In my heart I wanted to run another 10k today. My head was telling me that might be asking for trouble. My form hasn't been what it was since the enforced snow and ice break, and I've struggled a bit with heavy legs on my last 2 runs. I don't want to aggravate the niggle in my left glute.
After a longer than planned lie-in, a brunch of scrambled egg and smoked salmon 😋 and a bit of time gardening, I set off mid-afternoon. At 13 degrees, it’s definitely a shorts and T-shirt day today. I’m not entirely sure how far I’m going to run so I plan a route that can be anything between 4km and 6km, depending on how I feel
I set off at what feels like a comfy pace and for the first 2km I feel pretty good. Breathing OK, legs OK. It’s nice in the weak sunshine, and I’m loving the feel of the breeze on my bare arms and legs.
Approaching 3km I’m overtaken by a guy who seems like he’s running twice as fast as me. 💨🏃♂️ He leaves me for dead and disappears down the road. I wonder what heart rate zone he is running in and check mine – firmly in the aerobic zone. 👍
I reach the turning for the road towards the Leisure Centre and rounding the corner I see him – a tiny speck in the distance.
I’m not sure if this affects me psychologically, but my legs are starting to feel a bit heavy and my knees are aching a bit. Maybe the time spent earlier today kneeling on the gravel around the fish pond whilst fishing out fallen leaves and blanket weed wasn’t the best preparation for a run! 🤔
I do a ¾ lap of the Leisure Centre today. It’s busy. Lot’s of dog walkers. A group of youths on BMX bikes. Several family groups – one with young children playing catch.
Back to the main road and I head down to the un-made road behind the woods where I decide that 5km is enough for today. There’s always next week for a longer run.
Arriving home I'm greeted by the enticing aroma of the venison haunch I have braising in the slow cooker. I realise I'm hungry and out comes the peanut butter and some crackers that are handily nearby.
Stretches done and checking the stats it's another sub-40 minute 5k - I remember when that seemed an impossibility.
I see that I also ran almost perfect positive splits of 7:13, 7:22, 7:55, 8:20, 8:20. Maybe I set off too quickly, but maybe it’s a reflection of the increasing heavy leggedness on this run (again).
The photo is taken on the lane at the end of my run.
Written by
Birdlady64
Graduate10
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Looks like a bus stop in that photograph Birdlady64, good run for you today, that guy who passed you was probably running a sub 40 minute 10K, you had a great run in running also a sub 40 minute 5K, well done. 😊 🏃🏾
That guy who overtook you had probably been running for years, he’s not important. You ran at your comfy pace and still achieved. I’m thinking of doing a 3K as it’s been over 2 weeks since I ran. I’m just going to take it really steady. Maybe tomorrow. My reward for starting to pack!
Yes! I’ll be staying with my Dad for a few months near High Wycombe, which is in a valley. He lives on one of the surrounding hills. It’s Hill City. I learned to drive there and my hill starts are second to none! You can imagine I am not relishing the prospect of ‘running up that hill’ having started running in the fens. Challenging times!
Yes, I grew up there. I know those places well 😊! Also , my younger son and his family live in Maidenhead. I think he’s looking forward to the extra help with childcare. Nanny to the rescue! Are you in that area, too?
I live in a small village, on the outskirts of watford, as you know, it's the family home, my mum was here 55 years, not in a rush, but will sell up at some point, havent quite decided where i'll go, depends on how long i want to carry on working, currently based in St.albans.
Sounds like a good run, in the spring sunshine, dont be worrying about the speedster 💨 we all know slow is best, and more enjoyable 😊 and better for the joints. I'm still resting, went for a walk instead, might try a run this week.
Today I didn’t manage to get out until about 4pm, but it was still warm enough then for a shorts and t-shirt run, it felt great ! Funny enough I also spent a fair while today on hands and knees cleaning out our pond of fallen leaves and de-clogging the pump! Oh joy !!
Wasn’t it great to be out and have bare arms? I haven’t got my shorts out yet, not sure they will still fit, sounds lovely but busy in places like here, I’ve just found route planner on my garmin and getting very excited about it Love your photo such a peaceful part of your run, and fast runners, well they are around too but you would be a fast sinner passing me
It was wonderful! I think I might treat myself to a new pair of shorts. I'm a bit fed up of my boring black ones. I don't want really short shorts though - you know what I mean.😁 I used to run across the field behind those trees and around the wood on the horizon last summer in the early morning 🌄. I can't wait for it to dry out enough to do that again
Sounds like an enjoyable run for you today BL 😁 you did what felt like enough and that was a good decision 👍a sub 40 5k under the belt on the road that leads further and further away from the couch 😁👍 and I can smell that slow cooked dinner that was your reward 😋
Thanks. It was lovely to be out in shorts and t-shirt again and 5k was enough.Dinner was delicious 😋 and I felt like I earned the roast potatoes that went with it!
I'm not so good with the tech, sometimes I think I may accidentally dislike the odd post when I'm trying to like it 😬 I've been calorie counting since last February and have only had roast potatoes on a handful of occasions in the last year 🤣 when I eventually get off the IC I'll treat myself 👍
Thanks. It was lovely to be out in shorts and t-shirt again and 5k was enough.Dinner was delicious 😋 and I felt like I earned the roast potatoes that went with it!
Lovely view. I'm still running on a treadmill yet. I alternate between longer and short runs. I had a rest day yesterday. back on it again today... well done and keep it up. I get heavy legs sometimes often it's the legs before my breathing!
Ah thank you so much. Yes I think it is the most sensible way for me to go forward regarding getting back to running. If I can run 5k in 9 weeks with be thrilled. Take care x
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week3run1 ✅. 3 x 17 mins with 1 min walks. 
morning run
