After a horror show of a weekend of self inflicted anxiety I slept well last night and couldn't wait to get out this morning. The weather was perfect ... dry, cool, just right.
I decided to run a route I hadn't done since July which actually really helped beat the gremlins which pop up on my usual route.
I was also determined to listen to the wise people on this forum who say (and I tell other people) take it slowly.
Therefore I set Mr Garmin to heart rate monitor and was going to run, whatever distance, at easy heart rate pace.
This was the best thing I have done. It was wonderful just bouncing through the woods looking at all the colours.
As is the case I do regular self checks during my runs ... hamstring / butt still hurting .... take it steady, I'm plodding ...increase cadence a touch but most pleasing was my breathing - comfortable not laboured.
Onto the towpath, moor hens, small white gulls I've not seen before, shopping trolley. Grrrrr!
Up ahead was a big greyhound standing alone looking at me curiously. As he hurtled towards me I stopped just in case he enjoyed eating towpath runners in bright yellow tops. He ran past and his owner appeared apologising. No problem.
This was probably my slowest ever 5k .... but certainly the most enjoyable. I will do this again.
I fear there’s a promise of snow coming and, I don’t know, I may be heading to the woods myself where I think the snow cover might be less evident. I like the trails but I went for road shoes this time. 🙂
Me during the winter teaching English to French people: "No, snow rackets is not how you say raquettes à neige in English. You say snowshoes. Yes, I know that raquettes à neige aren't shoes. Yes, raquettes de tennis are tennis rackets. Yes, I agree that doesn't make sense. No, I don't know why. I only teach English, I didn't invent it!"
Well done for that slow run. Slow can be liberating! I find it particularly wonderful over longer distances; great for anxiety and stamina, too! Sometimes, I just run at ‘easy conversational pace’ ( judged by my ability to sing along with my music) and ignore all the settings on my watch!
Mmm. I just looked at your pace for your slow run. I think that we have different ideas about what ‘slow’ is. If I tried to complete a 5K run at that pace, I’d probably collapse! My slow is 9 mins/km 😂.
I love your description of bouncing through the woods looking at the colours - it can be so hard to step off of life's crazy treadmill and just enjoy the moment, can't it? Well done - it sounds like it did you a lot of good 👏
Isn't it refreshing to choose a slow pace? My knees have always been weak (I always wear supports when running/exercising) but running at this gentle pace (observing that my heart rate falls below a certain threshold) has been great to keep exercising yet allow my knees to not complain! The first time I ever tried this, I enjoyed it so much that I ended up doing a 12k and felt so good afterwards. Being able to appreciate the nature around you, too, is just part of the joy!
It really was and now I'm looking forward to doing it again. I had to stop myself this morning as I was getting too eager and nearly ran on consecutive days.
Revelatory, isn’t it?! 😉 Just easing off can be so amazingly effective. Great to read your post (albeit coming in rather belatedly). BTW I don’t know if you’ve tried emphasing nasal breathing? It’s another good way to gauge the effort in this type of run (obv not exactly do-able in speed interval sessions). No need to be obsessively strict with it, which can be a stressor in itself, but you definitely know that your body is ‘at the point’ once it gasps for breath.
It really has been a revelation. I even noticed today I was breathing in through my nose as opposed to gasping with my tongue out like a tired out puppy 🐶 🤣
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Slow start, slow middle and slow finish
How slow is slow when you are slow😁
The Week of Slow...!🏃♀️🤷♀️🙂
Captain Slow is promoted to Major. Beta-blockers are messing with my Mojo!
