A 4K plod 🥵

[Jools2020]

With the promise of a gorgeous day this morning, I planned an early run. With the usual faffing, it was about 6.20 by the time I got out there. Quick mirror check (still gorgeous) and out the door. At already 12 degrees and ‘fair’ air quality, I would take it steady.

I hadn’t run for about a week - I went up to Shropshire for a much needed break at the weekend, staying with my son and his family. We went on lots of walks with their puppy, an 8 month old Vizsla.

Warm up walk over and we’re off! I immediately had to slow down as my heart rate soared into zone 4. What was that all about? I had a good idea. Stress levels high, too warm and not very good air quality. I slowed it down a little, but I think I stayed in Zone 4 for most of the run. It was hard work. I distracted myself by singing to Queen ‘Made in Heaven’ but it was more strangled gasps than singing. I got a few odd looks 😂

I have a tried and tested 5K route, but decided to modify that to 4K, so that I could speed up a little for the last km. The village that is my temporary home is very built up so there is not much to report. There were people, cars, cyclists and other runners. (Must start driving to more rural locations.) One good thing - I barely noticed the inclines, I was too busy worrying about my heart rate!

Last km and I do find a few stops to pull out. With this route, the downhill finish is only right at the end as I cut it short.

The run, a struggle though it was, certainly boosted my mood. It was tough but I did it and negative splits, too!

Happy running and don’t forget to hydrate well! 😊

[nowster Graduate10]

It was already 12°C by 7am this morning here. Good thing today's a rest day. I'll need to get out very early tomorrow if it's going to be the same as today.

Well done for braving the heat and still putting in the negative splits. 🌞

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

Thanks, nowster! I’ll have to start running at 5 am again. Too warm to run for long - for me at least! It seems like I’m never satisfied - too cold, too slippery, too windy ... and now too hot 😂

I was pleased with the negative splits, I haven’t achieved that as often as I’d like since I’ve been here. 😊

[Mormor1 Graduate10]

Just read your intro and very impressed with your determination and progress. Running is good for so many things, for me it's been absolutely intriguing to find that, incrementally, it works! Can't run in heat tho, I shall have to do 5am starts too if this keeps up.

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Mormor1]

Thank you! Progress hasn’t been as much this year as I’d hoped, but with everything else going on I’m just happy to be running when I can 😊. Every run is a victory! I can’t run in heat either. 5a.m starts it is! Bring them on 👍

[Comfortnotspeed Graduate10]

It sure is warming up! Loved the run report especially being a Shropshire lass with a Vizsla running companion

Nothing wrong with blasting out a good tune to help you on your way! Glad it was a boost! 🌸😊🌸

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Comfortnotspeed]

I arrive back after visiting my son, his wife and my 3 grandchildren and I’m missing the dog 😂.

Embry - 8 months

[Beatlesforever Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

I'm in love 🥰🥰🥰

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Beatlesforever]

I know! Me, too 🥰 He’s gorgeous.

[RunWillie Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

Perfect running buddy 🐾🐾

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to RunWillie]

Not for me, sadly! I was just visiting. Maybe I can kidnap him next time I’m in Shropshire! 😊

[RunWillie Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

You should at least borrow him whilst visiting. They’re listed as one of the best running dogs unlike Willie 🤣

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to RunWillie]

Might get one of my own! 😊.

[Beatlesforever Graduate10]

Aww I bet you had a wonderful time with your family, I'm sure the 8 month old puppy kept you all on your toes 🥰It's really warm here as well, I wasn't as sensible as you and went out midmorning 🥵🔥 great run for you and with neg splits 👏👏and you're spot-on with the hydration tip, I wish I'd had more water (and less Pimm's) over the bank holiday weekend! 💦💦

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Beatlesforever]

Thanks, BF 😊 Ah yes, I don’t think Pimm’s counts as hydration 😂

Had a great time! A much needed getaway for a few days. 😊.

[9weeks2Run Graduate10]

Of course you are still gorgeous, beautiful!!☺️☺️☺️

So lovely that you ha e spent time with your family must have been so magical. 🌈🦄🦄🌈🦄🌈🦄🌈🦄🌈🦄🌈🦄🌈🦄🌈🦄

Well done on your run, fantastic ⭐️💪👏⭐️👏🤪⭐️👏🤪⭐️👏⭐️so glad it boosted your mood. 🌈⭐️🌈⭐️🌈⭐️🌈⭐️🌈⭐️Yaay we do love a negative splits!!

Great stuff as always inspiring lady.

Take care

Rebecca xxx 🥰⭐️

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to 9weeks2Run]

Aaaw, thank you, Rebecca 🙏. It was magical. My teenage grandsons even emerged from their rooms to spend some time with me! Maybe the fine weather brought them out of hibernation 😂. I went to look round a show home with my son, it was fun. My only granddaughter is growing up fast!

I’m glad I went out and ran even though it was hot. Loved those perfect negative splits 😊👍

[Sandraj39 Graduate10]

Glad you had a good break with family Jools. 🙂

I struggled on an early run this morning too. Not sure if it was the heat🌞, the early hour 🥱 (I usually run much later in the day) or the after-effects of my second jab 💉on Saturday!🤷‍♀️ Either way, I’m hoping my next run is easier!🙏 Happy running! 🙂

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Sandraj39]

Thank you, Sandraj 😊. It was lovely to spend time with family. I hadn’t seen them since January 2020, although my son came alone to see me last September.

Probably the reason you struggled was a mixture of all of the above! I was poorly for 3 days after my second jab and didn’t feel right for a week. I’m sure our next run will be better! 😊

[Instructor57 Graduate10]

Well done Jools , 4k is still a good run!And especially as it's warming up and you have been walking around Shropshire the last few days ! 👍

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Instructor57]

Haha, yes - thanks, Ian. Shopshire certainly has beautiful walks. I went and saw a house with my son while I was there, a new build. Need to have a plan B and it was very nice indeed! 😊👍

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

Oh good that sounds interesting 😬👍

[LottieMW Ambassador]

How lovely to see your family at the weekend 🥰

Loving those negative splits! 🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to LottieMW]

Thanks, Lottie! It was wonderful to see them all.

I was pleased with those splits 😊👍

[tmbtrain Graduate10]

Jools you've managed to draw a weird caterpillar on your run 😄 Lovely you had a good break and got somewhere different! I don't know what a negative split it but it seems that's a good thing lol. I'm thinking about driving to get to somewhere different for a run too but I still like the whole open the front door and go feeling. I'm starting to understand the whole marathon tourism thing where folk end up wanting to run absolutely everywhere!

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to tmbtrain]

It sounds like running has got you! I even see other people’s photos and want to run there! I share your ‘open the front door and go’ feeling. The trouble is, I’m getting bored with my caterpillar route as it’s so built up.

Negative splits just means starting easy and speeding up as you go. I like km splits and fishing with my fastest km. I find it makes my runs more comfortable, but I only try to achieve that on runs up to 5K. This run was perfect! Each km was faster than the one before; if I start too fast I just burn out and by halfway through I’m struggling.

[tmbtrain Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

Ha ha same when I see other folks pics! I seem to do negative splits already without knowing it. Each km gets slightly faster all by itself which is weird as I think I'm running the same speed!Maybe we should treat ourselves to 1 run a week somewhere completely new 🙂

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to tmbtrain]

Yes, we should! I thought I would join a running group, but I sent an email and didn’t get a response. I should persevere! After living in the rural fens, it’s a shock to be running through housing estates!

[tmbtrain Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

That's a big change in scenery! I think you should pursue the running club and contact them again. The organiser might just have been overwhelmed with things at the moment you contacted them. Easy to happen, especially in the current climate and they might have some good routes to go running on!

[Tansycat]

Well done for sticking with it !!!

Isn’t it funny that some days you really struggle? I came up to an island in Scotland- in theory it should have been perfect conditions

But boy did find it hard . Quite a few more inclines.. home is flat. And it nearly killed me

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Tansycat]

Thanks! I know about the inclines! Previously, I lived in the fens - but I am getting used to the slopes here, although I haven’t yet tackled any of the larger hills. A hilly terrain does help to build up endurance 😊

[JeanneMary]

Hi! I did a very similar sort of run today - managed 4.4 km with negative splits but overall slower than last time. I was puzzled but I guess it is just because it's so much warmer all of a sudden. No one has told the weather about the 10% rule!😂

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to JeanneMary]

Haha, no! The heat definitely affects my running. I decided not to push it as the air quality wasn’t that good, either. (Perhaps I’m just being a drama Queen! 😂)

[Peter44 Graduate10]

Hi Julia, hope things are ok, glad to hear you got away for a bit, to visit your son. At least your running, after your post vacine break, i've really let the running slip a bit, last went out 9 days ago, will try tonight, when it cools down a bit! 🤪🥵

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Peter44]

Thanks, Peter; running in the heat isn’t fun, especially when it hadn’t cooled down much overnight. I had a lovely time with my son and his family, a welcome break from the madness of solicitors. I hope you manage to get out for a run soon! 😊👍