Back on the beat!

[Juliet202]

First run in 4 weeks - hurrah !! Part injury induced, part workload (has been crazy 12, 14 hour days in front of a screen 😕) and part demotivation (weather, work) stopped me from going out - did a couple of longish walks but otherwise inactive. I was still clocking miles on the Pennine Way (is funny to get Kudos on Strava just for going to the shops 🤣) and thought to coincide my first ‘return’ run with the final 2 miles - but even that motivation wasn’t there and I walked over the finishing line ! (Yippeee). So yesterday I decided that’s it - time to get out. First post Pennine Way outing has to be back in my running shoes. Decided to take it really easy, Jeffing the whole way 60:30 - didn’t set time or distance target, thinking ‘just once round the park’ which would mean about 4K altogether, including to & from park. But I was enjoying it so much I decided to do an extra detour loop in the park. It was like an obstacle course, it was sooo busy, trying to navigate the crowds and avoid the mud required agility and skill to anticipate speed, angles, of different objects (bikes, dogs, walkers of different sizes and speeds) - quite engaging the part of the brain that meant I didn’t even notice the hilly bits !! But being in a good mood myself I really felt happy to see so many people - it felt like a festival atmosphere such fun and people enjoying themselves (quite a lot of beer being drunk, which is an interesting form of exercise 😜) and kids rolling in the mud (literally). Can’t blame people really.

Well - was surprised to do 6.5 km in the end, not a single twinge in my calf. Felt good. But got home and saw myself in the mirror - back to the bright red face of my early days of running !! Check out my VO2 max - dropped 2 points, fitness age gone up 6 years !! (But it is still unbelievably low to make it totally pointless), and took longer to get back to resting heart rate - not sure how long but my watch was giving me stress warning about 2 hours later ! (Though that could have been stress at being back behind the computer screen 🧐).

Still I’m happy to be back. Not sure what next - I’ve finished Pennine Way and paused my HM plan. Maybe will just take a couple of weeks to see how things evolve.

[GailXrunning]

Welcome back... and that’s a return in some style!! Love all the mind-body coordination as you navigated the busy sections, and the spontaneous decision to extend the run by taking a detour. (I’m with you on blaming the screen for the stressor warnings too.)

[Couchphoenix Graduate10]

Well done for completing 6.5k Juliet202, it’s tough getting back into it when you’ve taken a break. What about a nice Race at Your Pace Challenge for March, set it for 35 mlles and see how you go. Nice shiny medal at the end of it too to look forward to 👍🏅🏃‍♀️

[Juliet202 Graduate10 in reply to Couchphoenix]

Thank you ! I think I’ve just committed to a 10k at the end of March instead of half marathon - on the other forum !! I guess I should be able to do get back there by then. Hopefully !

[58soon Graduate10 in reply to Juliet202]

That sounds like a challenging run - but well done for getting out there. 6.5k is impressive after a break.

I sympathise with your long working days - me too - zooms from early til late, 5 days a week, due to time zone differences and not able to travel!

I still haven't managed a 10k yet - but seem to be in a pattern of 7.5k on a weekend and 5k during the week. But I have signed up for the Virtual London 10k in May - so there's my goal. Maybe 'see' you there??!

[Juliet202 Graduate10 in reply to 58soon]

I think I’ve signed up to that aswell !! Can’t remember now, doh !