W1R2 done - 22 runs to 10km!

[mancrunner1]

Second run done in very wet weather - I’d already got used to the luxury of a few consecutive dry weeks so it was a bit of a nasty reminder of what running in Manchester is usually like! I was working until after midnight last night and put off by the weather so I decided to really do an easy pace for once and not try to improve my 5km time - I went for a podcast rather than music as I find that helps me slow down.

As usual, I sped up as I went round but I finished 5km exactly in 36:44, which is weirdly the same time as I did two weeks ago! So not my fastest but pleased with the effort and pace of 7:20/km.

I don’t think I’ve ever run more than 5km before so run 3 is going to be a good challenge - I know I need to slow down further as I was glad to stop at 5km today, looking forward to Saturday!

[Grannyhugs Graduate10]

Brilliant effort, do slow down for the longer runs, it makes such a difference, keep the speed work for short runs. Remember not even top athletes aim for beating times on every run😂. Happy running 🤗

[mancrunner1 Graduate10 in reply to Grannyhugs]

Thank you! I am such a demon for trying to beat myself, I do much better when I do a guided run as I don’t need to look at my distance covered and therefore also ignore my pace so lots more Coach Bennett in my future I think!

[Grannyhugs Graduate10 in reply to mancrunner1]

Fantastic to have found a coach that works for you, that 10k will be there soon enough 🤗

[Irishprincess Graduate10]

Isn’t it a great feeling to tick off each run after you’ve done it? Ok, maybe not a paper tick (although I do that sometimes 🙄) but in your head ✅

It’s the slow runs that build stamina and strong legs so keep doing what you’re doing, although your pace certainly isn’t that slow! Well done 👍

[mancrunner1 Graduate10 in reply to Irishprincess]

Thank you! I in fact like ticking things off the list so much that I’ve taken a photo of the magic plan so I can use the ‘mark up’ function to draw a big red cross through the runs I’ve done 😂

I’m a really competitive person so I do find slowing down hard but I know that’s how I’ll get through the longer distances. I had a lot of 5km running experience before I started the programme (after a lockdown-induced running gap!) so I knew I would be ok up to this point but it’s uncharted territory from here on out - I’m excited but I definitely need to learn some new good habits to build my stamina!

[Irishprincess Graduate10 in reply to mancrunner1]

That’s a great idea about a big red cross 🙂 and unchartered territory is fun 👀

[Stocksy67 Graduate10]

Well done great effort, 👏👏 it's all about distance not speed until you feel you can go faster, enjoy 😀👍

[nowster Graduate10]

I know exactly what you mean about the weather. I'm champing at the bit for a run today and looking at the rainfall radars.

[mancrunner1 Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

It’s obviously never going to be possible to avoid in Manchester but I’d really enjoyed a few dry weeks in a row!

[nowster Graduate10 in reply to mancrunner1]

I don't mind light or moderate rain. I just don't want to be out when it's hammering down with the sort of deluge that causes gutters to overflow.

[mancrunner1 Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

Yes, agreed, that was my morning unfortunately, I timed it terribly!

[nowster Graduate10 in reply to mancrunner1]

I find this useful: netweather.tv/live-weather/...

[mancrunner1 Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

Thank you!