An absolute grind of a 5k this morning.

[MissUnderstanding]

You know those runs where everything is irritating? My shoes were too loose. Then they were too tight. Then I was too cold. Then too hot. And my legs hurt. And there was traffic. And my legs got stung by nettles jumping into a hedge to avoid a tractor. It wasn’t a toxic ten, it was a toxic twenty this morning.

I’d planned either 5k or 8k from this week’s magic plan and it quickly settled as a 5k. It felt like such a slog and that definitely wasn’t going to make for a happy 8k! When I finally got into it, I decided to pick the pace up for the last couple of km and ended up really running hard. I pleased to see negative splits for the whole thing (allowing for the tractor-hedge incident). I’d felt like I wanted a bit of a workout and this ticked that box.

Walking back afterwards, it was lovely to see some baby bunnies and lambs in the fields. Not my favourite sort of run but I’m sure it did me some good.

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

Not such a good run for you today Miss Understanding but congratulations on continuing the run until you completed 5K, negative splits made that run worthwhile, well done 😀 🏃🏾

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

Thanks! It often happens that when I’ve had a couple of particularly good runs, a stinker that’s no fun at all will show up to kill my mood. I’ve got a plan for the 8k on Thursday to be around a pretty marina with no tractors and a nice coffee shop. Hopefully that will set it right!

[Mormor1 Graduate10]

My magic plan 5k was also a grind this morning... Definitely too hot, I should have worn shorts, but I just felt lethargic throughout. Better hope the next long one is not similar!

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Mormor1]

It’s good to know it’s not just me having these less than magic runs occasionally! Here’s hoping we both have a nicer time with the next one.

[Mormor1 Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

fingers crossed

[Beatlesforever Graduate10]

Well done on getting a full 5k done, it really sounds like one of those runs. And to get stung by stinging nettles on top of everything else! 😩 At least you got to see cute bunnies and lambs to balance it out. I hope it didn't ruin your mood for the rest of your day 🤗

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Beatlesforever]

Thanks! The stinging nettles were just the icing on the cake of an annoying morning. I had quite a nice time on the walk home though so most of the grump was gone by getting home. The shower finished off the last of it!

[Beatlesforever Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

Yay that's great! 😊

[ForbiddenPlanet Graduate10]

What's that saying ... "no such thing as a bad run"?

I do sympathise as my 7 km jog every other day has been a toxic 40 for the last couple of months, because I haven't been running fast enough for my steady pace to kick in. Around 4 - 5 km I have often hit a flat spot and think about stopping - but then I remind myself that "my legs have got this" and let them do their work!

Well done on keeping going - hope the next one is better.

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to ForbiddenPlanet]

Fingers crossed for your toxic time to be shorter next time too! Definitely one thing this magic plan has shown me is that I can keep going, even if I’m not particularly feeling it. Nothing on today’s run hurt or made me think I actually needed to stop. Maybe I need to download some new music for those moments!

[ForbiddenPlanet Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

Thank you. Music definitely helps, and Spotify turns up all kinds of unexpected stuff. I never thought I'd be a fan of Ariane Grande until I started running, but when Spotify plays "Side to Side" I always seem to pick up the pace. (A little embarrassing maybe. 😊 😂).

[Oldgirlruns Graduate10]

Sorry to hear it was a slog today MissU but you were out and running so it’s all good isn’t it! But I’m sorry you got attacked by stingers and hope you were able to find a dock leaf nearby or a tube of antihistamine cream to rub them with!

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Oldgirlruns]

Why didn’t I look for dock leaves? I can’t believe I forgot! Luckily the run grump distracted me from the stinginess until I got home. I’ll try and be more careful in the hedges next time, especially when the shorts come out!

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

It’s reading posts like yours that remind me even if I can’t run much I should really get out for a walk because I’ll feel better afterwards, glad you got through it and saw the bunnies and lambs on way home

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

The nicest part was the walk back. There are some seriously cute baby animals about at the moment. We often get deer in the fields too which is a treat, especially if they’ve got fawns. I’ve only seen really little ones in the wild a couple of times. Hoping to be lucky with all this extra countryside action!

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to MissUnderstanding]

It’s a huge bonus seeing all the wildlife, I’ve seen deer from being in the Downs but not recently, the most exciting thing here at home though is we have a family of badgers around the garden

[CBDB Graduate10]

And a huge gigantic WELL DONE! It’s the hard runs that I think should deserve the biggest praise! Awesome! It certainly sounded eventful!

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to CBDB]

It was a bit of a “one of those”. Good to know that even with everything seemingly going the wrong way, still got to the end . That’ll be useful to remind myself of next time it happens (which it will!). Gained a bit of mental grit in that run!!! 💪

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

🤣👍🏽💪💪👏👏

[Me_time Graduate10]

Oh no, iyou & I find those bad run days so demotivating too. Hope you got some antihistamine cream for the bites. Fortunately my yesterday's run wasn't too bad as it started as 3.5k run for start of week3 & ended up 7.5k.

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Me_time]

That’s absolutely fantastic! Congratulations on your 7.5k and on conquering your nemesis hill. That’s worth a mini celebration!