My First Run for 9 Days - Well That Was Tough Going

[Birdlady64]

Thank goodness the snow and ice has gone 😁. It's a balmy 10 degrees today, but we are back to the grey murk again. 🙁

I was desperate to run - it's been 9 days since I last went out for a short 3k.

I was a bit later heading out than I wanted to be, but was determined to fit in a nice "easy" 5k during my lunch break.

Well - it was far from being easy. First up my choice of tights and long-sleeved top was probably overkill for the conditions as it was more like shorts and T-shirt weather despite the grey skies and stiff breeze. I also forgot my buff sun-visor in my rush to get out and, although there was no sun, I missed it's perspiration absorbent properties half way through my run.

As for the run itself - at 2.5k in and it feels really hard going. My breathing is fine, but my legs just don't want to move today. I consider walking for a bit , but promptly kick that idea into touch and plough on. Then, approaching the Leisure Centre I briefly consider cutting my run short - " 4k will do Diane".

"No - I said I'd do 5K so that's what I'm going to do".

So I double up on my lap of the Leisure Centre. There are surprisingly few people about, despite several parked cars in front of the locked gates. A couple of women with small girls riding pink bicycles and one or two dog walkers.

Leaving the Leisure Centre heading back towards the main road and home and I reach 5K. Thank goodness!

I reach home just before my 2 o-clock meeting. It's a conference call but I don't have to speak today so I keep my webcam off and do my stretches in front of the laptop. Lunch will have to wait for a bit.

In the end it was still a sub 40-minute 5k and I know the next run will be better. Of course I'm glad I went out but I really didn't enjoy this one at the time

[Instructor57 Graduate10]

Oh good ! Glad you did it 😁👍

Mine was a hard slog, to be honest I nearly stoped at 3.5k 😐

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Instructor57]

Thanks Ian. Yes it most definitely was a slog today. That's by far the longest time I have been without a run since April and it showed.Onwards and upwards - as they say...

[Killerblue Graduate10]

Well done for continuing and it’ll be easier next time 👍🏃‍♀️

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Killerblue]

Thank you! I wanted to get that 5k under my belt today.

[dijep Graduate10]

It's such a relief to be able to run again after a break isn't it. Your determination won through and you got that 5k 👍I love the idea of you doing your stretches while on your conference call... Made me giggle 🤭

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to dijep]

Oh yes - a real relief to be out again. A break like that is a new experience for me. I hope I haven't lost too much form as it just seemed to be coming together.The meeting was quite short thankfully so I didn't have to wait too long to get my lunch 😋

[Sandraj39 Graduate10]

Well done - return runs after a short break often feel harder. I went out yesterday for the first time in a week. I chose a nice easy 6.5k route but felt quite heavy- legged! I know tomorrow’s will be easier...🤞🙂

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Sandraj39]

Thanks Sandra. I know it will get easier but it's really frustrating as my form and pace had been consistently improving over the last few weeks. I really hope I've not gone too far backwards.

[Sandraj39 Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

Bet the next one will feel better ..🙂

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Sandraj39]

Thanks.Like the new profile pic 😁

[Peter44 Graduate10]

Glad you were able to get out today, seems to be alot of us been resting for various reasons, you still did a good time too, we had sun here today too.

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Peter44]

Thanks Peter - I was glad to get that one under my belt. And yes a lot of us seem to have been on a bit of a break for various reasons. I hope you are doing OK?

[Grannyhugs Graduate10]

Great to hear you’re back out running, definitely fewer clothes needed this week. Happy running 🤗

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Grannyhugs]

Thanks Grannyhugs. I was desperate to get a run in - I might have to invest in some yaktrax for next winter but tbh we get significant snow so rarely here.

[Grannyhugs Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

I've used mine with my walking boots too, it will be interesting to see how the are on boggy surfaces

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

Perhaps the warmer weather and the fact that you had not run for a while made the run a bit harder for you today Diane, the problem for runners during that recent cold spell is that if they did not run at all or did run but slowly to avoid falling is that once the ice has gone it is more difficult to get back to pre cold spell pace and speed.

For the first time since I graduated my recent 5K runs have been + 40 minutes, unheard of for me who up to 14th December last year ran all my 5K runs, sub 34 minutes, now that the weather is milder I'll try and quicken up a bit, same with you as well, let's hope the weather does not go back to what it was last week but you cannot rule out not having any more snow or ice just yet, hopefully not as severe as recently.

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

Well yes the weather has certainly been a bit of a blocker. Us southerners are not used to the snow and ice like you hardy northern folks! I haven't had a break like that since I started c25k last April - I think the longest had been 4 days on a couple of occasions - so I really didn't know what to expect. So I learned quite a bit on that run. There is always more to learn in this running game isn't there?

I hope you get back up to speed quickly Al - I'm sure you will now the weather is better.

And fingers crossed for no more snow and ice this winter 🤞

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

👍 🏃🏾

[Couchphoenix Graduate10]

Well done for sticking with that one BL64 as you say the next one will be a good one now that’s out of the way. 😁

I was outside washing the cars yesterday and couldn’t believe how mild it was out there.

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Couchphoenix]

Yes - these ones have to be done don't they? Onwards and upwards.

It's mild here again today but we still have the grey murk and rain is forecast.

[Lifluf Graduate10]

Well done Birdlady. Lucky you could leave your webcam off- what would your work think if they could see you post run doing stretches 😉😊

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Lifluf]

Ha ha! Yes - well it was only a meeting with the Head of my Division. They probably would have laughed at me. They all know about my running journey since lockdown.

[Tinytears60 Graduate10]

You did so well to do 5k after a break of 9 days!Well done 👏👏👏💕 watch the legs- mine were really achy the next day after my break 🙈

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Tinytears60]

Thanks TT - you are so right though. My quads are quite sore today - that's a bit of a first for me! I'll see how things are before deciding whether to run tomorrow or wait another day

[Tinytears60 Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

Exactly where my legs ached... I’ve never had that before either.. I left it a few days ... 💕

[Buddy34 Graduate10]

Glad you got out. For some the first run back is great but for others that first run can feel tough. I'm sure the next one will be better 😊😊

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Buddy34]

I'm definitely in the latter category then! Glad to be back out there though I'm feeling it a bit today

[skysue16 Graduate10]

I feel for you....some runs are just such hard work aren't they! Well done for getting out there and doing it 👍 . I smiled at the part of your post where you talked about your conference call! It is interesting to hear/see what people do while 'in a meeting' - housework, tidying up desk, texting messages and stretches/exercises - good use of time and clever multitasking! No-one is going to want to return to face to face staff meetings/training. 🤣