After giving Parkrun a miss because of the fog yesterday this morning was clear enough to do the Easy Run called for by the NRC HM program, just 35 minutes. Normally I run over fields but the recent rain has made them very messy, they are only an option when it's freezing, but this morning was a pleasant 6C so we had to run on the pavement.
I've set my watch to show heart rate, pace and distance and my aim was to keep my HR below 140. Every time it started creeping up I slowed down, even walking a short distance, until it got back to where I wanted it to be.
About 15 minutes into the run I reached the park and it didn't look too messy so I went that way while my husband carried on along the road. We eventually met up again and ran through the park together, then back to the waterfront. Passing the local cafes buzzing with people I suggested that we might have run far enough and should maybe stop and get breakfast but no, he was the voice of reason and urged me onwards.
A few minutes later the 35 minutes was up. He carried on as we'd done 4k and he wanted to complete 5k. I went straight home and put breakfast on, then did my cool down stretches. By the time he was home and showered breakfast was ready, correction, brunch as it was nearly midday. Eggs, bacon, sausages (Linda McCartney's, my sop to Veganuary 
), hash browns, mushrooms, beans and toast. We'd earned it!
I checked my HR stats, 74% was in Zone 4 (126-140 bpm) and only 6% in Zone 5 so a big improvement on my normal ratios. Mr Garmin has knocked another year off my age and my VO2 Max is now in the BLUE!! And all without getting puffed out or too hot and sweaty and my average pace is within the top 30% of my average 'Average Pace'. So in future I think I'll be more inclined to take it easy on a Sunday morning. Maybe going slower really does make you go faster 
As a 🐌 
A Sunday morning 5 Mile (8K) Towpath Run
