8.24km, in fact! ‘Ecstatic’ is hardly the word. I’ve tried to restrain myself (really have), but just couldn’t bottle up the news until the end-of-week round-up post. 😁😁😁 65 minutes, on a route similar to last Sunday’s: orchards, minipark, old lane, looping back to the local park, and looping that a few times. There were four short walk intervals: the first two to help M (whose finding running tough), one for the photo and one to manage steady light breathing on an incline.
M came for the first half only. A couple of km in, I became aware he was slapping his feet... which is when we realised that he’d put on his trail boots instead of his runners! How he hadn’t noticed, I’ll never know. Must have been so heavy and uncomfortable. He insists not. Although his hamstrings aren’t too happy.
Warm at 11-12 degrees, just after 7.30am. Mud in park nice and firm. Pretty quiet on the human front, but the birdsong was so, so loud: especially the great tits with their squeaky-gate call. All the other birds were out in force, notably the crows (always in pairs). A magpie and pigeon both flew low towards the spilled bins, tipping their wings and turning like something from a black-and-white war movie.
Started overcast, but the clouds were breaking up when I finished (photo). At first, only the lower layer opened up, and the higher altitude cover remained, so the sky was a pattern of grey cirrus brushstrokes against blank white cloud. Then the blue and the sun were revealed. For some reason, classical music came to mind: Debussy and Wagner’s swirling Rhine. (Bit corny! 😂)
I’d overdressed even with a light jacket. Removing it midway was not just cooling, it was like completely refreshening my legs, even if carrying it was a faff (tied round my waist, it flapped about my calves; tied around my neck, I was like a caped cartoon character).
Towards the end of the run, and because there was little mud, I went totally free-style over the open grass, running about with abandon, around the shrubbery, and enjoying the powerful scent of mahonias. So happy!! 😁🦌
Written by
GailXrunning
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Thank you. That’s so lovely of you to say. I’m beginning to think this might be my lucky route. I set off imagining nothing beyond a gentle 30 minutes with M. Apart from his footwear fiasco, everything aligned nicely today.
Thank you. I think I will follow your advice. In fact, Lottie told me to do this before and I didn’t follow up. I clipped the 60-min mark twice earlier in the month, but (stupidly?) worried that my use of some walk intervals might disqualify me.
Thank you! 🙌 It’s a bit scary to think about the 10k!! I might have balked at the thought of 8k when I set off today (although I’ve done close to it before). Everything fell into place, and M bowed out of the run with the expectation that I’d continue, which buoyed me up. +Then having to arrange several mahonia-smelling opportunities.... it just crept up on me.😂
Don't worry about 10km. It'll come. Get used to how 8km feels for a bit. 10km (and for me today, 12km) doesn't feel hugely different. They just take longer to do.
Thank you. I’m chuffed to bits. Makes me think back to starting c25k. It’s really not that long ago (for me, start of September). It’s just incredible how we can progress in only a few months.
Ah-há: I always imagined you to be ‘older’ than me (speaking in running-journey terms). I did repeat W1 because M decided he’d like to join me (I must have looked impressive coming back from those first sessions 😅🥵!!) And we went through the programme slowly, taking double rest days.
Thanks 🙌 I’m feelings bit like I did completing c25k! Funny why 8k rather than 7k. I guess it’s over half way from 5 to 10. Mind you, when I get to 10 we’ll need someone to hold me down!!😂🤣 (+ I’ve written to ask if I qualify.)
Well done Gail, sounds like it's all falling into place, and that's a fast pace, with a few walks too, i think i was doing 7k, in about 60 mins, with no walking, maybe it helping my HR zone, which i dont really understand! 🤦♂️ all i read is how hard it is to run slowly, well, easy for me! 🤷♂️
RFYL shared how she was doing this stretch. I was not finding anything ‘happening’ when trying the itb on nhs stretches for runners. Turns out that leaning forward from hips - while performing the crossed legs and sideways hip push - makes a difference (both for me and for M).
What a lovely run for you, especially the end part. Beautiful write up. I’ve noticed the birdsong in the last few days and I’m planning a run tomorrow morning. Well done for your over 8K and 65 minutes running! Great achievement, you have every reason to be very proud! 👏👏👏👍🏃♀️⭐️
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