An early 5K run ๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿ‘: Iโ€™ve been having a... - Bridge to 10K

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An early 5K run ๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿ‘

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate10
โ€ข46 Replies

Iโ€™ve been having a challenging time with anxiety and it has affected my heart rate during my runs. I have accepted that Iโ€™m going to be anxious for a few more weeks, so Iโ€™m coping the best way I can, by getting out there and doing what I can.

Yesterday, I wanted to get a 5K run in, even if it was slow. I decided to have an earlier than usual run to beat the heat, but it was still 13 degrees when I set out at about 5:45 a.m.

Warm up walk over and off I go, slowly, to try and keep my heart rate down. I keep to my tried and tested route. Even though the area is very built up, the birdsong was loud yesterday morning as there was no-one about. I hear the whistling calls of Red Kites and look up. There are about 6 of them, circling high above. A common sight here, close to where they were reintroduced.

I carry on running, turning left past the post office and left again to go back towards the village. It feels like a plod and itโ€™s quite hard work. I reach a T-junction and have to decide. Left to do a 4K and right for a 5K. Choices! I hesitate for a few seconds - then turn right for the 5K! ๐Ÿ˜Š I plod on and head for the road by the common. As I start the 5th kilometre I have an upwards incline and take shorter strides to cope. โ€œHills are my friends!โ€ I duck down a side street to add a few hundred metres. Then - itโ€™s downhill and much easier running! I fly past my Dadโ€™s house and down another slope, hoping that itโ€™s enough to get that last km under 7 minutes! I reach the end of the road so have to turn and run for a few more seconds.

Run over and โ€˜homeโ€™ for coffee. I do have a sense of achievement after that run. Iโ€™ve accepted my anxiety and am working with it. I completed the Strava 5K challenge for June and pulled out some stops for the final half kilometre! ๐Ÿ˜Š๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿ‘

No pic as itโ€™s not working.

Splits:

8:44, 8:44, 8:25, 8:15, 6:55

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Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020
Graduate10
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46 Replies
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AlMorr profile image
AlMorrAmbassadorGraduate10

That was a good run for you today Jools2020, almost negative splits, strangely enough the photo feature on my app also failed today to Healthunlocked (I was going to send the time of my London Vitality Virtual 10,000 time)I just hope that running will ease any anxiety issues you have.

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate10โ€ข in reply toAlMorr

Thanks, Al. Technology is great when it works ๐Ÿ™„

Beatlesforever profile image
BeatlesforeverGraduate10

Wow, that's some serious speed work for that last k! I love how you used the slopes to your advantage ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘ a very wise and mindful approach to your anxiety, it's definitely better to accept it and work with it than try to fight it ๐Ÿ‘ And you've got your running and the red kites to help you along ๐Ÿค—๐Ÿค—

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate10โ€ข in reply toBeatlesforever

Thanks, BF. My work with the upward slopes is ongoing! ๐Ÿ˜Š

Tasha99 profile image
Tasha99Graduate10

I run mainly to tackle my anxiety. If I didnโ€™t run, I wouldnโ€™t cope with life without ๐Ÿ’Š. Always run ๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿฝ Well done ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿฝ

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate10โ€ข in reply toTasha99

Thanks, Tasha. Running is definitely key! Also yoga really helps. x

Sandraj39 profile image
Sandraj39Graduate10โ€ข in reply toTasha99

Same here Tasha...Running is my medication!๐Ÿ˜€๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ

Tasha99 profile image
Tasha99Graduate10โ€ข in reply toSandraj39

๐Ÿƒ๐Ÿฝโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿฝ

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate10

Well done Jools !I know and appreciate what it's like fighting anxiety !

We know the runs help !

And that was a good run !

Ha, I need to find a route with a downhill last km to help with my splits ๐Ÿคฃ

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate10โ€ข in reply toInstructor57

Thanks, Ian! Iโ€™m learning to work with the slopes as much as I can. My warmup walk is uphill slightly and I run down the same slope for most of the last km. Is it cheating? Maybe ๐Ÿ˜‚

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate10โ€ข in reply toJools2020

Of course it's not cheating ! It's running ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ‘

Sometimes I actually struggle to going downhill , it can be quite hard ,I think my brakes need a service ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate10โ€ข in reply toInstructor57

๐Ÿ˜‚ I think my accelerator needs replacing

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate10โ€ข in reply toJools2020

๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ

nowster profile image
nowsterGraduate10โ€ข in reply toInstructor57

An odd thing is happening to me at the moment. I'm often running faster uphill than I am on the level. It must be something psychological, with me putting in more effort on the harder terrain, perhaps?

My usual warm up walk is, like that of Jools2020 , an uphill climb (over ten storeys) and most of the runs are then generally downhill from there (with a few climbs in the middle). If that's cheating, I don't care. ๐Ÿคช

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate10โ€ข in reply tonowster

Yes, possibly putting in the effort uphil now without even realising it ๐Ÿ‘

Frizzbomb67 profile image
Frizzbomb67Graduate10

Wow ๐Ÿ˜ฎ look at that last split! ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿป๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿป๐Ÿ‘๐ŸปI donโ€™t suffer from anxiety, but I feel for those who do, but I find that running does relieve the stress of work and gets me away from my desk. Thatโ€™s why I tend to run at the end of the day rather than at the start as itโ€™s a full stop to my working day both physically and mentally. Iโ€™ve been running with some friends from work these last few weeks to support them to reach 5k. Itโ€™s been fun but all they do is gripe about work ๐Ÿ˜ซ. They couldnโ€™t make it this week so I got out there with my cheesy tunes and did a gentle 6k lost in my own thoughts - bliss ๐Ÿ˜Š.

Iโ€™m glad you have found something that helps with your anxiety and hope that it subsides soon. Take care x

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate10โ€ข in reply toFrizzbomb67

Thank you, Frizzbomb. It sounds like you need to run on your own more often! ๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿ‘

nowster profile image
nowsterGraduate10

Your trademark negative splits again. ๐Ÿ˜

In order to get everything done tomorrow and get out before it gets too hot it looks like I'll also need to be out around 6am.

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate10โ€ข in reply tonowster

Ooh, youโ€™ll be having a battle with the duvet gremlin ๐Ÿ˜ˆ

nowster profile image
nowsterGraduate10โ€ข in reply toJools2020

Yes, but I have been naturally surfacing from sleep about then anyway due to the light mornings.

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate10โ€ข in reply tonowster

Iโ€™ll look out for your post, then ๐Ÿ˜Š

nowster profile image
nowsterGraduate10โ€ข in reply toJools2020

I overslept! ๐Ÿ˜Š

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate10โ€ข in reply tonowster

I didnโ€™t say anything ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚

Sandraj39 profile image
Sandraj39Graduate10

Well done on your run Jools - and yes, Iโ€™m another one who runs to try and keep anxiety at bay. Itโ€™s an exhausting thing to live with sometimes but...we run on! ๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿ™‚x

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate10โ€ข in reply toSandraj39

Thanks, Sandraj ๐Ÿ™, we do indeed. ๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿ‘ x

Week7 profile image
Week7Graduate10

Hi, sorry you are struggling with anxiety at the moment. At least you have your running which hopefully makes things a little easier once you get past the gremlins and out of thedoor.Good to see your nice tidy splits are making a comeback!

Keep at it -looking forward to yourposts getting longer as you start to feel better.

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate10โ€ข in reply toWeek7

Thanks, Week7. Iโ€™m sure Iโ€™ll soon be back to writing long posts again ๐Ÿ˜Š

Week7 profile image
Week7Graduate10โ€ข in reply toJools2020

Looking forward to it!

Grannyhugs profile image
GrannyhugsGraduate10

Great run, I hope it adds to your list of accomplishments to ease your anxiety slightly. Happy running ๐Ÿค—

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate10โ€ข in reply toGrannyhugs

Thank you. Grannyhugs, it certainly does ๐Ÿ˜Š

SueAppleRun profile image
SueAppleRunGraduate1060minGraduate

Sorry to hear youโ€™re having anxiety Jools, a run is a good place to push it away, that was a good run and good splits, rest well this evening and keep well

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate10โ€ข in reply toSueAppleRun

Thank you, Sola. I had lots of distractions today so it was a good day ๐Ÿ˜Š

SueAppleRun profile image
SueAppleRunGraduate1060minGraduateโ€ข in reply toJools2020

Thatโ€™s good

LottieMW profile image
LottieMWAmbassador

Nice splits!

Sorry that youโ€™re troubled with anxiety, but itโ€™s good that your running helps ๐Ÿ’•

Itโ€™s funny how finishing a difficult run can leave us with a better sense of achievement than an easier one!

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate10โ€ข in reply toLottieMW

I think youโ€™re right, I never thought about that before ๐Ÿ˜Š

LottieMW profile image
LottieMWAmbassadorโ€ข in reply toJools2020

๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ˜Š

Lifluf profile image
LiflufGraduate10

A good run Jools. Glad to hear you're still getting out there despite your stress. But running is good for stress so it would be much worse if you didn't.

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate10โ€ข in reply toLifluf

Thanks, Lifluf. Youโ€™re right, of course. Running always helps.

Lifluf profile image
LiflufGraduate10โ€ข in reply toJools2020

I'm just off now to see if it will help clear my poor old lungs too...

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate10โ€ข in reply toLifluf

๐Ÿคž๐Ÿคž๐Ÿคž

tmbtrain profile image
tmbtrainGraduate10

Fab early run and getting your fast last split! Great post ๐Ÿ‘I hope the anxiety can be reduced I know how unpleasant it can be.

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate10โ€ข in reply totmbtrain

Thank you tmbtrain. Iโ€™m working on the anxiety. I embrace the good days and accept the not-so-good days. Running helps ๐Ÿ˜Š

Too bad of the anxiety, I know it all too well. I suffer from General Anxiety Disorder since 2002. I am on meds now for it and am coping with it, but I regularly have a panic attack still, mostly in the evenings. I hoped running could help me with my anxiety, but unfortunately for me it does not do the trick. Running does make me feel good though, which is good on its own.

Hope your anxiety will quiet a bit soon!

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate10โ€ข in reply to

Thank you. I agree that running helps me feel good! That in itself is great, but maybe itโ€™s the yoga that helps to give me calmness and peace. Anxiety isnโ€™t fun and I hope you can find something that helps. Especially with the panic attacks. I tried meditation with those and as long as it wasnโ€™t a severe attack, the meditation really helped. I had an app and used some free sessions from that.

Lizcanrun profile image
LizcanrunGraduate10

Wow! That's quite definitely a negative split!! Sounds like a lovely run. Hopefully running will have a positive impact on your anxiety. ๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate10โ€ข in reply toLizcanrun

Thank you you, Liz. It does help for sure. ๐Ÿ˜Š

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