After my last fabulous run at an easy pace I decided to go for it again. Once again the weather was just perfect - cool and dry.
I set off towards the woods at a relaxed pace really looking forward to todays outing. Mr Garmin indicated after the first km I was going slightly quicker than I wanted so guess what ....... I eased off the gas a touch - and it felt absolutely fantastic to do so. Positively liberating. I am now a racing car in second gear 🤣🤣🤣.
As I skipped through the squishy leaves I realised how much I was enjoying myself. A quick few second stops to grab some photos for you lovely people (my rules now so I can) and exploring the trails I went.
It was so good that by the time I got back to the entrance I decided to go round again taking different trails.
I wish now I had invested in some trail shoes for Christmas as opposed to another pair of road shoes. Never mind.
By 4km I was tiring a little and discovered my pace had unknowingly increased to my usual running pace - so I slowed again. This was fabulous and to cap it off for the last 0.3km to the gate I caned it as fast as I could before a nice leisurely walk / jog back home.
“I am now a racing car in second gear” 🤣🤣 Love that thought!
I too take loads of photos on some of my runs, one of the joys of this running thing. Sometimes when I show my husband the photos afterwards he asks if I had run at all 🙀🤣
Just a short (2 miler) today. I tried to do two 10ks in a row last week and it didn't work.
I thought about getting out early this morning, but I remembered I'd washed my shoes and only hung them out late in the evening. They wouldn't have been dry in time for an early run. Also I got an extra half hour in bed...
I have been having some horrible runs, haven't enjoyed any for several weeks and park run last weekend was positively grim. Looking at Strava I go out way too fast on my first 1km and then I'm knackered for the rest! Today I took a leaf out of your book and started out slower, I managed 6k at a decent time but actually enjoyed it. Back to enjoying running
That is fantastic to hear. I was exactly the same in that I started dreading getting up for a run. My issue, as yours, I was simply setting off too fast and getting exhausted.
Similarly at Parkrun, I was dreading the feeling I was getting half way round as I was completely shattered.
This slowing down the pace has really opened up the enjoyment factor.
I'm really pleased you were able to have a better experience too.
I always walk the first 30 to 40 seconds of any run (unless it's a zippy one) and that enables me to start steady and slowly build during the run 😃
Sounds like you're truly finding your enjoyment in running. It does not need to be fast to be pleasant, eh? As for trail shoes, there is also New Year coming up, it's not only Christmas where you can get gifts 😉
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Ha haa! A New Years pressie. I'm liking that idea.
As for running, that enjoyment factor going slower is far far better than going faster. For me it is anyway. I have finally learned how to enjoy running. No specific pace to achieve, no time to beat, no specific route, my rules, my run, do as I please ..... and now I just love it. Yay.
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Good for you! I also enjoy running more when I run slower than I can run. When I run fast, I exhaust myself too much and don't enjoy myself.
I think that naturally your body will find it's rhythm and you'll see yourself running so comfortably that it feels like this more and more. Awesome 👏👏👏
This is fantastic! There is such a fine balance to find the right speed and you have got it spot on. Too fast - run out of steam. Too slow can sometimes feel like a slog. When it's just right it almost feels like floating! Looks like an amazing place to run too!
I'm envious of your woods. I feel more relaxed about stopping for photos now that I'm not running to a plan. In fact I've started eyeing up little running backpacks so I can take a sketchpad and snacks with me.
I struggle with pace too, and wonder from your post if you're just checking cadence on your Garmin, or if there is some foxy feature I don't know about?
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