4th go at the magic plan - week 1, run 2

[Gwenllian1]

The second run is supposed to be 5k. I was not too sure about this. I hadn't run 5k since before the Chester 10k in mid July and part of me just wanted to build up really slowly. What I decided to do is something which often works for me: a sort of gentling myself into doing something. I told myself that I would definitely do 4k and as the run is an out and back I could see how I felt at 2k and do another .5 before turning around if all was going ok. Then if I did run out of steam I could always stop at 4k and walk the last 1k home.

It was a perfect running temperature, about 17 degrees and cloudy with a gentle breeze. After the high temperatures in Italy and France, which really don't suit me for running, it was lovely to be out and feeling comfortable. I started slowly. I have been reading about people here doing heart rate running and though that wasn't what I was doing I did think I would focus on being comfortable to try to get back to 5k rather than how fast I was going. Well I never go fast. I am a snail. But this time when my watch showed me I was going at about nine minutes for each kilometre I thought I would try and keep it at that rather than pushing for my usual pace of just over eight.

The lanes were very quiet. I met a couple of people out walking their dogs and was passed by a car going way too fast for the narrow lanes and high hedges. By the end of the first kilometre I had settled into a comfortable pace and was enjoying looking at the changing trees and feeling the breeze gently in my face. The second kilometre ticked away and I decided I would go for a halfway point of 2.5k. Even here I was giving myself permission to stop at 4k and walk the rest but I know that I just don't do this. There is a long easy run downhill from 4k which it would be a crime now to run and then there is only half a k to go until I get back home. And of course if I don't do the 5k today it is still to be done this week! So when I reach the bottom of the hill and begin the climb back up to the village I keep running, slowly, but still running. And then the church is in sight and there is the corner for our road and I speed up just a little and come hurtling (for me!) into the drive. I had to work quite hard in the end but I am pleased with myself for doing it. When I look at my time is it 47 minutes, the slowest ever! But I did it and I am feeling back on track.

Now time for a coffee and a plate of scrambled eggs and a sit with the newspaper in the sunshine. So far, so good!!

[swissfish Graduate10]

Glad you feel you're back on track - you definitely earned your sit down with the newspaper!

[Gwenllian1 Graduate10 in reply to swissfish]

I think I just really need to get back in the routine of three runs a week because then I can feel myself getting comfortable with my running. When I run much less I feel I'm just hanging on by the skin of my teeth!

[Fionamags Graduate10]

Yay you did it! Sounds like you hit the happy pace.

[Gwenllian1 Graduate10 in reply to Fionamags]

It's interesting having been talking to you about heart rate stuff that the going slowly was the thing that really made the difference!

[Week7 Graduate10]

One of those lovely unexpected happy runs!

[Gwenllian1 Graduate10 in reply to Week7]

I was so pleased to find that I didn't run out of steam!

[GailXrunning]

Well done! This resonated. Those ‘permissions’ can be very helpful - as you say, to coax and build (or rebuild) confidence. I’ve done exactly the same many times and they’ve always tipped the running scales in a positive direction. And the slowest runs can be the most delicious!

[Gwenllian1 Graduate10 in reply to GailXrunning]

The permissions thing is really funny isn’t it? For some reason it works for me to commit to doing something slightly less than I am aiming to do, then find I’m doing ok and carry on. I did it a lot while I was doing c25k too. I’d tell myself I didn’t need to finish a session but I did need to go out and start it. Once I had started I pretty much always finished!

[Grannyhugs Graduate10]

Wow that really was a mind run but you fought through and did indeed complete your 5k. Remember speed isn’t everything. Concentrate on completing the distances at the moment then if you really feel like increasing speed tackle that only on distances you are comfortable running. Happy running 🤗

[Gwenllian1 Graduate10 in reply to Grannyhugs]

That’s great advice, thank you. I’ve found before that speed can improve even when I’m not thinking about it. Longer distances seem to help. And far and away the most important thing is to run happily and that is what I’m trying to get back to!