5K and I Jeffed it again 😊

[Jools2020]

So, I was wondering why I haven’t Jeffed for a while. I’m not quite sure! Running has taken a bit of a back seat with my Dad in hospital (he’s doing OK), baby sitting duties, just life taking over. I decided that come what may, I would run this morning! Up with the slightly later lark, due to the fact that it seems to be darker in the mornings.

When I first started Jeffing a couple of months ago, I tried 2 minutes running and 30 seconds walking. That didn’t work at all, I was exhausted. I joined tbe Facebook page, Girls That Jeff and the people that know about these things suggested 30:30. I didn’t like that much, either. Tried 40:30 with more success - 35:30 even better and finally this morning arrived back at 30:30 to find that I like it after all. Maybe it’s because I’m gliding better between the intervals so it’s not so ‘stoppy starty’. I’ll try 30:30 again next week.

It’s definitely a workout, though! Maybe I should try Jeffing more slowly. It’s not a run where I can run free, look around and watch the Red Kites. It’s quite tough. I suppose I think of it as an interval workout. I was too busy concentrating even to listen to music! That doesn’t mean I won’t continue with it as I like to push myself sometimes, but I’ll still do my long, slow runs and the odd 3K straight runs.

I was pleased to Jeff this 5K in under 40 minutes, although I was seriously tempted to head home for coffee after 4K ☕️😊.

Definitely enjoyed the coffee more by continuing to 5K! 😊

[nowster Graduate10]

When I was doing Jeffing type runs I always ran the running bit too fast. I did them by distance rather than by time, though.

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

I know, I can’t help it! It’s still just interval work and I do it just to get out of my comfort zone. I was looking forward to it and it does make me work a bit. Certainly blew away the many cobwebs that I currently seem to have.

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

That’s a good time with jeffing, I suppose what i’m doing re running c25k is jeff if although the intervals are getting longer, I still dream of a sub 40 minute 5k. glad you are getting some running in even when busy

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thank you Sola. Being too busy to run is just the gremlins talking 😊 and it was hard work getting that sub 40 minute 5K! Hopefully I’ll be able to do a slow run over the weekend. Yes, you’re really doing interval work, it’s similar.

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Jools2020]

It’s about balancing busyness against tiredness, but i’m finding i’m so enjoying running with a younger faster friend and after work is doable again,

[Runninggirl59 60minGraduate]

I guess my theory is that running is running whatever way you do it ! Sounds like a very decent run to me 😀👍

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Runninggirl59]

You’re right, running is running 👍 and I ran for 5K even though I found it hard 😊👍

[Week7 Graduate10]

Good to hear that your dad is moving in the right direction and that you found time to get-out!

Sounds like a good Jeff. There were a few Jeffers at the HM on Saturday. They seemed to around my speed. I plodded past them during their0 walk section and they zoomed past me during the running section. There splits seemed to be a couple of minutes on each section. They really did run the runs !

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Week7]

Thanks. Week7. Dad is comfortable. He’s starting to ask when he can come home, but he needs to work on his physio before they will even talk about that.

Yes, I was being speedy for 30 seconds at a time 😂. Just treating it as intervals for now and to mix up my runs a bit!

[Hidden]

Welcome to the Facebook group, I lurk there too.

When I started I tried them short ratios like 30:30 and such. But I ran too fast and I absolutely did not like it. I am a slow runner and I want to keep running slow. I have found myself satisfied with 4min30 running + 0min30 walking. This is totally against the idea of Jeffing, but this is how I feel best in my running.

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

I’m a slow runner too, but I like to push myself on those Jeffing runs. Best of both worlds maybe. It’s good that you’ve found what suits you, I think that’s the most important thing!

[Forest_Run_Beginner Graduate10]

So glad to hear your dad is still doing well, and if he wants to come home then that's a good sign, even if not possible quite yet. And brilliant that you're still getting out. When Mr-FRb was in hospital, I found it so hard to make myself get out consistently and quite often, I was lucky if I actually managed 1 run a week. It always made me feel better when I did though, and I'd try to remind myself of that the next time the Gremlins started whispering in my ears, but they still won most of the time ☹️

I quite enjoy Jeffing now too, I'm swapping between 60;60 and 30:30 usually, which I know is essentially the same, but I do find I slow down more when I do the 60:60 so I can maintain it for longer.

Well done again for getting out, and a great time for a Jeffed 5K, brilliant 😊

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Forest_Run_Beginner]

Thank you! This time, the gap between runs was under a week, but I don’t want to lose momentum. I hate it when I drop a run, but I’ll do a longer run on Saturday and back to the drawing board next week. Dad can’t remember how long he’s been in hospital, but even he is saying he knows he won’t be able to come home for a few more days. More likely to be at least a month.

[Peter44 Graduate10]

Nice one Julia, and glad your dad's doing ok.I've never tried this jeffing stuff, infact since doing the longer runs on c25k, cant really remember ever walking during a run, it would feel very strange now! 🤔🤣

[limberlou Graduate10 in reply to Peter44]

I found it very strange the first time I tried it and then I found it took over and I could no longer run long distances continuously- I have run continuously for over 3 hours previously. So I have redone C25k and shall be sticking to continuous running again from now on.

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Peter44]

I look on it as interval training, which is really all it is. I still love my longer runs!

[Instructor57 Graduate10]

Glad your dad is improving !And great you got a 5k in .

My runs are still rather intermittent at the moment but !

We do them when we can 😁👍

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Instructor57]

Thanks, Ian, yes we do! Going to try and do a long run at the weekend, although these are difficult to organise what with hospital visits and babysitting duties 😊

[GailXrunning]

That you are exploring this approach (and any others) is in itself just great. And so interesting to learn from your experiences. Funny how we can find some things don’t work for us at one moment and then work brilliantly at another. Guess that should teach us to continue to test our expectations and assumptions.

Best wishes as your father navigates recovery.

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to GailXrunning]

Thank you. This approach, just once a week, is giving me back some motivation while I am still negotiating with solicitors and trying to manage financially. I’m sometimes amazed that I’m still running at all, but if I can get out there, it really helps. Off to see Dad again tomorrow. He’s doing all right, but progress is very slow, as expected. He can only have visitors once a day, so we are dividing it up so everyone gets a turn! 😊