Two very different runs

[CBDB]

Just a short report on my last two runs: In preparing for a 10k next Sunday, I ran a slow 8k on Friday and a Fartlek short run of 30 min today on Sunday, using Nike Running Clubs guided runs.

The long run felt easy, so I feel the 10k next Sunday doable. For the 10k next Sunday I mapped out a route that is put together by 2 routes I run regularly separately, one being ca 6.5k and the other 3.5k. The route can be seen as a kind of figure 8 with my home being in the centre intersection. This gives me a comforting feeling of safety. When I did my first 10k training program 6 months back, it involved running 5k out and back, and it had strangely felt risky at the time: what if I couldn’t run anymore? What if my nightly knees buckled? What if my water ran out? And me stranded 5k from home?

So a figure 8 route of 10k is great for those times where one doesn’t feel as confident in ones’ ability in the 10k range. And at the end of Fridays 8k run, I could see the remaining 2-3k loop I will have to do next Sunday, but knowing that route well, it feels very much doable. It felt I could it have run it then and there, so I know I’m ready for a 10k again.

And today I ran a short Fartlek, using NRC guided runs. This was the second interval session I’ve done, and I have to admit that they are really great fun. Shorter than the usual runs, but exerting energy and effort in short bursts, they strangely leave you more energetic afterwards. And on my cool down homestretch I could tell my cadence was higher than usual.

So my plan for this week is to only do one more run on Wednesday, the NRC 12 min short run. And then take 3 recovery days (continuing daily Yoga) before the 10k on Sunday.

Happy running everyone and good luck to all running on 19th September for the Guiness World Record

[Grannyhugs Graduate10]

A great pair of runs, great plan for your week ahead and a great route for 10k - well done, you’re certainly prepared for smashing that 10k. Happy running 🤗

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to Grannyhugs]

Smashing might not be quite the word or feeling 🤣🤣, but yeah, bring it on!

[Frenc Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Well done CBDB, you seem to have everything nicely under control! I know what you mean about having a safety zone - my weekday runs see me staying closer to home just in case anything should happen, especially now it’s dark first thing. Enjoy the yoga 🧘‍♀️!

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to Frenc]

Thank you! Yeah. There is a teal psychology to choosing your routes. 🙏💪👍🏽

[Hidden]

What a great plan CBDB and I love your figure of eight idea 💡- I think I may borrow that for when I get into my longer runs. 😊

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

🙏👍🏽💪🏃🏼‍♀️🏃🏼‍♀️

[mancrunner1 Graduate10]

I did exactly the same thing with my 10km route - I wasn’t so worried about my legs giving out but as a lone female runner I like knowing I’m never too far from home in case I need to get back quickly. Good luck for the 10km - it was when I did 8 I realised I could definitely do 10 too!

[nowster Graduate10 in reply to mancrunner1]

Interesting. My current 10km course has a natural barrier in it which makes it a minimum length of 10km. My longer runs are based on starting from that base, and allow me to extend that to 11km, 12km, 13km, 15km, 16km, 18km, 20km and HM, all ending on a main road about 5-10 minutes walk from home.

The bad scenario happened in late April where I was attempting 20km and had to stop after 14km due to an unexpected pause then had muscle pain on resuming running, and I had to finish by walking the remainder of the 15km variant route.

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

Yeah, I remembered reading that. That is a bit of a fear of mine.

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to mancrunner1]

Yeah, exactly. Not much distance between 8 and 10k. (Having said that, in the first 10k I did earlier this year, the lady 1000m were quite a slog. But I think I am in a different place now. Much stronger.)

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

They are both good runs, we did the fartleks one a while back and enjoyed it, 8k is a great distance, long enough to feel chuffed you’ve done it but not so long you are exhausted

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

Yeah, I think so too. 👍🏽

[Hidden]

Sounds like you had 2 great runs. Good idea for doing the figure 8 run, always being 'close' to your home.

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

😀🏃🏼‍♀️🙂🏠😒🏃🏼‍♀️🥵✔️

[LottieMW Ambassador]

I love that fartlek run!