Accidentally graduated!

[MissUnderstanding]

This was not what I’d expected from today! The plan was to go out for a short, slow run with still aching legs after Monday’s interval antics. I’d settled on aiming for 4km but if that wasn’t feeling good, I’d walk instead. If 4km was ok, I’d go for 5km. If that was fine, possibly the 8km run but that wasn’t likely to be achievable.

What actually happened was my legs were still stiff at the start which meant I ran a fair bit more slowly than usual. The more I ran, the better they felt which is pretty much the opposite of normal. I’d switched my usual thumping dance music for a more chilled out mix which meant a properly relaxing, lovely run which I totally wasn’t expecting. 4km came up easily almost without noticing how far I’d gone. So did 5km. It looked like 8km was going to be the distance of the day because I was feeling great and really enjoying myself. I got distracted by the scenery and when I checked my watch, I’d already covered over 9km so I decided I might as well keep going. 10.05km in 1hr5mins. I am absolutely thrilled!

I’m going to cut my distance for the last run of the week to account for the extra today. Mentally it’s really going to help knowing I’ve already done the 10km I need to cover for the race in June. Now it’s all about doing the longer runs regularly so I’m super comfortable and might even get faster as a bonus.

Wearing the new badge with pride!

[damienair Administrator]

Fantastic running and very well done. Congratulations on your first 10K and you did it in style in a very good time too. Your new badge suits you.

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to damienair]

Thank you! Feeling very pleased with myself and also a little bit naughty for going too far today. Back to the magic plan properly from next week.

I might treat myself to some new socks in celebration of the new distance PB.

[nowster Graduate10]

Well done!

This is similar to what happened to me. I went out for 9km, did that, then realised that the final 1km was mostly downhill, so decided to go for it.

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

Thank you!

Thinking about it, it was a big downhill section that put me close enough as well. It was worth the 80m elevation gain earlier in the run! The last km had loads of stiles and gates. Getting over the stiles was definitely where I felt it most in my legs. I’m not very elegant over them at the best of times!

[Cmoi Graduate10]

Well done MissUnderstanding on your first 10k, and that's a very good time too, certainly including climbing over stiles and gates!

I also accidentally did my first 10k earlier than I was supposed to. I was on holiday, decided I'd run to the nearest village, did that and realised I'd hit 5k, so just had to make it back to reach 10k!

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Cmoi]

Thanks! I very much approve of the spontaneous first 10K on holiday. Very memorable.

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

That’s exactly what I did!! just ran and it felt good so i kept going and although a while ago now and much slower than yours i can still remember the buzz of running 10k the first time, so congratulations 🥳 for running 10k 😃😃😃👏👏👏

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thanks for your reply. I’m finding it so reassuring that others just went for it on a whim and got the big 10K! After the structure of the c25k podcast, it felt very different this time. I was literally dancing in a country lane when it came up. Thank goodness there was no one around, apart from a few sheep!!! I’m still on a bit of a high!

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to MissUnderstanding]

You embrace that high it’s a huge achievement, and hey I know we all talk about kilometres but 10k is around 6 miles and that’s a long way 😀

[Beatlesforever Graduate10]

Congratulations! 🎉🥳 Very well done, great time too 👏👏👏

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Beatlesforever]

Thanks! I was really surprised when I saw the time. I felt like I was going really slowly and I was expecting the first time to be at least ten minutes longer. It must have just been one of those magic runs where everything hooks up and you feel like you’re in the zone.

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10]

Well done on that wonderful first 10k, still my favourite distance after nearly 4 years of running. 😀

I expect most people would admit to jumping the gun a bit - I know I did! I knew exactly where the 10k mark would be, felt fine and thought I’d graduate a week early. No harm done!

Enjoy showing off your lovely badge. 😍

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Thanks-I can definitely see myself running 10k regularly-it felt like long enough to be a good run but not so long it took up all the morning. The Goldilocks of runs maybe! Just right.

[Hidden]

Well done and I think that quite a bit of people have 'accidentally' reached their longest runs. I know I have had it happen as well. When practicing for ten miles, I went for 1 km+ every week and I 'accidentally' left out the 12 km if I recollect well because the legs felt good and what is another km more? 😜

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Totally agree with “it’s just 1k more” thinking! I never thought I’d be in that position while doing the c25k..,just thirty seconds more seemed like a massive thing!!! That’s definitely where I’ve noticed the biggest difference in my runs.

[Hidden in reply to MissUnderstanding]

Haha yes, very true. When starting C25K running 30 seconds was a LOT. And then suddenly you are at 'what is another kilometer?'. So weird eh!

[Hidden]

Wow just reading your post well done. I just finished W7C25. Once I get week 9 in the bag i will be over the moon, I don’t think I would managed a 10k. Im not even thinking that far ahead. Happy running and enjoy.

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

You’re really close to finishing now-six runs to go! Enjoy the last couple of weeks. I still can’t decide if I like the freedom of not using a podcast now or really miss Denise Lewis telling me to keep going! My sister has just started c25k so I’m reliving it vicariously through her runs.

There’s definitely something to be said for just keeping going with the programme and not worrying about what’s next at the end. 30 mins running, 5k, 10K…I don’t think how far or fast we’re all doing matters in the slightest as long as we’re enjoying it and keeping healthy.

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10]

Well done, isn't it great to get the 'I can run forever' feeling! The furthest it's taken me is 8km but reading your post I realise anything is possible 😀

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Yesletsgo]

Thank you! That’s a lovely post to read. Thinking about what it was like starting out on c25k in January compared to now, anything is certainly possible! ☀️

[Me_time Graduate10]

Wow, achieving 10k when onlu half way through the programme is absolutely outstanding and doing it at that pace is just too amazing! You must be over the moon..well done & congratulations for the new badge 👏