The Wreck of the Hesperus! That’s what my grandmother used to say when she felt untidy, usually concerning her hair and that’s what I looked like this morning when I got back from my run in the rain, after I’d towelled my hair dry 😄. It prompted me to look up where the saying came from.
I set out this morning without my mobile. I’ve never done that before, but I was interested to see how the run would go and what would be different. I had saved a ‘workout’ to my watch; just a simple 5K workout. I wasn’t sure my watch would still buzz at each km but I decided not to look if it did. It did - and I did NOT look 👀.
After my warmup walk I started the workout. I usually look at my watch A LOT during that first km because I tend to set off too fast. It was very hard to run and have no idea of my pace. How will the rest of my run go, if I have no starting guide? I knew when the km ended because my watch buzzed. I carried on around my normal route. After a while I did start to relax and tried to look round and take in the sounds of the village and who was about.
It was raining during my run, but I didn’t mind that at all. I was wearing my waterproof jacket and my sun visor was keeping the rain off my glasses. Now I was running towards the infamous Deadend Track.. I think I am increasing pace in the third km, but of course I don’t know for sure.
I’m running down the track now in the last km. I do increase pace at this point - even without the buzz from my watch, my position on the track would tell me that my run is nearly over. I’ve run this route many times. The workout ends and I end the run on my watch and start a new one to jog home.
Once I’d dried my hair and done my stretches, I looked at the stats. How interesting. I had over compensated for my first km, which was slower than usual. Then I ran negative splits which really surprised me. I felt that the run was much steadier than usual without the constant monitoring of my pace; but it felt stressful not knowing.
I was, however, very pleased to see that I ran a sub 40 minute 5K! Without notifications I thought that this might be a much slower run than usual.
Maybe I’ll do this again sometime and perhaps next time I’ll turn the km notifications off completely 😊
Written by
Jools2020
Graduate10
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That was a good 5k time it’s nice to experiment and try something different, isn’t it funny when you remember the old sayings your grandparents used to say. I remember mine using that expression. My gran lived to 106 years and 8 months and when I’d visit her, she’d sometimes say did you come down here in your conveyance.....meaning my car!
Hey I love your hair 😀 what an interesting day we’ve had so far, you with no phone me with no watch, but your stats are brilliant what a good run 😀Can you see I’ve another day off work? I keep smiling 😂
I’ve just made vegetable omelette and shared with Willow for breakfast, trying to stick to the low blood sugar diet as I can’t keep gaining I’m going to fill the bath with steaming hot water and wallow lol
Keep going with it- I've lost 3st using his 800 diet, just finished getting rid of the half a stone I gained back over Christmas and still going 😁 best of luck 🤞
Fantastically well done on giving up smoking- I'll be cheering you on with your efforts- it's hard work but so worth it! The 800 diet really works and is the basis of our family meal planning now. I have both recipe books and those who want extra carbs with their meals are welcome. Really good recipes. All the best with it. Sending a virtual hug 🤗
Thank you, i’m just starting the 800 plan and will see how we get on, we both treated ourselves though to one piece of chocolate this evening and it was enough
Good run for you today Jools2020 and a nice photo as well, all negative splits, very good and a sub 40 minute 5K to boot, wow, I hope that made your day much more pleasant than the rainy weather which you say you don't mind, it's always nice to see a faster time than you thought, well done.
Thanks, Al; although 10 minutes after I got back, the rain stopped and the sun came out! I was surprised at the time without looking at my watch to guide me. 😊
Good run Jules ! 👍Haha 'Wreck of the Hesparus' I've not heard that for a few years ! My mum used to come out with that one 😁
It's quite good not to keep checking your watch isn't it , but I'm like you in the fact that the first 1/2 k I'm usually checking a lot to get my pace good , I looked at my splits for yesterday and perfect positive splits ! Haha 🤣
Brilliant thatvyou had such a great experience with your 1st naked run. Personally I love naked running checking watch only too see I'm not going to fast or to check distance on long runs. Happy running 🤗
It is odd. I didn’t really have any idea until I’d finished, although if I’d had to guess at my 5K time, I would have said maybe 41 or 42 minutes. Complete guess in the absence of pace or time information.
Hi Julia,That's fascinating - echoes what Ian A mentioned with his 'naked' run recently. I've got only the phone for now - and it would be a darned nuisance checking it (as often as I know I would a watch!) 😆
Inevitably, especially during long winter evenings, I've been looking at Garmin watches... rather inclined to go for the Instinct Solar... but I'd also like one I can link up to PhotoPills app, don't know if you've come across that software gadget? (Bit like a FiloFax for location photographers!)
Anyway, always enjoy your posts - hilarious bad hair outcome... I once came across Longfellow's 'Hesparus' - and in colloquial usage it has become synonymous with dishevelment... Your grandmother was tapping into a rich vein... Norman's Woe, no?
I loved Longfellow's translation of Dante... but let's hope our running is never Infernal or even Purgatorial: Paradise will do nicely, midway this life we're bound upon... Garmin compass would gave been useful in the "selva oscura'!🤔😆
I’m not familiar with the PhotoPills app, although something is tugging at my brain! I hope you find a watch, I love mine.
I’m sure my grandmother was familiar with the poem, she was very well read. I also remember her finishing the cryptic crossword in the Telegraph every day, sometimes explaining the answers to me.
I have to say that occasionally I’ll have a run that seems purgatorial, but fortunately we don’t have any ‘selvas’ around here 😊
Well done Jools on your naked run, good job it was a bit milder today 😉 it's funny, the phone thing, and how we've become so reliant on them, even when not running! 😥You certainly upped the pace, on that last km 🥵, i've enjoyed turning of notifications, feels like i can enjoy the run, without worrying about times. 😊
I'm still resting, was hard today, as my daughter ran without me! 😥
Thanks, Peter! I was surprised at that last km, having no idea what my pace was until I got back home! Running without checking notifications was very difficult for me, I need to try it again, I think - maybe on a sunny morning.
It must have been hard watching your daughter go out running, but well done for listening to your body and continuing to rest, 👏👍
What a great saying, I have not heard that before, lol that describes me very accurately at the moment!!
Oh how interesting, well done of your sub 40 minutes 5k that is brilliant. I used to find the run more enjoyable not constantly checking the watch and I ran faster.
I might find the runs more enjoyable if I have another go. This one seemed stressful. I had no idea just how much work I put into running negative splits. I felt the run was going badly because I wasn’t monitoring my pace - but look what happened - without monitoring my run, I achieved negative splits anyway! That was a surprise 😊
Naked running suits you Julia 😁👍The hair's a long way from the Wreck of the Hesperus - you should see mine sometimes! The only way I can manage it is to keep it short. I feel another lockdown outing with Mr B's clippers coming on 😁😂
Thanks, Diane! If I can get past wanting to check my pace, then I would enjoy it more!
My hair is supposed to be short - I’ve missed 2 hairdressing appointments and it grows really quickly! I’ve thought of buying some clippers but the results might be too short and I’m not confident about my ability to cut my own hair.
I know wat you mean about checking though - if I had done that today my first km would probably have been significantly slow and I might not have ended up so tired. Hey ho!
Mr B did my hair with the clippers 3 times during lockdown one. Number 8/ number 10 - but I did the front. It was shorter than normal but at least it was tidy. And as you say it grows quickly - well mine grows outwards rather than down. 😁
We did similar times for our 5Ks today, but running like that with negative splits really does make it easier and I have enough in the tank for a faster finish when I’m properly warmed up.
Maybe I should get some clippers. No-one’s going to see me anyway and if it’s a disaster I can wear a hat!
Very tidy splits! I've taken to naked running recently for shorter runs and really enjoy it but I do look at my watch occassin..Think I might get a bit bored on longer runs without my podcast though.
Great work there, J. Wild hair, maybe, but there’s the post-run glow that wins through. 😉 On my cool down walk today, I bumped into a neighbour (at 2m). My hair was everywhere (it is at the best of times 🤣), but she said ‘you’re looking absolutely fantastic’. Point being: the WoH is a small price...!!!
Thanks, yes - very wild hair 😂, although it’s always very neat while I’m actually running, courtesy of the sun visor! It’s nice to get compliments when you don’t think you’re looking your best! 😃
Loving the hair Jools 😁 I think it should be viewed as a 'badge of honour ' today, for running in wild conditions, AND naked too! I haven't invested in a watch yet, and run at my own pace with wristband buzzing every km so that I know where I am in terms of distance, or coach Bennett updating me 😂. I listen to music or NRC or both with Aftershoks and my phone in a holder or front pocket of my belt. Good luck with your naked experimentation 😘🤗
Haha thanks! Badge of honour, yes, I agree. I think I’ll shelve that experiment for now. If I try it again, it will be without the 1 km notifications, I think I can disable the buzzing, and just do the workout on my watch, i.e. start it, and watch buzzes after 5K. That would be more interesting for sure!
Mr LOY is trying to order a sun visor for me- I look like a wild woman after no haircut for so long 😬😂 I think my hairdresser will need the garden shears to make inroads .....
Ah, the Hesperus. I served as a midshipman on her before moving on to more lucrative positions and always wondered as to her fate.As for not being a slave to your smartwatch, I applaud that (and your tangible, most respectable results). I hardly ever look at my times until afterwards now, especially at this time of year when just getting out and running is the victory. I do however leave the "buzz at each km" thingy on. I'm convinced that it is, even if just occasionally, a good thing not to be tied to results/pace etc. and just to run how your body tells you. I've even started to listen to podcasts instead of music so that I can't use a particular song as a marker.
Nice and judicious use of "the footballer's tense" BTW 👍😀🏴☠️. Sub 35 next target!
Mornin’, Cap’n Pugwash ! Blistering barnacles, I used to watch you years ago. Yes, the Hesperus is long gone! Thank you for reading my humble offering. The footballer’s tense, I feel, offers a more immediate attachment to the narrative. I really like to use the subjunctive, too, where appropriate; but if I were you I would pay no attention to my ramblings.
This is my first winter as a runner and I didn’t realise just how hard it would be to get out there. Wind is the enemy here in the fens! Running is indeed the victory. I tend to run how my body tells me to on longer runs, but for shorter runs I do sometimes push myself a bit. A 5K under 35 minutes is still a way off for me, though; I’m a natural snail. My best time is 36:30 and that was hard.
I’ve tried music, guided runs from the Nike Run Club app and nothing at all on my runs; it’s just what I feel like on the day. Sometime soon I’m going to turn off the “buzz at each km” thingy just to see how that feels. I don’t tend to use songs as markers as I have never needed to, because of that thingy. Might be interesting to turn it off for my next “naked” run 😊
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week3run1 ✅. 3 x 17 mins with 1 min walks. 
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