Well, my lovely VRBs. I seem to have made more excuses not to run this week! I had my booster last Saturday and was feeling unwell for a few days. Throw in another (painful) visit to the dentist as well and the week just disappeared. So last night, after my brother said to me “Have you given up running, then?” I was determined to get out there, come rain or shine (although definitely not wind or snow) and show that I’m made of sterner stuff!
I got up when I woke up and, with absolutely no faffing at all, donned the appropriate clothing. I did my warmup stretches while drinking tea and quietly let myself out.
Today I was just going to run. I would do just what I felt like, the only challenge was to keep going. If it was tough, I would slow down. So that is exactly what I did. I started off probably a little too quickly. I did notice that my heart rate was up a little, but that was no surprise as I’ve had a stressful week. I slowed down after the first kilometre to compensate. It was hard work.
The photo shows how uninspiring my route is, but after I’ve moved into my new place I’m determined to find some prettier routes!
I carried on round my route, keeping an eye on my heart rate, but not my pace. I only saw a couple of other runners, it was really quiet this morning. It was very overcast, but with that slight drizzle in the air, like it wasn’t quite raining, but you’re getting wet anyway!
I was tired during the last km but managed to persuade myself to speed up a little. I almost stopped at 30 minutes, but forced myself to continue. Come on! It’s downhill for the last half kilometre! You can do it! So I did. After I stopped the run I sat on the steps and looked at the stats with disgust and told myself I’d do better next time. Not every run is a good one and we have to take those bad ones on the chin and move on.
Positives:
I got out there and ran ✅
I kept running and did not stop or walk ✅
I managed to speed up for the last km✅
I enjoyed my coffee when I got home; that’s always a positive! 😊👍
Written by
Jools2020
Graduate10
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Well done Jools, you got out there , 4k is a good distance and you will feel better for it . Bet you can't wait for moving day, I'm excited for you. I've started slow running and loving it, no bad days so far. Life does get in the way but we keep plodding on. 🏃😀
Gosh, I love this. Look at you...go on, have a real Butcher's!! Strong, brave, resilient, funny and heart warming. You are finding yourself and running can often provide the hamster wheel of life to slow a little; for you to look at the traffic rather than be in it. It's not really ever the stats, distance, pace or time. It's the being and the doing. You inspire people like me. So really and truly...well done 👏👏👏🤗
Good effort there. 🙌 Nothing like a bit of sibling probing (skewering?) to get one back out of the door! 😂 And not a faff gremlin in sight. You were definitely determined to show your brother that you are still a runner.
Definitely positive and no harm in having a little break after vaccine, moving etc. Just getting up in the morning and going for it is sometimes the best plan as there is no time to have the wobbles! Works for me every time! I'm sure you'll find lots of lovely places to run soon! How exciting to be in a new area and go exploring!
Oh, I agree! There will be more parks right on my doorstep in my new place. Yet the town is close by and I will be able to walk to it! Still don’t have a move date yet and still lots to organise 😬
That booster knocks the wind out of a lot of people me included and may even now have contributed to the raised heart rate, be proud you got out and I’d have had to go flat out to keep up and wouldn’t have managed to keep up for the whole 4k, so impressive from here
Thanks, Sola. I agree that the vaccine has probably contributed to my elevated heart rate, as it did before, for about 3 weeks. I’m still going to run, but taking it steady.
Hey well done you!Right now it's a about the doing, and to hell with the stats. You are awesome and things will be much better once you are moved and settled in
Well done Jools! I was in a similar position yesterday. Hadn't run for 10 days due to having the flu jab and a week later the booster which really knocked me out. In the meantime I bought new shoes and was dying to try them out. I did just under 5k and my time was disappointing but I was so glad I ran yesterday. Can someone tell me what a negative split is, it sounds BAD!
Vaccinations definitely seem to have an effect, but buying new shoes is a great way of using that time! A negative split is just finishing the second half of the run faster than the first half. Taking it further, it can be running progressively faster for each kilometre or mile. It looks so neat and tidy and isn’t bad a5 all, although some runners prefer positive splits which is the other way round. There are arguments for both. I like negative splits - I like to start slow and as I warm into the run increase pace, finishing flat out at the end. Although with the slopes round here I haven’t had a great deal of success with that plan lately!
Thanks for clarifying that Jools. I'm running with the Stamina podcast from Couch25k where speed increases throughout the run. Mine did yesterday until that last uphill 1k!
Ooh, well done for the uphill last km, I’m not so good at uphill! Definitely need more practice. I move heaven and earth to get a downhill for my last km 😂
I don't usually run uphill at the end of any run, but I'm hoping to take part in a 5k Santa Dash next month and I'm practising the route. The uphill bit goes right by my house, it's so tempting to make a detour! 😂
Fantastic read, just what I needed for the encouragement 👍 Your thought train is so similar to mine I had to smile while reading it. Can't wait to do those positive ticks myself tomorrow. Thanks for the post.😊
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week3run1 ✅. 3 x 17 mins with 1 min walks. 
How did your parkrun or (not)parkrun go?
