First 6km

[Yesletsgo]

I've been thinking about this all week, wondering 'can I manage 6k?'. The answer of course is to just go for it. I've been planning my tactics, basically start off really slow and take it from there. I sort of set myself a goal of completing it in 55 minutes, I liked the idea of coming in under the hour.

A nice cool morning today. Decided my first km was going to be as near to 11 mins/km as I could manage. Told myself it was the warmup for a 5k. Coach Bennett was with me on NRC's 6k, encouraging me as only he can. Found a new path, nice and flat. I'd looked on Google maps and had an idea it'd take me back to my usual path and sure enough it did. Km2 was 9'27", km3 was 9'13". The path felt like a treadmill, steady, predictable, I could just run and not think about it. I passed 3km then Coach Bennett told me to speed up. Km 4 was 8'06" so I didn't get negative splits but it was fun so who cares. By now I was back on my usual paths. Decided to go along by the sea wall. Hooray, the farmer has mowed it! Climbed up onto the top of the sea wall and looked at the murky muddy river, the tide was out and it was still misty but I like it.

Km5 was 8'14, respectable for me. As I reached the final 500m I realised I was running out of path so scrambled down to the lower level and then managed to judge my distance so that I finished by the fence with the stile that I hadn't wanted to leap. Km 6 was only 7'46", I'd been flying!! My heart was pounding, something I only allow at the end of the run.

I glanced at my Garmin as I finished, 59 minutes. Not quite what I aimed for but I was happy. Then I checked NRC - 53'14", woo hoo, smashed it! The Garmin included my warm up walk!

I'm still smiling 😁

PS photo is my 'treadmill' 😂

[OrkneyWillow Graduate10]

Well done Oldbadknees. What a triumph! 6km is my next milestone, and that of running for 60 mins. Glad you enjoyed your run 😀

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10 in reply to OrkneyWillow]

Thank you OrkneyWillow, if I don't do Parkrun next week I might try 60 minutes. These longer runs are fantastic!

[Sulley101 Graduate10]

Nice one Oldbadknees! Congratulations on smashing your time too ! 😁👍

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Sulley101]

Thanks 😊

[Frenc Graduate10 60minGraduate]

What a super run! I wish all treadmills looked like this 😁, and well done for coming in under that 55 minutes, you must be so pleased.

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Frenc]

Thanks, still grinning 😁

[Oldgirlruns Graduate10]

Huge well done OBK - another milestone cracked!

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10]

Thanks 😊

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

And what a great treadmill it is too, a great pace and speeding up you did

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thank you, sure beats a sweaty gym!

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Yesletsgo]

It really does

[Lablove 60minGraduate]

What a great run! Lovely surroundings too.

[Lifluf Graduate10]

Well done oldbadknees. And, speaking from experience, those footpaths can be a bit of a struggle in places when they're so uneven and the grass is tufty. Glad you enjoyed it 🙂