Run day. I just did not want to run. It is drizzling, grey and miserable and my life is a mess. It is one of those days where one wants to lie in bed all day eating cream cakes.
But run I must. After a few hours moping around I decided to get togged up and headed out. I needed something different. I needed help to get me through this so I turned to Coach Bennett and an NRC guided run with some NRC tunes from Spotify. I hadn't been on the NRC app for many months.
This perked me up a little and soon I was on my way. Feeling sluggish but at least determined to get through it when half way through Coach Bennett unexpectedly threw in dome Fartleks. What on earth is he doing! Oh my days! I was not expecting that.
This was the turning point for me. A tough "I'm not in the mood to run" turned into "Holey Moley, this is a laugh run".
Really pleased to have got my run in. And enjoyed it unexpectedly. I think I need to do some fartleks mid run again otherwise I just plod my way through my runs.
I think that today was the perfect day for you to go out for a run, with that weather and those thoughts! Once out there, everything changes 😊 (well, maybe not the weather 😂). Great plan to do one of the NRC runs and a bonus of unexpected Fartleks, too! Well done, great run 👏👏👏👍
I really enjoy interval or fartlek runs. They are usually short with a good mix of running and having a bit of a rest 😂When I’m running quickly it makes me feel like a kid again just running for fun 😆, but the middle aged adult in me likes the stop and walk or stop and stretch bits 😁
There are loads of interval / fartlek runs on NRC. I like 3,2,1 go and Deuces. Enjoy!
I love those descriptions. Spot on 😀😀. I will have a look for those fartleks you mentioned. I could only find a couple when I searched earlier. Will have another look 👍. Thank you.
Delighted you had fun Hidden . I rarely do fartleks - instead I go for extra vertical by running randomly up and down forest tracks and entrances to fields!
I ran first speed run - intervals today which was 8 x 1 min , my first time doing intervals and I enjoyed it too, I am quite enjoying the get started training plan on nrc which I am going to follow with the half marathon plan.. just to see how it goes.. it will be my one year run anniversary next month , well done getting back out there
You can just do just part of that plan. It’s very flexible. Don’t feel overwhelmed by the size of it. Some of us are just taking it up to 16k; some do only 3 of the 5 recommended runs in the stage. I have been doing all 5 runs but spreading them across a longer period of time. Highly recommended. Never expected to enjoy this plan as much as I have.😊 Love having the structure it brings.
😂 🤣Ooo, Exercise for the eyes? 🥸🙄😜🤩😍🙀You can do it!😂 But seriously, think about it this way: the structure of the NRC plan does a lot of the graft for you. It adds motivation simply by giving you structure - as well as from the virtual coaching, the advice, and from the simple gamified pleasures of ticking-off each session and seeing progress. I’m finding the plan to be much more than the sum of its parts. The individual sessions are great, and can be done anytime; knitted together in the plan, they help build up a momentum. Love it! [Declaration: I am not paid a penny by Nike. I receive nothing in-kind from Nike. I own nothing branded Nike.]
GailXrunning I've been doing the NRC HM plan too for the last week. I've run 4 times, the Garmin Benchmark run (didn't like the training so stopped their programme after that 15 minute run) then speed run, recovery run and long run. Would you advise moving to week 2 or would it be better to do recovery, speed run/fartlek and another 5k then move on to week 2 after that? I don't want to run more frequently than every other day so five times a week is out of the question. Thanks
That’s what I’ve done, I just extended the plan’s ‘week’ into 10-14 days. Sometimes I ad libbed /thrown in some other runs along the way, but the point being I’d run 2-3 time pw and get non-run days between run days, which works best for me. Frizzbomb added extra long runs between the ones in the plan to act as stepping stones, as the plan does ratchet these up more than some want; and (if I recall correctly) sometimes skipped the odd one.
The FAQs (on the plan) explain another approach: Just do 3 of the runs pw: one recovery, one speed, one long. Fit it around your life and needs is the message. The main thing is to preserve the combination of these three run types + ensure there’s always rest between the harder sessions (speed and long runs).
Loved the way CB took you by surprise.🙌 And it worked wonders too. As I’m sure he said, though, it was you who got yourself across the threshold and who pressed ‘start’!😉
Yes indeed. It was just what I needed to be honest. I have my next run planned out for Wednesday and looking forward to it already. Same route with funky fartleks. Yay 🙂
So pleased to hear that it helped. There’ll always be those times when we have to drag ourselves out, but there are also those ones where it’s the very opposite - when we’re keenly planning for our next run and nothing short of a global calamity can get in our way! Go, you: 🎶Do-do-do the funky fartlek!🎶 Yay!
👂🐛 Sorry! It just sprung spontaneously to mind. 🤷But don’t run to it! The beat is way too slow. That would make for a dreary drag and plod tempo. Maybe you could try double time, though? two steps per beat?!😂 Nah, don’t worry, CB will sort it all out.🏃🏻💨
Its great when a plod turns into something more enjoyable, isn't it? A mood lifter too by the sounds of it. Great responses here - I'm going to check out more NRC runs now. Although I find Coach Bennett a bit annoying.
I think its a bit of horses for courses. If feeling chipper and raring to go then Coach Bennett really does my head in. However, when I'm down in the dumps and a bit grizzly CB helps me lift my spirits.
I definitely prefer better runs than those heavy leg plods. Oooooh! 🥴
Brilliant Runforjoy, you really turned it around! And maybe you even had a sneaky cream cake afterwards - you earned it. I tend to ignore Coach Bennett when he starts telling me to change pace. So double well done! 😊😊😊
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You have to be kidding me...Garmin plan - I say goodbye
Sometimes you just have to do it 
RunLEJOG, Standing Stones and liking Bennett
Needed to share this...
