ya Head.’ Ah, memories of that ridiculous floor dance thing..! 😁

[Runforurlife Graduate10 in reply to acountrycabbage]

Ah yes, 'Oops upside your head'..what a classic! And that ridiculous floor dance, who can forget it (if you're of a certain vintage 🤣) never really understood what that was all about!

[linda9389 Graduate10]

So true! The best therapy by far ... and we know it, so why do we all faff? One of life's many mysteries I suppose 🤣

[Runforurlife Graduate10 in reply to linda9389]

I think faffing is a by-product of running 🤣 We finally get into our kits ready to go but there's always something that needs doing before you open that door and head out. However, I don't think you ever regret a run so that's what eventually spurs me on 👍