An early 5K run 🏃‍♀️👍

[Jools2020]

I’ve been having a challenging time with anxiety and it has affected my heart rate during my runs. I have accepted that I’m going to be anxious for a few more weeks, so I’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 it’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! 😊 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. “Hills are my friends!” I duck down a side street to add a few hundred metres. Then - it’s downhill and much easier running! I fly past my Dad’s house and down another slope, hoping that it’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 ‘home’ for coffee. I do have a sense of achievement after that run. I’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! 😊🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️👍

No pic as it’s not working.

Splits:

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

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

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 Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

Thanks, Al. Technology is great when it works 🙄

[Beatlesforever Graduate10]

Wow, that's some serious speed work for that last k! I love how you used the slopes to your advantage 👏👏👏 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 👍 And you've got your running and the red kites to help you along 🤗🤗

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Beatlesforever]

Thanks, BF. My work with the upward slopes is ongoing! 😊

[Tasha99 Graduate10]

I run mainly to tackle my anxiety. If I didn’t run, I wouldn’t cope with life without 💊. Always run 💪🏽 Well done 👏🏽

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Tasha99]

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

[Sandraj39 Graduate10 in reply to Tasha99]

Same here Tasha...Running is my medication!😀🏃‍♀️

[Tasha99 Graduate10 in reply to Sandraj39]

🏃🏽‍♀️😍💪🏽

[Instructor57 Graduate10]

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 🤣

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Instructor57]

Thanks, Ian! I’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 😂

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

Of course it's not cheating ! It's running 😁👍

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

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Instructor57]

😂 I think my accelerator needs replacing

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

🤣🤣🤣

[nowster Graduate10 in reply to Instructor57]

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. 🤪

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

Yes, possibly putting in the effort uphil now without even realising it 👍

[Frizzbomb67 Graduate10]

Wow 😮 look at that last split! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻I don’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. That’s why I tend to run at the end of the day rather than at the start as it’s a full stop to my working day both physically and mentally. I’ve been running with some friends from work these last few weeks to support them to reach 5k. It’s been fun but all they do is gripe about work 😫. They couldn’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 😊.

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

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Frizzbomb67]

Thank you, Frizzbomb. It sounds like you need to run on your own more often! 🏃‍♀️👏

[nowster Graduate10]

Your trademark negative splits again. 😁

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 Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

Ooh, you’ll be having a battle with the duvet gremlin 😈

[nowster Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

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

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

I’ll look out for your post, then 😊

[nowster Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

I overslept! 😊

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

I didn’t say anything 😂😂😂

[Sandraj39 Graduate10]

Well done on your run Jools - and yes, I’m another one who runs to try and keep anxiety at bay. It’s an exhausting thing to live with sometimes but...we run on! 🏃‍♀️🙂x

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Sandraj39]

Thanks, Sandraj 🙏, we do indeed. 🏃‍♀️👍 x

[Week7 Graduate10]

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 Graduate10 in reply to Week7]

Thanks, Week7. I’m sure I’ll soon be back to writing long posts again 😊

[Week7 Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

Looking forward to it!

[Grannyhugs Graduate10]

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

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Grannyhugs]

Thank you. Grannyhugs, it certainly does 😊

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Sorry to hear you’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 Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thank you, Sola. I had lots of distractions today so it was a good day 😊

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Jools2020]

That’s good

[LottieMW Ambassador]

Nice splits!

Sorry that you’re troubled with anxiety, but it’s good that your running helps 💕

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

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to LottieMW]

I think you’re right, I never thought about that before 😊

[LottieMW Ambassador in reply to Jools2020]

👍😊

[Lifluf Graduate10]

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 Graduate10 in reply to Lifluf]

Thanks, Lifluf. You’re right, of course. Running always helps.

[Lifluf Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

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

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Lifluf]

🤞🤞🤞

[tmbtrain Graduate10]

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

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to tmbtrain]

Thank you tmbtrain. I’m working on the anxiety. I embrace the good days and accept the not-so-good days. Running helps 😊

[Hidden]

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 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. I agree that running helps me feel good! That in itself is great, but maybe it’s the yoga that helps to give me calmness and peace. Anxiety isn’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 wasn’t a severe attack, the meditation really helped. I had an app and used some free sessions from that.

[Lizcanrun Graduate10]

Wow! That's quite definitely a negative split!! Sounds like a lovely run. Hopefully running will have a positive impact on your anxiety. 🏃‍♀️

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Lizcanrun]

Thank you you, Liz. It does help for sure. 😊