Accidental 10K!

[Swaino1]

Wow. I’m not sure if I am amazed or chuffed the most. Let’s go for both the same. Well, I completed C25K at the end of July (2021) and have been running 5K’s 3 and 4 times a week, plus Parkruns, ever since.

I also started running slightly longer distances of 6K and 7K. My aim (aside from wanting to run a sub-30 min 5K) was to eventually run a 10K.

Today that happened - by accident.

I planned to run a 7K which I was actually finding very comfortable. So I decided to aim for 8K. Again I was feeling great so kept going. Suddenly I was over 8.5K and I just thought ‘what the hell’? I pushed on and then it just happened: I’d run a 10K!

I’m so surprised. I actually had to triple check my watch to ensure I’d really done it. And I had. So just over 9 weeks after running my first ever 5K, I’ve run a 10K.

What a magical journey I’ve had. At 55 I’ve discovered this whole new, wonderful world of running and I couldn’t be happier. I hope your running journeys are as happy and fulfilling as mine. Good luck!

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

Congratulations to you Swaino1 on running your first 10K, well done, you should be very proud of yourself, you certainly are judging by that photograph.To get your graduation badge and the word GRADUATE10 next to your username leave a message in the pinned posts on the right side of the healthunlocked September Graduate10 homepage and tell the administrators that you have ran your first 10K, now go and celebrate your wonderful achievement 🏃🏾 👍 🎓

[Swaino1 Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

Thank you very much for your kind words. It’s really appreciated. And yes, I think my photo tells you exactly how I feel. 😄

And thanks for the Graduate10 info. I’ll get right on it. All the best. 👍🏼

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Fantastic!! that first 10k is magic isn’t it??

[Swaino1 Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thanks very much. And yes it is! Especially when you weren’t really expecting it. 😄

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Swaino1]

My first was like that, I kept going and started to think a little further and a little further, then suddenly realised if I ran 5k i’d have to run 5k back again

[Swaino1 Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

That’s wonderful logic too. Love it. 😃

[Instructor57 Graduate10]

Congratulations on your first 10k.Feels good doesn't it 😁

I see you already have your shiny new badge 😎

Well done ! 👍

[Swaino1 Graduate10 in reply to Instructor57]

Certainly does. Thanks very much.

[SkiMonday Graduate10]

That’s a great way of catching the 10k beast unawares. Congratulations!

I’ve managed a few accidental long runs by doing an out and back run then miscalculating the half way point. Strange how my mental arithmetic goes to pot when I’m running.

[Swaino1 Graduate10 in reply to SkiMonday]

Ha ha. I think that’s what happened to me! Maths isn’t my strong point anyway. 😃

[swissfish Graduate10]

That's excellent - what a happy accident! Congratulations to you - hopefully it will be the first of many!

[Swaino1 Graduate10 in reply to swissfish]

Thanks very much.

[Frenc Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Ah brilliant Swaino! The smile 😃 says it all. I think some of our best runs are happy accidents. Yay!! 😊😊😊

[nowster Graduate10]

My first 10km was a planned 9km run which just kept going.

Well done! 👍

[CBDB Graduate10]

Woohoo!!! What a happy picture and huge congratulations!!! So well deserved!

[Rennur Graduate10]

First 10K is a fantastic feeling. A sub 30 minute 5K may never happen for me. I wish you all the luck with that. Or maybe you will start to look at that 10 mile target next!

[Swaino1 Graduate10 in reply to Rennur]

You’re absolutely right. I’ve managed a 30mins 28 secs on a 5K but it’s hard! I may well look at the 10 mile target. Great idea. And good luck with your running too.

[Rennur Graduate10]

Oh to beat 42 minutes for now!!!

[Rennur Graduate10 in reply to Rennur]

You are doing wonderfully well. My main excuse is that I am carrying a bit of timber...

[Hidden]

As a side note: it's best to increase weekly only 10% to avoid possible injuries. But as another side note, I kinda did the same like you with my first 10K 😜. I had already reached 7K and my plan was to go for 8K that weekend. But once I was at 7K, I thought to myself '10K is only 3K more than where you are at now, that's nothing!' and I felt good and so I just went for it. Unplanned and unforeseen my first 10K happened. It feels good, right? Like you accomplished something you could never have thought to be doing.

And you know what? Once you have done a couple of 10K's (I have now done 3x10K and 1x11K), you start feeling like 10K is not all that difficult! You'll soon want to go beyond!

Oh and if I may say so, if that picture is you, you look like you won the lottery! That's the feeling we run for! Congrats and wear that badge next to your name with pride!

[Swaino1 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Well thanks very much for your reply. Yes, I’ve heard about the 10% and I’ve always been very careful with my running and how I improve. But again, as you say, sometimes it just sort of happens. I think the best advice I’ve heard is to listen to your body.

And I definitely couldn’t believe I’d ever run this far. I have found it easier to run further and slower than shorter (5K) and faster. So as you say, I’d like to aim to go further.

Thanks for your congrats too!

[Hidden in reply to Swaino1]

Yeah, I prefer slow too. Makes it easier to go further in distance. My aim now is the ten miles, but that will also be dependent on how the body feels like. My plan is 2x5K during the week and 1 long run in the weekend, hopefully 10K which might lengthen slowly to eventually reach 10 miles 😊

[Swaino1 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Sounds like a good plan. I try to vary my runs too. I have a hilly route that is a good alternative to my other runs. Keeps things interesting too. Like you, I definitely prefer distance over pace. Good luck!

[roseabi]

Awesome!!!

[Raisemeup 60minGraduate]

That's amazing, well done. I always feel when you get that message from your body that you can keep going if you want to, the achievement is like opening a gift you had no idea you would receive - a real joyful surprise.Congratulations and best wishes 🎊🎉

[Swaino1 Graduate10 in reply to Raisemeup]

That’s a great way of describing it. Thanks very much.

[Chesterlove Graduate10]

I have a very similar story to yours (I’m 53) and started C25K in Feb. I’ve now run a handful of 10ks and am now wondering if I can achieve a half marathon / have just started a NIKE Run Club plan to try. This journey is so exciting. The photo was my 10km day!

Indoor shot

[Swaino1 Graduate10 in reply to Chesterlove]

Thank you. Congratulations to you too. Good luck on that half marathon!

[Week7 Graduate10 in reply to Chesterlove]

Yes you can!

[DylanTheRabbit Graduate10]

Awesome! I've been very regimented about increasing my distance gradually. I'll be going for 10k this week. I hope I finish with a big smile like you did! 😁

[Swaino1 Graduate10 in reply to DylanTheRabbit]

Hey good luck with your 10K. I’m sure you’ll nail it and then you’ll have a smile like mine. 😃

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10]

Congratulations! You look so happy it's brightened up my day!!

[Week7 Graduate10]

Congratulations!🏆🏅🏆such a nice round big number!

[acountrycabbage 60minGraduate]

Congratulations! That’s Photo of the Week for sure 😁🙌🏼

[Swaino1 Graduate10 in reply to acountrycabbage]

Thank you!