A Saturday 10K...🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️😊

[Jools2020]

I love to go on a longer run on Saturdays, it sets me up for the weekend. No gremlins this morning, but I took my time as it was going to be chilly first thing. I had half a banana and a coffee about 90 minute before I set out. Long sleeved top and running tights. Had to go back for my gloves! I was glad of the gloves, but once I started running, I wished I’d worn my shorts.

I’d decided on a 10K run as I want to start running longer distances again. I wasn’t going to push myself, just run at a comfortable pace. Once I started running, I decided to try and keep my pace between 8:00 and 8:30 mins/km. I wouldn’t even push myself for the last km. Says she 😂.

Music today! Started off with Sergeant Pepper’s 🎶. I do enjoy singing as I run, even if it attracts odd looks, so off I went jogging along the lane close to the riverbank, happily singing along to the music. I do watch my heart rate as I don’t want to be working too hard today, but it isn’t until the 4th or 5th kilometre that I realise I’m working harder than I want to and pull back a little. I have the heart rate zones showing as a number on my watch, so if my heart rate increased to above 4.5, it was time to pull back.

I don’t try and run negative splits on my longer runs as it’s not helpful. I let the splits ebb and flow, although it’s natural to have an overall increase in pace after my body has warmed up.

I cross the rural part of my route as the album ends, but the bird song is so lovely that I don’t start any more music, preferring to listen to the sounds of nature for a while. This part of the route is about 2.5K I would guess. I heard horses whinnying, but I couldn’t see them today. I’m disappointed that it’s overcast, I can’t wait to run in the sunshine again.

Coming back out onto the main road, I take out my mobile and find some more music to sing to! Kate Bush, yes, why not. I’m now about 3km from home and sticking to my plan of not working too hard. This is my first 10K since my break and I don’t want to overdo it. There is a lot of traffic and I have to watch it in case I have to jump into the hedge! As we are so rural here, there are many tractors and they are a lot bigger than me, but drivers are considerate today and give me a wide birth.

I notice that my 9th km is just over 8:00 mins. Shall I speed up a bit for the last kilometre? Oh, all right 😊. I’m almost home and duck down a side street to add half a km. I run past my house just before I get to 10K and stop the run. I walk a bit further for my warm down walk and then turn round to go home and make coffee.🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️☕️👍

Splits: 8:30, 8:28, 8:10, 8:15, 8:18, 8:10, 8:05, 8:03, 8:03, 7:35

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Wonderful, I loved reading that, lovely place to run and yes tractors are big aren’t they? but I prefer them to a bike that whizzes past with an inch to spare

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

True about the bikes, but fortunately we don’t seem to get many round here this time of year.

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Jools2020]

No, they are all cycling along our seafront

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

I thought you were talking about motor bikes, we get a few cyclists but I’ve never had a problem with them passing too close.

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Jools2020]

There is a shared walking/cycle track along the top of our beach and they whizz along there coming from behind and almost brushing my shoulder hence preferring quiet streets to seafront, few years ago two bikes travelling fast in opposite directions collided, both air lifted by helicopter and one sadly didn’t make it, so i keep away when it’s busy as it’s not really wide enough for all,

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

My goodness! That doesn’t sound like a safe place to run.

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Jools2020]

A lot of runners do but no it isn’t

[Instructor57 Graduate10]

A nice 10k Jools !

And yes, it was a bit chilly out there 😁

And Sgt pepper then Kate Bush sounds good to me 👍

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Instructor57]

Thank, Ian 😊 I enjoyed the music this morning but would definitely enjoy slightly warmer weather!

[nowster Graduate10]

Isn't there something about not running with scissors, or is that Billy Shears? 🤪

Almost perfect negative splits again. Let's see you repeat that trick with hills in the mix in a couple of months.

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

😂 I’m trying not to think about hills! I’ve looked at the nearest Park Run and it seems to be fairly flat.

[nowster Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

My colleagues are thinking of entering as a group into the "We Love Our NHS Manchester 10k" event in July. The route in the park is a wee bit hilly, though. The distance doesn't faze me. I've run four times at 10k or longer. By that point it should be routine.

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

You should cope well with hills, too! Sounds like a great idea for you.

[LottieMW Ambassador]

Fab run and good splits! Brilliant music too 🎶

Relieved that I don’t have to negotiate tractors 🚜😂

Beautiful sunny day here today...but very cold 🥶

Happy running 🏃🏻‍♀️🐌🐢🥰

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to LottieMW]

Tractor drivers are usually the most aware, I guess they have to be! Happy running to you, too 😊

[Birdlady64 Graduate10]

A good solid 10k run there Jools! Pretty impressive after your break and with everything else you have going on.

You are right though it would be nice if it would warm up a bit. Its a funny temperature at the moment - cold but not cold enough for warmer kit and not quite warm enough (for me anyway) for shorts and T-shirt.

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

Thanks, Diane! Not my fastest 10K, nor my slowest. It worked out pretty well. I think a long sleeved top with shorts and gloves would have been perfect. My legs were a little warm. I did notice that I got cold quite quickly when I got back home, though.

[nowster Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

Very true about the funny temperature. I'm going out dressed with long sleeved tops and bare (but hairy) legs. When it got over 10°C a week or so back I was happy in a tee shirt.

And like Jools2020 I've got to keep moving briskly after the run otherwise I quickly get cold.

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

Around 10 degrees seems to be the magic temperature- depending on wind chill.

I've also noticed getting chilly on my cool down recently. I must try and plan my routes to finish closer to home

[GailXrunning]

Haha... You just couldn’t resist that final surge! Fabulous run. Hope the weekend is now all beautifully set up.😁

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to GailXrunning]

No, I just couldn’t resist! It wasn’t an all out surge, though 😊

[Beatlesforever Graduate10]

Great start to the weekend! Sounds like you had a fab run, hope you enjoyed your coffee when you got home! ☕

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Beatlesforever]

I had coffee before and after! Love my coffee 😊 probably best I don’t have any more today.

[Peter44 Graduate10]

Sounds a good run Jools, you've got some nice counryside around you there, despite the tractors, putting you in the hedges 🤣 your running break seems to have helped you, that's a great time too, about my sort of pace, hope the packing is going ok, you'll miss your running routes around there?

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Peter44]

Thanks, Peter; yes my time today was neither my fastest nor my slowest - it’s about what I had planned! Packing is slow as I’m clearing out at the same time. My younger son will be coming in a couple of weeks to take stuff to the dump for me, I think he wants a break from the children! I will miss a lot about the fens but I have to sell the house and it makes sense to be near my family now I’m on my own. It will be hard to leave 😢

[Peter44 Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

We'll probably need a few skips, once we start clearing the house, will be sad when house is sold, only moved back 3 years ago, to help my mum, although we were living nearby, i guess nothing lasts forever! 😥

Glad you've got your son to help with some dump runs.

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Peter44]

No, nothing lasts forever, that’s true. Look’s like we’ve both got to make plans for the future. I could have had a skip. I would find that too upsetting, so I’m pleased that my son’s coming to take stuff up to the dump. By the time you are ready to start clearing the house, the charity shops will be open and you could do it bit by bit. No need to rush.

[Peter44 Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

Will need charity shop, as house is full of books, and nic naks, but wont rush things, might even be next year, will see how things go.

[Fionamags Graduate10]

Great 10k in the legs there Jools. I did laugh at the image of you leaping into hedges to get away from tractors - but I know what you mean - some of them are absolutely massive and take up the whole road. I also did a final all out gasp at the end of my run today - it's good to feel that you can do that towards the end of a longer run, though, doesn't it?

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Fionamags]

Thanks, Fionamags 😊. Yes, it’s great to finish strong! I wasn’t going to because I was tiring a little, but suddenly decided to step up a gear 😊

[RacingintheStreet Graduate10]

Your runs always sound so calm and steady , this was a lovely read.

The birdsong is uplifting isn’t it , I find them particularly vocal around teatime just now 🎶

The daylight is stretching and my favourite time to walk is just in that last light , especially if the tide is out and the oystercatchers are swooping .

Enjoy your weekend ( coffee is my thing too ☕️☕️😂 .... simple pleasures 😊

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to RacingintheStreet]

Thank you, yes, I love the birdsong. I also love the sound of your ‘last light’ walks by the sea. What a tonic!

[RacingintheStreet Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

A tonic for sure , Its the time when the world seems to slow down and nature gets a break from us . I try not to disturb the sea birds 😂😂

[Couchphoenix Graduate10]

Sounds an enjoyable 10k Well Done Jools.

There was a documentary about Kate Bush on BBC4 last night, I love her voice, she released some great tracks. I’m going to add some to my playlist....Running Up That Hill, springs to mind ! 😂

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Couchphoenix]

Yes, I was listening to ‘Hounds of Love’. ‘Running up that hill’ is on there. Great track! Missed the documentary, but unless it’s a new one, I’ve probably seen it before.

[9weeks2Run Graduate10]

Well done on your 10k Julia wonderful that you are back running longer distances again so quickly and fantastic to hear there was no sign of those pesky gremlins. Great run plan and such a beautiful descriptive read 🍁🍂I love how you always finish with a speedy last Km local legend 👑👟.

What a joy that you enjoy singing as you run 🎼🎼🎼what a great feeling of freedom and happiness and how lovely to hear the beautiful birds.

You are doing so amazing, hopefully we will get some warmer weather soon.

Take care x

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to 9weeks2Run]

Thank you, Rebecca - I really would like some sunshine! x

[9weeks2Run Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

For you 🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to 9weeks2Run]

Thank you 💕