A Really Heavy Legged 5K "Recovery" Run

[Birdlady64]

I know now why my music stopped and steadfastly refused to start again on Sunday’s saturated, soaking, sopping, sodden, rain-drenched 10K run.

When I set my playlist going again at the beginning of my run today the track that had literally just started was Mr Blue Sky! It didn’t dare play that! 😨

Maybe I should have taken an extra rest day but tomorrow’s forecast isn’t looking that great and I don’t want to get wet again – at least not so soon. So I decide to take a slightly longer lunchbreak again today

Kit on – tights and single long-sleeved layer on top and of course my buff sun-visor – dynamic warmup stretches and out.

I’m reaching the top of the road when Mr B comes round the corner in the car. He’s back from taking my Dad to his pre-cataract op assessment. Its already been cancelled once when the surgeon had to self-isolate last month so hopefully it’s gone OK today. He tries to have a conversation with me but I can't hear him with my earbuds in and music going so I just wave madly and carry on up the road.

I intend this to be a slow recovery run of 5K so I set off at what feels like a nice steady pace. 2.5K in and my legs feel really tired - that 10K on Sunday must have taken it's toll. I could cut my run short - double back towards home for a cheeky 3k?

But no - I plough on. The stubborn side of me comes out - I said I'd do 5K so that's what I'm going to do!

I slow down and plod on. My breathing is good but my legs feel like lead today and it's a struggle to keep putting one foot in front of the other. The Leisure Centre isn't very busy today. One family group with small kids on micro scooters. The kids are deliberately riding back and forth at speed through the length of a large muddy puddle. The water is deep enough that it looks as if it must be wetting their feet. The parents are oblivious.

Still plodding along the final km back down the main road I reach 5K and immediately stop the watch. No extra bit added on to reach the corner of the road today.

I restart my watch to log the cool-down walk home. This is largely uphill and even walking it feels laboured.

In the end it's another sub-40 minute 5K which I'm quite pleased with. The splits are indicative of the increasing tiredness in my legs today at 7:42, 7:46, 7:49, 8:07, 8:02

[Lizcanrun Graduate10]

Well done Birdlady! Sometimes we just don't feel it!

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Lizcanrun]

Thank you!Yes today was just one of those days. But a run is a run and I felt all the better for it

[nowster Graduate10]

It's still a run, even if it felt like a trudge. 👍

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

Oh it was definitely more of a trudge!But of course I'm glad I went out.

Hoping to fit a walk in tomorrow to scout out a new 5k route on the opposite side of town

[Grannyhugs Graduate10]

Great 5k before the rain storms arrive, well done. Happy running 🤗

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Grannyhugs]

Thanks GrannyhugsThankfully no snow forecast here but yet more rain. We will be getting webbed fingers and toes if it doesn't dry up soon🦆🐟💧💦

[Littleoyellow Graduate10]

Hi Birdlady 👋 just catching up with folks after a month of hibernating 🦔😁 well done on getting out before the weather turns 🌧 I got a 10k in myself on Sunday but haven't had the sense to look at the weather forecast 😬 I normally go for 2 rest days after my longer run and find I need it. Hope you get to play Mr Blue Sky again soon 😁🤞

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Littleoyellow]

The way the weather has been hibernating was probably the sensible option. 😁Well done on your 10k. You are right a 2 day rest would have been more sensible I think. But I wanted to get a run in before the weather turns again. One soaking in a week is quite enough thank you very much!

Mr Blue sky will be back soon fingers crossed 🤞

[Littleoyellow Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

I think your forward planning was probably more sensible in the end 🌧 I'll let you know on Wednesday 😂🌧

[Jools2020 Graduate10]

Still a great run for you, Diane! Can’t knock those sub 40 minute 5Ks. Maybe that 10K took more out of you than you realised - I’ve had similar after a longer run and usually aim for 2 rest days. I have to occasionally remember how old I am!

Well done for persevering with this one and another 5K under your belt 👏👏👏👏👏👍🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

Thanks Julia. I did plan for 2 rest days but the weather says rain for tomorrow and I have had enough of getting wet for a while.

In hindsight I probably set out too quickly as well even though it felt really comfy at the time. I just hadn't factored in quite how tired my legs would feel.

As you said we ran similar times for our 5ks to today and not too far apart on our 10k at the weekend but pacing yourself so there is plenty left in the tank is something I still need to master. You are a natural

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

Thanks, Diane. It doesn’t feel like I’m a natural when I’m out there running 😂

[Peter44 Graduate10]

It's funny how we can have these runs 🥵 and others when we can just go on, and on ☺ i know there's the hydration stuff, but why 🤷‍♂️ anyway, as you say, it's a run, so move on to the next one, which i'm sure will be better! 💪👍

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Peter44]

Yes sometimes it just doesn't click at all does it? I don't think it was lack of hydration, just fatigue. I'll take another rest day after the next long one. 👍

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

You still got a sub 40 min 5k so a plus for that, let’s hope the rain spins goes somewhere else and we have cool but sunny runs, this winter feels very long

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thanks W&S was pretty pleased with the time all things considered.Cool and sunny - hmm I think I may have a vague memory somewhere at the very back of my mind.....🤔

[Couchphoenix Graduate10]

That sounds familiar a stubborn heavy legged exhausting run....only you had more sense than I did and stuck to 5k......still stubborn though 😉

Next run will be a great one for both of us, we’re in credit ! 😁

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Couchphoenix]

Yep we certainly are 😁👍

[CaptFrey 60minGraduate]

I would be proud of a time like that your treacle legs clearly have inner pepp 😁

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to CaptFrey]

Ha ha! Reminds me of when I was swimming 🏊‍♀️ it sometimes used to feel like I was trying to swim through treacle! 🥵

I was happy with the time in the end

[Sparkey5000 60minGraduate]

Well done for keeping going!

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Sparkey5000]

Thanks - Sparkey. I'm sure the next run will be a lot better

[Hidden]

True grit Birdlady 💪 that’s what you’ve got, look after those tired legs 😊🤗

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Or stupidity maybe?... Am fully intending to rest up for at least a day! A ~3.5K stroll at lunchtime jut to keep the old pins ticking over

[Hidden in reply to Birdlady64]

Definitely not Birdlady, you put me to shame, I’ve given myself a fortnight off! 🤣🤗

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Good for you! A break is sometimes just the thing!

[dijep Graduate10]

Well done it may have been tough but you kept on going so that's a win 😊 I love your reports on what's happening at the Leisure Centre car park 😂 I think some parents are undetstandably getting to their wits end with what to do with their children. I met 2 mums with 5 children under 6 when I was dog walking the kids were literally covered in mud and one had just jumped in a ditch and couldn't get out!Snow patches still about so no running for me today 😩

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to dijep]

Ha Ha! Yes I know exactly what you mean. I have two neighbours with small children. The Dads take them over the woods in their onesie snowsuits and they're coming back black/brown from head to foot!

I hope the snow clears so you can get out for a run soon

[Instructor57 Graduate10]

Well done on your 5K.Strange how some runs you really feel it but a good recovery run after your soggy 10k 😁👍

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Instructor57]

Thanks Ian - well I'm not sure aboput the "recovery" bit. That's what it was meant to be but now I think I need a Recovery Recovery Run! 😂😁

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

Haha 🤣👍