First 8k! πŸ“£πŸƒπŸΌβ€β™€οΈπŸ¦ŒπŸ’«πŸ’«πŸ’ͺ🏼😁: 8.24km, in... - Bridge to 10K

Bridge to 10K

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First 8k! πŸ“£πŸƒπŸΌβ€β™€οΈπŸ¦ŒπŸ’«πŸ’«πŸ’ͺ🏼😁

GailXrunning profile image
β€’52 Replies

8.24km, in fact! β€˜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! πŸ˜‚)

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!! 😁🦌

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GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunning
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52 Replies
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Frenc profile image
FrencGraduate1060minGraduate

That’s amazing! Well done you - you have inspired me πŸ‘πŸΌπŸƒβ€β™€οΈπŸ˜€.

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningβ€’ in reply toFrenc

Oh, that’s a added bonus! Hope you have a lovely run.

Rennur profile image
RennurGraduate10

Fantastic run. Deserving of the emoji fest!

Rennur profile image
RennurGraduate10β€’ in reply toRennur

Did you register your 5k time with (not) park run.

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningβ€’ in reply toRennur

I haven’t. Where/ how do I do that?

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningβ€’ in reply toRennur

πŸ˜‚πŸ€£πŸ˜‚

SueAppleRun profile image
SueAppleRunGraduate1060minGraduate

How very lovely, I felt the warmer air, the jacket flapping and heard the birds, beautifully described what a good run

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningβ€’ in reply toSueAppleRun

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.

SueAppleRun profile image
SueAppleRunGraduate1060minGraduateβ€’ in reply toGailXrunning

I once forgot to put my heel lift in my trainers, I was like hop along cassidy lol

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningβ€’ in reply toSueAppleRun

Ouch! Not ideal for the hip, the knee... the whole body, in fact.

Brilliant πŸ˜€πŸ‘πŸΌ and congratulations on your longest run!

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningβ€’ in reply to

Thanks. I’m amazed and (still) all bouncy!

nowster profile image
nowsterGraduate10

Well done! Don't forget to claim your 60 minute badge. healthunlocked.com/bridgeto...

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningβ€’ in reply tonowster

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.

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningβ€’ in reply tonowster

Thanks for the push, @nowster. I got my 60-minutes badge!

Hareshaw-Granny profile image
Hareshaw-GrannyGraduate10

Loved your post, congratulations on your 8.24K.Great progress, bet you can almost feel that 10k really close.πŸ™ŒπŸ‘βœ…

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunning

Thank you! πŸ™Œ 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.πŸ˜‚

nowster profile image
nowsterGraduate10β€’ in reply toGailXrunning

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.

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningβ€’ in reply tonowster

πŸ‘ I’m sure (I know) you’re right.

Bambi2020 profile image
Bambi2020Graduate10

Congratulations on your new PB- over 8K- that’s a great distance to achieve- well done! πŸ¦ŒπŸ‘πŸ» πŸƒβ€β™€οΈ

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningβ€’ in reply toBambi2020

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.

Bambi2020 profile image
Bambi2020Graduate10β€’ in reply toGailXrunning

You started C25K 10 days before me- it’s great to see we’re still at it and have come so far

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningβ€’ in reply toBambi2020

Ah-hΓ‘: I always imagined you to be β€˜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 πŸ˜…πŸ₯΅!!) And we went through the programme slowly, taking double rest days.

LottieMW profile image
LottieMWAmbassador

WooHoo! πŸ™ŒπŸΌ

Go you! What a fab run and distance...and joy!πŸ‘

Nowster beat me to it...I was going to say that you really should claim your 60 minute badge this time πŸ₯‡

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningβ€’ in reply toLottieMW

Thanks πŸ™Œ 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!!πŸ˜‚πŸ€£ (+ I’ve written to ask if I qualify.)

LottieMW profile image
LottieMWAmbassadorβ€’ in reply toGailXrunning

It’s all a bit bonkers really...when you think back to how scary it was to contemplate running non stop for 20 minutes πŸ˜‚

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningβ€’ in reply toLottieMW

Isn’t it. I recall the fear of 3 minutes too!

LottieMW profile image
LottieMWAmbassadorβ€’ in reply toGailXrunning

...nice bling by your name now πŸ˜‰πŸ₯‡

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningβ€’ in reply toLottieMW

Haha! You spotted it before I even knew!

LottieMW profile image
LottieMWAmbassadorβ€’ in reply toGailXrunning

πŸ‘

skysue16 profile image
skysue16Graduate10

8k - fantastic, no wonder you celebrated. Very well done on your run πŸ˜€πŸ‘. How lovely to hear all those birds. Love the photo.

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningβ€’ in reply toskysue16

πŸ™ Thank you! I just said to LottieMW that it (8k) feels like a magic number, although I’m not clear why it should feel so special. Maybe it’s just me?

nowster profile image
nowsterGraduate10β€’ in reply toGailXrunning

Perhaps because it's almost exactly 5 miles?

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningβ€’ in reply tonowster

Hhmm, I hadn’t clicked that... but maybe it got to me subliminally. πŸ˜‰

Jericho2332 profile image
Jericho2332Graduate10

Well done on the run! πŸ‘πŸ»πŸ‘πŸ»πŸ‘πŸ»

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningβ€’ in reply toJericho2332

Thank you. 😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁(I’m pleased...if you hadn’t guessed!)

Peter44 profile image
Peter44Graduate10

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! πŸ€¦β€β™‚οΈ all i read is how hard it is to run slowly, well, easy for me! πŸ€·β€β™‚οΈ

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningβ€’ in reply toPeter44

😁😁😁Thank you. Hope you are on road to recovery?

Runforurlife profile image
RunforurlifeGraduate10

Lovely run GailX!! woohoo..so joyful and your first 8km+! Now I am wishing you had posted a photo of your caped cartoon character get up 🀣🀣

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningβ€’ in reply toRunforurlife

πŸ˜‚ 🀣 No chance!! It was twirling all about as I ran. I must have been quite a sight. Thankfully, very few folks about to witness my cartoon impression.

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningβ€’ in reply toRunforurlife

And forgot to mention that the itb stretch works *much* better now I know I need to lean forward! πŸ‘ ThanksπŸ™

Runforurlife profile image
RunforurlifeGraduate10β€’ in reply toGailXrunning

Aha! I’m so pleased that little tweak has helped. I am still drilling through my physio exercises and find that ITB stretch is a good one.

nowster profile image
nowsterGraduate10β€’ in reply toGailXrunning

Oh, what's this about the ITB stretch?

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningβ€’ in reply tonowster

RFYL shared how she was doing this stretch. I was not finding anything β€˜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).

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate10

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! πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸƒβ€β™€οΈβ­οΈ

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningβ€’ in reply toJools2020

Thank you, J. The sounds of spring are definitely in the air. Hope you are well and looking forward to your next run.😁

Fionamags profile image
FionamagsGraduate10

Well done you - that sounded amazing! Not long now till the big 10!!!

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningβ€’ in reply toFionamags

Thank you. I’m struggling to get my head around being close to 10k. How did that happen?! Unbelievable. 😁

Littleoyellow profile image
LittleoyellowGraduate10

Well done Gail on your latest achievement πŸ˜‹πŸ‘

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningβ€’ in reply toLittleoyellow

Thanks. It’s a nice feeling. I just did a shorter run this morning and made a beeline for the mahonias.

Littleoyellow profile image
LittleoyellowGraduate10β€’ in reply toGailXrunning

For'wake up and smell the coffee/roses' insert mahonias 🌱🏡😁 I bet you can smell that first 10k from here....... πŸ‘

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningβ€’ in reply toLittleoyellow

πŸ˜‚I love that idea! Brilliant!

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