A Slow Woodland 5k

[Birdlady64]

It was foggy when I woke up this morning, and my nice warm bed was too inviting. Another lazy Sunday morning it was, with coffee and a late brunch of omelette Arnold Bennet (smoked haddock with parmesan cheese and a touch of cream in case you were wondering).

After an afternoon pottering in the garden, my mindset was more in slump on the sofa mode than go for a run. It was gone 4pm by the time I managed to force myself out.

I treated my trail shoes to an outing - they have been sulking in the corner for far too long now. This was my first run in the woods since the beginning of December. Oh my - this was a bit of a struggle. 😤

I don't think I was in the right mindset to begin with and I just couldn't get up any head of steam. The Salomon's felt stiff and heavy compared to my road shoes and I'd forgotten just how undulating the route is. An altercation with a bramble, that wrapped itself tightly round my leg, twice, didn’t help.

I kept plodding away, determined to reach 5k, which I did eventually - my slowest by a significant amount for quite a while. The middle split even started with a 9! 😱 I can walk quicker than that!

Antiseptic wipes duly applied to the back of my leg – it looks like there might be a thorn embedded in there, but I can’t face trying to prise that out right now. The mud and blood on my tights will wash out and I’m sure the next run will be better.

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

Don't like the idea of blood on your tights, otherwise a good run for you today apart from the bramble Birdlady64,

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

No lasting damage done. It was a bit of a struggle but I enjoyed being in the woods for my 5k run today.I hope your leg was ok during your (not)parkrun / Virtual 5K yesterday

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

My right leg wasn't too bad on Saturday morning for my 50th virtual parkrun thanks Birdlady64, I just took it walk/run for the first 4 kilometers and ran non stop for the last kilometer, so things are getting better. 😊 🏃🏾

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

Good to hear that!👍

[Jools2020 Graduate10]

You got out there, even though you weren’t feeling it and you ran for 5K. You were tired from your gardening. You know that the next run will be better and it was just one of ‘those’ runs that you move on from! Sorry about the bramble, nasty things. Hope your tights aren’t too badly damaged.

Here’s to your next, happier run 🤞👍🏃‍♀️

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

I think I was just tired more than anything. I'm not sleeping that well at the moment. But I am still glad I went out.The tights are ok - no lasting damage thankfully

[Instructor57 Graduate10]

Well done on getting a 5K trail run in !Especially waiting till 4pm , I was snoozing on the sofa by then 😁

Your brunch sounded nice (except no parmesan for me 😁)

Shame about the thorn though ! Hope your ok 🤞

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Instructor57]

Thanks Ian. Sofa snoozing sounds good. I think it's a splinter so am sure it can be tweezered out in daylight tomorrow.

[Peter44 Graduate10]

Sounds nasty, a thorn in your leg, that's probably why i stick to road running, with a bit of canal towpath. Now, question, what's the difference with trail/normal running shoes, is it better grip maybe? 🤷‍♂️ oh, nothing wrong with the odd 9 min km, i sometimes have a few! 🤣

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Peter44]

Not sure if it's a thorn it feels too small. More like a splinter. I got my trail shoes for running on soft ground. The lugs are deep and widely spaced to shed the mud. The woods and fields get quite claggy most winters but this year has been something else.

I'm not too bothered by the time. It was just nice to be running in the woods for a change

[Peter44 Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

When things have dried up a bit, i might try some wood/trail running, the one i'm thinking of, has alot of hills! 🥵

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Peter44]

Hills are still my nemesis

[Peter44 Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

Me too, and definately avoiding them, while i'm easing back into it.

[Couchphoenix Graduate10]

Mud and Blood 😕sounds grim BL64, but at least you got out there and did it, so well done 👍.....get that thorn out though, dont leave it in there.....ouch !

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Couchphoenix]

It's not too bad - feels more like a bit of a splinter than anything else.Can't really avoid mud if you want to run in the woods though it has dried up a lot in the last week.

It was nice to be running there again - no music just soaking up the sounds of the woods

[Couchphoenix Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

Try zombie run next time your in there, that’ll help you pick up the pace 😂

🏃‍♀️. 🌲🧟‍♂️🌲🧟‍♀️🌲🧟🌲

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Couchphoenix]

Okay okay... I'll try it sometime soon then. Promise 😁

[Couchphoenix Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

I’m looking forward to that post 🤗

[Indielass00]

Ouch! Regarding the thorn! 😫That omelette sounds amazing by the way, going to have to try that out myself! 😋

Well done for getting out. Must be strange when you are used to a certain type of running shoe and then you change to a different type.There will be an adjustment period for sure.

When I got my new running shoes I found they took a bit of getting used to. Probably because my old pair were so done in 😂

Great pic! 😍

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Indielass00]

The thorn was more like a splinter and no real damage done. It looked worse than it was. I've been exclusively road running for almost 3 months now so it was always going to be a different experience compared to that. I did all of C25K in the woods and loved it.

The omelette is delish - you must try it 😋

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

Some runs are just like that Birdlady, bleh. But you got out there and you stuck it out to 5 km, despite it all. Well done you. I love getting to the countryside and being in the woods but it’s been too long.

I bet you’ll love your next run 🏃‍♀️

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Thanks Dexy.Yes it's been almost 3months since my last run in the woods. I love it there. I left my headphones behind yesterday so I could hear the birds - they're definitely getting more active.Spring is coming 😁

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

It’s the sign of good things ahead 🌞🌷🌼

[Raisemeup 60minGraduate]

The ups and downs of running are interesting really. Some so enjoyable , others just something you need to get done. However, all runs seem to have a positive, feel good factor afterwards, as long as no injury has occurred . It must be the fact that we are a human 'machine,' rather than a robot. We feel effects of other influences that we deal with on a daily basis and they frame our mindset.Your run still sounds a very good one Birdlady, except the bramble incident of course, but you carried on and also overcame the pull of the sofa and that's no small feat!

Best wishes and good luck with the tweezers today!

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Raisemeup]

Thanks.

You are so right in everything you say.

The mental challenge is a huge part of the battle. It was a toughie but running in the woods again was so uplifting. Definitely food for the soul 😁

[Beatlesforever Graduate10]

Oh dear, it sounds like one of those runs. Isn't it amazing that you're at the point where you can still go through all of that, feeling like you were feeling, and still manage a whole 5k? Well done to you! 💪👏👏👏 Hope it's only scratches and no thorn left in there. I had my own encounter with a bramble yesterday, nearly made me lose my footing and roll down a hill while walking the dogs! But I cannot bring myself to hate them, I like blackberries too much 😋

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Beatlesforever]

Yes I guess you are right about that. This time last year I was still vehemently anti- running. What a difference a year makes!

No thorn, just a splinter thankfully.

Brambles can be a pain. Mr B got one wrapped round both legs on a recent walk. He tried to walk forwards - his body moved but the legs and feet didn't. It was a classic Pythonesque face plant into the mud. 😁

[Beatlesforever Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

Poor Mr B! That made me laugh though 🤫🤣

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Beatlesforever]

It made me laugh as well at the time - I tried not to, honest! 🤥

[9weeks2Run Graduate10]

Well done on your 5k Birdlady. Sorry about the bramble, hope all fine now. Hope you have a happier next run,

Yummy delicious brunch!

Happy Running