Up early and ready early for my first ‘naked’ run! (Inspired by Hidden ). I did have a mild conversation with the ‘go back to bed’ gremlin 😈, but he could tell immediately that I couldn’t be persuaded.
I had decided to *try* and push on for a 5K this morning. I have to confess that some of my 4K runs start off as possible 5K runs - and then I speed up for the 4th kilometre and don’t have the will or strength to continue! There, I’ve said it 😊.
This was one of those runs. I pressed the button and I was off. It was strange to start off without anything to listen to at all. No instructions to follow. No music to sing to! What was I supposed to think? I saw something move and turned to look. I was running by the side of the river and must have spooked a heron. I watched as he flew low over the river, his wingtips almost touching the water and his perfect reflection. I could hear the sound of my breathing and my footfalls. I concentrated on my form. I didn’t see anything else and started to zone out. I turn at the gate to come back along the lane and try to focus on my form. It was all very different and I was not enjoying hearing the sound of my breathing. I couldn’t turn the music on as I’d left my headphones at home!
Third km started and I’ve already passed my house and I’m heading for the Deadend Track. I’m confused about my pace as although I checked my watch at the end of each km, I’ve forgotten what it was! I decide just to run at what is comfortable and I notice that my current pace is faster than I thought it was. I notice that there is more traffic than usual and I realise that the water levels must be going down for a while. Larger vehicles are going through.
4th km and I’m increasing pace but I’m not flat out. I’m thinking that this is a good run as I’m running well but not tiring myself out. I decide to do a 5K and it might be a sub 40 minute one, if only I can remember what my pace was for the first 2 kilometres 😂. I’m amused by this as I’m running! As I start running my 5th km, I step it out. Looking at my watch, I try and work out the maths and I calculate I must be close to my previous PB, so I step it out some more. Now I’m working hard! The last few hundred metres are hard work, but it’s over and my watch tells me I’ve done it, it’s a PB. 10 seconds off my previous one. Very pleased! I’m not the speediest of runners but I do like to achieve every now and then. This was a good run for me! 😊
I take a break and start a new run to jog 2K home to coffee and the breakfast of champions! 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️✅🥣
Splits:
7:49, 7:43, 7:26, 6:58, 6:29
Written by
Jools2020
Graduate10
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Those herons are lovely to see, a great run for you Jools2020, congratulations on that PB, a very good and detailed report as well, you deserved that breakfast of champions because you are a champion.
Blimey, well done on your PB 5k, must be a day for it, your running route, always sounds so nice, and rural, bet you enjoyed that coffee, when you got home! ☺
Don’t you find that sometimes, out of nowhere, there’s a day when it all comes together? I had one of those days today and made the most of it! Very pleased with that last km split as well! It is lovely here and yes, very rural. Coffee was great, as was the porridge 😊
I know just what you mean, everything just feels right, it's strange how sometimes it can be so different, maybe it's all in the head, on those days! 🤣
Congrats on the PB, excellent stuff! I decided to do a 3.5k run this morning and the Nike app (not noticed this before) suggested it'll take me 31 minutes and I did it in 29 which was nice.
How did you find the cold? I think today was the coldest weather I've ever run in so I'm glad I had planned to do a 3.5k run.
Thanks 🙏. I haven’t noticed suggestions from the Nike app, I’ll have a look. It was cold today, about 1 degree. Real Feel -1. It was OK once I started running, I didn’t notice the cold at all. 2 layers plus my windproof jacket, gloves and neck buff. Running tights. I like it when it’s about this temperature!
Actually, it was colder last Thursday (-3) when there was a really heavy frost and it was icy on the roads. My thumbs got cold and my mouth froze. Just a bit too cold 🥶 I had to run on grass and mud.
Today the paths and roads were not icy, so I was able to run on them 😊
Well done on your run & PB 👍sounded like a good one. And nice bit of progressive pacing there too.. I am going to have to try a 'naked run', think I would feel the same as you at the start, a bit lost, where's my music..ugh is that really how loud my breathing is on a run?! 😂but I want to give it a go as I know from others you 'see' and feel so much more. You've inspired me to try for my next restorative run!
Woo hoo! That's a stonking PB there Julia. 😁👏👏👏👏 I know this will mean a lot to you - so well done! I'm really pleased for you.
You just keep on banging out those negative splits. Very impressive. And I love the way you're continuously trying to calculate in your head whether a PB is on or not. Even when you're not "trying" for one! 😂
It's nice to sometimes run without anything playing in your ears. I wouldn't do it now whilst I'm having to run mostly on the roads but through the woods it's often wonderful with the birdsong.
Thanks, Diane. I have to admit, I posted the other day that 5K is not my favourite distance and it started the thought process! When I’m running I find it really difficult to calculate anything and it was so close; even so I was very pleased 😊. Like you, I’ve been feeling I was getting slower so this was a real boost.
Great when a new PB just comes out of nowhere. Well actually NOT out of nowhere, it's a culmination of regular hard work and consistently. Negative splits also, very professional. Enjoy that feeling and keep on trucking. 😊
Thank you Roxdog. I’ve got up to thick fog here this morning. Run postponed! Maybe later on, but I’ll see. I’m really sorry you are on the IC, I know it’s a real blow for you. x
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week3run1 ✅. 3 x 17 mins with 1 min walks. 
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