100 runs

[sTrongFuse]

My run today was my 100th run of 2021. It brought my total distance for the year to date to 1,192.9km (741.25 miles), making my average running distance this year 11.9km (7.4 miles).

My pace today was nothing especially noteworthy at 6:46/km, but that is pretty standard for my long, easy paced runs. The point for me being that, as a rule, I don't pay any attention to my pace until after I'm finished. Unless I'm taking part in an event or actually pushing myself for a PB, mostly I'm running on the basis of what just "feels right" In the current temperatures, the pace I set felt OK and allowed me to get a good distance in my legs.

It is strange, in a way that, while I can (and sometimes do) run faster than I could this time last year, by and large, a lot of the time I'm actually running at around the same pace. The difference is that it running at that pace means I'm left with much more in the tank at the end of a run and I am averaging 2.5 - 3km/run more than I was at the same point last year.

My "hot take" from this is that pace is really only as important as you make it. For me, it is just all about getting out there and covering the ground. Yes, sometimes it's good to push harder to see if you can actually go faster, and that feeling of triumph when you set a new PB is hard to beat, but increasingly, as my strength, stamina and, yes, speed, have built over the past two years, it has increasingly become about finding my "happy pace" that just lets me get out and cover as much ground as I can, for as long as feels right on any given run.

I run for my mental health as much, if not more than for my physical health, and running provides a kind of meditative calm for me, where I can clear my mind and concentrate on nothing but the sounds of my breathing, my feet hitting the ground, and the natural world all around me.

The best thing, I think, is that we can all take the gains we want from it, whether that be being able to run for a certain distance or time or whether we can run a particular distance in a certain time. There are no wrong answers or options.

So, my one bit of advice to anyone who thinks they aren't running fast enough or far enough is, you're doing fine, you're running, don't beat yourself up and actually give yourself the credit deserve for simply being able to lace up and head out for however far you go at whatever pace you do it at.

Stay safe.

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

That’s such good advice, and happy 100 😀now i’m going to check mine out, lot less i’m sure but we run and we enjoy Have a lovely rest of the day

[sTrongFuse Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

Enjoyment is the important thing. It isn't really "exercise" if we're enjoying it, is it?

🤣🏃‍♂🏃

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to sTrongFuse]

Not at all it’s just fun and knowing we can

[sTrongFuse Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

Exactly that!

[Irishprincess Graduate10]

That’s great mileage there, well done! I agree with you about pace, it can be such a distraction that we forget about the pure joy of just running.

I remember once I had driven to a run route and realised I’d forgotten my Garmin!!! After seriously thinking about jumping back in the car to get it I told myself “get a grip. Just run” 🙄 It did make me think though how much I relied on checking pace during a run.

[sTrongFuse Graduate10 in reply to Irishprincess]

I'm kind of the same. It buzzes away on my wrist at each km point, and I will look to see how I did and if the pace corresponds to the speed I thought I was running. Often I'm pleasantly surprised to find that I'm actually quicker than I thought I was.

In the main though, unless I am specifically trying for a fast time (which is rare), the only time I actually really look at my pace is once I've finished; and even then my reaction is generally along the lines of, "ooh, I was faster than I thought" or, "yup, that seems about right".

[Fionamags Graduate10]

Congratulations on achieving that mileage! I have to say that your pace is something I can only dream of... Lovely post - thank you.

[sTrongFuse Graduate10 in reply to Fionamags]

To be fair, two years ago, I'd have said the same thing about the pace I run at today. I know I probably could run faster still if I pushed myself, but if I did that every time, I almost certainly wouldn't get the same enjoyment out of it.

I'm in the "I don't run to win races, I run for the way it makes me feel" camp. I won't deny that a new PB when you're pushing for one gives you a massive achievement buzz, but in the main, I'm quite happy just lolloping gracelessly along for 1 - 2 hours and seein g how gar I get at the end of it.

[Mormor1 Graduate10 in reply to sTrongFuse]

I dream of ' lolloping'. So different to trotting 😂

[sTrongFuse Graduate10 in reply to Mormor1]

I've settled for lolloping, pretty sure graceful bounding is beyond me.