Progress on my Magic Plan

[swissfish]

A couple of weeks ago I wrote that I had started the Magic Plan, and promised to post updates on my progress.

First of all I apologise as I've not been posting those updates...

However I have been very disciplined on my running! I run 3 times a week, on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday mornings and I am now on week 5 (doing the distance option of the Magic Plan).

Some runs are easier than others - on Sunday I ran 8k for the first time and was very pleased with myself, my longest run ever! This morning I ran 'only' 4k but I didn't find it as easy as I'd hoped - maybe because I started with a 200m uphill stretch.

But I am enjoying it and I definitely feel I am making progress. This week I have another 5k on Thursday and 8k on Sunday, before moving on to 9k next week.

Now I have a question: does there come a point where you get 'into the zone' and simply keep going, adding kilometre after kilometre? I watched highlights of the Great North Run and wondered if I'd ever be able to run 21k - at the moment it doesn't seem possible for me.

But for now I'm happy with my 8k

I'll try to be more diligent with posting updates in future!

John

[Grannyhugs Graduate10]

Congratulations on your progress so far. I think you answered your own question when you placed “only” in front of 4K. There will come a time , if you keep going, where 8, 9 and 10k become normal and you’ll try longer distances just to see how they feel or because there’s a new route/destination you’d like to try. Happy running 🤗

[Hidden]

Well I am currently at 10K (well 10,3K to be honest) and have not yet gone further. But that's because so far I have only done three 10K's with HOPEFULLY this Sunday my fourth (for the world record attempt).

I honestly can't say if I will ever reach a HM, let alone a marathon. A colleague just ran her first marathon last Saturday night (it was an evening / night marathon) and I find that soooo unbelievable! I don't think I will ever reach that. But I would like to reach ten miles (16K something). That is my current dream, just because there is this annual 10 miles race where I live, which is kinda a big event here. Not that I would participate (I'm too slow for that). But just being able to do the distance, would be amazing. Will I ever reach it? No idea.

In any case, my plan is to do a 10K regularly (at least every month if not more often) and if I feel good enough at the end of one of those 10K's, I might try to add an extra K...

[Instructor57 Graduate10]

Well done with the plan progress !I noticed just like Grannyhugs mentioned that the fact you put 'Only' in front of 4k says it all 😁

It's strange really, I have had long runs that have felt easy (ish) and short runs that were a struggle.

But then you get that occasionall run where everything just feels good from the start , and yes, you may feel you could go on forever, it's a great feeling but also a time for caution .

The plan of course is built around the 10% rule which experienced runners will use as a basis for increasing their distance.

Follow this and you will gradually increase your distance with minimal risk of injury .

Then who knows ! You might be signing up for a future GNR 😁👍

[Hidden in reply to Instructor57]

So true about the easy long runs and hard short runs, I have had it too. My three 10K's actually felt easier than some of my 5K's. It's a weird feeling!

[nowster Graduate10]

"does there come a point where you get 'into the zone' and simply keep going, adding kilometre after kilometre?"

I would say as someone who did his first ever HM distance on Sunday afternoon, yes, eventually it does happen.

It takes a fair bit of time to get to that stage. At the start of this year I'd only just reached the 8km distance, like you.

I've had a few setbacks along the way which is why it took over eight months to do it, but the slowed progression has actually made it more enjoyable in the long run (pun intended).

A 10km run (or two) is now a regular part of my week.

I'd planned to do only 18km, but there was a point on Sunday (about 10 miles in) that I had this feeling that I could go further, so I did.

I am now not afraid of distance. I know I can do a HM and not feel absolutely knackered afterwards. My body has gradually adapted. I feel I could have run for longer, too.