Thank you and change of plans

I posted a few weeks ago after I was struggling with 10K. I received such kind and helpful words which made me feel very grateful, so thank you to all for your continued support as investment in me! Between then and now, life has got in the way, with several family members very ill with Covid and high stress from my work leaving me exhausted mentally.

However, I have continued to plod away, although half marathon plans are on hold for now, as I do not have the time to run longer distances at the moment. Squeezing in what I can when I can! I am confident the HM will come with time, sometimes one must just accept the circumstances of life!

For now, I run 5 miles (just over 8K) at the start of the week, two 5Ks towards the end of the week and a 10K at the weekend and it has, as you all said it would, become easier!

I am chipping away at getting my 5K time down to 25 minutes (ultimate goal would be 24.59!), currently sitting at 27 minutes, and I have managed to get my 10K in under an hour but not looking to push it further than that.

Thank you again, and stay safe.

[Hidden]

Keep doing exactly what you're doing 👍 awesome progress and that HM it'll definitely happen

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thank you, it’ll be even sweeter when it comes as hopefully means some of life’s normality will have resumed!

[David_G]

Well done Hidden I think you're being very sensible by not pushing yourself too hard towards a HM - you've already got more than enough on your plate.

Just do what you can, when you can , and enjoy your running. Most importantly remember to take care of yourself!

[Hidden in reply to David_G]

Thank you David, the minutes out running are a good time to empty the mind 😊

[damienair Administrator]

I read your post initially and thought you were being a bit hard on yourself. Then I got to the end and you are being way too hard on yourself. That is incredible, you are doing super running and doing plenty of it too. Really really well done. With current restrictions life has been turned upside down on its head. Add to that family members being ill with COVID-19 and busy work and life. You are already achieving an awful lot.

A year ago I was running 5K in around 27 minutes just like you and I managed a parkrun 5K PB of 25:36. I was also running 10K in under 58 minutes and was weekly running 4 days per week. Then COVID-19 came along. parkrun stopped, road races stopped and as a result my motivation stopped. I am still running, but just 5K a couple of times per week. I am starting to do a bit more now, but I have lost so much fitness. I now struggle to run 5K in under 34 minutes.

But I know that when parkrun returns and road races return I will be back training hard because I will have motivation back too. You are running at a great level now. I know when time is right you will have absolutely no problem with your Half Marathon and once everything returns to normal your running will only go from strength to strength. Keep going, your doing brilliantly.

Damien

[Hidden in reply to damienair]

Hi Damien, I must admit your lovely words made me feel a little teary - I cannot put into words the gratitude I feel at your support. Both your 5K times are brilliant, it is definitely all about rolling with the punches. I look forward to hearing how you get on with park run and hope one day to meet you and others at a park run or a road race and extend my gratitude there.

[nowster Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

At the moment I'm content with my just-under 30 minutes 5km times. I'd be ecstatic witn 25 minutes. I don't want to push for speed at the moment as (for me) that usually ends in injury. My own HM plans are paused for a week or two as Saturday's run didn't go as planned and might have resulted in injury had fate not intervened.

[Hidden in reply to nowster]

Oh dear sorry to hear about your injury, I’ll be cheering you on when you do get there Nowster

[nowster Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

This evening's walk (with jogs and sprints) seemed to go very well. I'll be doing a short run tomorrow morning to give it a better test.

[Cmoi Graduate10]

You're definitely being too hard on yourself Hidden . You're still a very new runner and you're getting out four times a week, running decent distances in very good times that many people would love to achieve. Just relax, enjoy it, and maybe even do a bit less from time to time! 😀

[Hidden in reply to Cmoi]

Thank you, I think a rest week (and a hot, sunny holiday!) will be needed at this rate!

[nowster Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

My best improvements in times have been a few runs after having to take a few extra days rest. This is probably why marathoners taper before a race.

[sTrongFuse Graduate10]

Next week it'll be 2 years since I graduated C25K and, for what it's worth, I think you're doing great and your 5k and 10k times are much of a muchness with mine (and I'm delighted with those times given where I was just a relatively short time ago).

The HM will happen in its own time. Sometimes it's just good to get out and put some distance/time through the legs thinking about nothing more than your route and the next footfall.

Just do what's right for you each time you go out.

[Hidden in reply to sTrongFuse]

Thank you for the wise words and congratulations for your impending 5K

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Apologies sTrongFuse , I meant to write impending anniversary not 5K! 5K clearly on the brain!

[sTrongFuse Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Quite alright. I'll probably go out and run the 5k route on the day just to measure how much easier (I hope) it is this time.

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Hope everyone soon gets well again, keep that running going it’s what helps you stay strong and cope with what life throws at you

[Hidden in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thank you, you are very right x

[Run46 Graduate10]

Wow shes-evolving, how you're managing to get out there 4 times a week and doing 28k weekly with all that's going on in your life I don't know...but it's impressive, and super speedy!

Wishing your family the best luck with their health, hope everyone is doing ok 💕

If you're struggling please don't beat yourself up, a few days off or a couple of weeks with 2 runs, or slow runs wouldn't do you any harm and may be just what the doctor ordered...unless you run to beat the stress, I'm sure you know best 👍

[Hidden in reply to Run46]

Thank you, Its certainly helping me sleep at night which is a bonus!