A Lunchtime Fartlek Run

[Birdlady64]

I bailed out of yet another lunchtime meeting today so that I could run, but I’m a bit pressed for time again so I’m doing a shorter 3k fartlek run today, followed by a slower 1k jog home.

It’s 11 degrees, but overcast. I wanted to try out the new shorts I bought earlier this week but I’ll them for a nicer day. I go for tights and lightweight long-sleeved top. The choice was OK, but shorts and T-shirt would also have been fine.

There aren’t so many people out and about today. The lack of sunshine must be keeping people at home.

I do a 10 minute warm up run – which was probably a little bit faster than I intended - before starting the first sprint. I enjoyed the freeform nature of this run, picking the sprint sections at random - between the first telegraph pole and the next parked car, overtake the elderly couple by running into the road and onto the next road junction… you get the idea.

In the end, my 3k time is 21:47, although it takes me a few seconds fumbling to stop my watch. Splits are 7:26, 6.57, 7:17. Strava also gives me my second fastest mile for this run. In hindsight I feel like I could have pushed a bit harder on the sprint sections, especially towards the end. The niggly glute seems fine now 🤞🤫 but I didn’t want to go flat out just in case.

I immediately set my watch going again and slow jog the 1km uphill back home.

I do my stretches whilst Mr B makes me a lunch of cheese on toast. Duly consumed, I tidy up my hair sufficiently not be totally embarrassed on first video call of the afternoon.

I’m hoping to do a less pressurised longer run at the weekend. My last 10k seems a long time ago now.

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

Good run for you today Birdlady64, I am sure if you had left your hair the way it was after your run for the video call the people at the other end would have congratulated on your lunchtime 🏃🏾 run, well done 😀 🏃🏾

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

Thanks Al. Maybe you are right but you might change your mind if you had seen my hair. It was a bit banshee like despite attacking it with MrB's clippers at the weekend - yes we are back to DIY lockdown haircuts 😁

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

👍 😀🤣🏃🏾

[Jools2020 Graduate10]

Great Fartlek run, Diane! Love the thought of you sorting out your hair for the video meeting! I had a video meeting with my new financial adviser today. I had washed my hair, put on smattering of makeup and wore a nice top! Of course he had no way of knowing I was wearing my comfy and warm pyjama bottoms 😂

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

Ha ha! Brilliant! I have spent all afternoon in running tights on a couple of occasions 😁

It's usual for me to wear joggers and only dress up from the waist upwards these days

[Peter44 Graduate10]

Well done, another run squeezed into your lunch break, all these video meetings, i guess this will be the new normal, my son's been working from home, for a year now.I'm the same, my last 10k seems a long time ago now! ☹

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Peter44]

It's been almost a year WFH for me too I seem to have an unusually high number of meetings at the moment. Now the days are getting longer I need to think about early morning 🌄 runs again 🤔

[Littleoyellow Graduate10]

My last 10k certainly seems a long time ago too ! I think you've got more determination than I have BL going out on a working day lunchtime 😁👍 respect to you 👍 and still a sensible decision not to go flat out today on account of the niggle 😬 it sounds like you're good to build the distance back up now though? Run free, Birdlady 😁👍🌞🌼🏃‍♀️

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Littleoyellow]

Yes - I will be building back up - but slowly after reading your post! Good luck with your recovery

[Littleoyellow Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

Thank you BL and enjoy your run this weekend 😁👍🏃‍♀️

[David_G]

Well done Birdlady64, I’d much rather be running than sitting in a virtual meeting! 😃👍

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to David_G]

Oh yes! Absolutely!

[Hidden]

Well done!

And your story makes me itch a bit to try fartleks myself. I jog rather slow, normally around 6,4 km/h with Jeffing (walking) intervals of 30 seconds every 4:30 minutes. Will have to see how to incorporate fartleks in this Jeffing of mine, but it sounds interesting to do for 1 of my 30 minute week-runs (weekend = long run and definitely not doing fartleks then).

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Yes - give it a go. It's good fun! You could walk to recover between sprints instead of running/slow jogging so I think it would fit in nicely with your run-walk intervals - it's just less structured

[Beatlesforever Graduate10]

Great one! 👏👏👏 Enjoy your 10k this weekend 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️