For today’s 5km I was really determined to challenge myself in a different way and slow down. I’m a very fast walker, which has translated into being a fairly fast runner, and I’m both impatient and competitive so it’s really hard for me to deliberately slow myself down. But as I increase my mileage I know I need to get better at this and as today I was feeling a bit sore from yesterday’s yoga it was a great opportunity to try!
Physically, I was pretty successful. I completed the 5km in 37:39 (only 5 seconds faster than my graduation run 8 weeks ago and over 4 minutes slower than I did last week’s) with an average pace of 7:32/km. Mentally, I found it very tough, lots still to do on mindset around this I think.
I ran for a long time before C25K but mostly shorter distances (4-5km) so it wasn’t as much of an issue - I had thought taking on the 10km programme would be a physical challenge but it turns out it’s harder mentally and not in the way I expected! Still, I can call today a success and I’m sure I’ll feel the benefit for the 9km on Saturday.
Written by
mancrunner1
Graduate10
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You sure can call it a success, every time you run is a tick in the box 👍
I know what you mean about the mental aspect and I agree with you. When we start to increase distance, it’s as much about how our heads behave as how our legs behave!
Keep doing what you're doing, you're doing brilliantly!
Thank you! I expected to be battling with myself over the longer distances etc but actually that hasn’t been that much of a struggle compared to how hard I find it to run more slowly, even though I know it’s good for me!
You are doing so well. Is it going slow that’s the mental challenge? I found that by aiming for a total monthly mileage suddenly my speed became less important 🤷♀️ Happy running 🤗
Yes, I find it hard not to race myself or try to get a new PB, deliberately slowing down doesn’t come at all naturally to me! Thinking about distance as the goal instead is a great idea though, I will run further this week than I did last week so that’s a good thing to focus on, thank you!
Well done mancrunner1, a great run! I had coach Bennett in my ear recently telling me at the beginning of a long run to go really, really slowly, so slow that it was the roommate of Mr Boring, which made me chuckle and has stuck in my head! You’re completely right about the mental aspect too, it can be a real mind game. I mutter to myself like a mad person sometimes, but it helps 😊. Best of luck for your 9k. 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️
I can so empathise with that! I have been struggling to slow down for months, ever since coming back from injury, after a stern word from my physio! I still only have variable success, my natural instinct is always for my speed to creep up...BUT, I have had one or two gloriously comfortable slow runs when listening to music with a slower tempo. Might be something worth thinking about? If you know your normal cadence you could try to make a playlist with tracks that have a slightly slower beats per minute...Brilliant running by the way - enjoy your final journey to 10km ( I will be following along not far behind, if I can only be sensible and stay off the IC🙄) 🏃🏼♀️🏃🏼♀️🏃🏼♀️🏃🏼♀️🏃🏼♀️
I switched from music to podcasts and that has helped a bit but maybe I do need something even slower! Thank you so much and wishing you lots of luck with yours!
So am I, about five miles to the north. I set out on my short run this morning in typical Mancunian gloom and about half way round the sun showed its face.
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First 10km I've ever run in my life
