I wasn’t planning on running this morning. Of that I was certain. Then when I got up, I looked out of my bedroom window and saw a runner! A seed of doubt entered my mind and I started thinking about the NRC guided runs. If I were to go out running, perhaps I should increase my time spent running slightly. Just by 10-15 minutes. And if I were to run it would only take 10 minutes or so to have everything charged. So I got dressed and out on my running gear. I didn’t have to be anywhere today. Before I knew it, I was out on my warm up walk up the hill towards the park. How did that even happen? After my warm up walk I turned and set the guided run. I’ve listened to this one quite a few times, but definitely not in the last 6 months. Perhaps even a year.
I press the button on my watch, start the guided run and off I go - walking briskly to start with down the hill. This is my new tried and tested way of keeping that first vital km slow. After a couple of minutes I glide into a slow jog, listening to Coach Bennett and Andy Puddicombe. Love these headspace guided runs! I head towards Tesco and start my 2nd km. In my head I already know the route I’m taking to extend my running time. I’m hopeful that there won’t be any steep hills, but I’m not sure. I’m warmed up now and overdressed for the mild morning, but didn’t think the world was ready to face my white winter legs so stuck to my lightweight tights and long sleeved top.
I run on, straight over a roundabout where I would usually turn left to head back towards home. I head to the next roundabout instead and turn left at that one. I notice that I’m running in heartrate Zone 4, which was not part of my plan, but I keep going as it seems fairly comfortable. I’m hoping for a gentle downhill towards the town, but it was not to be! The road is curving upwards instead and now I’m in heart rate zone 5. I decide to turn round and go back the way I came, back to the first roundabout. There I get the downhill I wanted and was able to speed up for a faster finish.
The guided run is good and kept my mind occupied in a way that music doesn’t. I had it in the back of my mind that this 45 minute guided run would probably mean a 5K run for me and it was! Very happy with that! Home for stretches, coffee ☕️ and bacon butties!! 🏃♀️👍☀️
Written by
Jools2020
Graduate10
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Awesome, very well done! 💪🎉👏👏👏👏 It sounds like a great run 😃👍 soon enough you'll know all the ins and outs of the terrain, go Jools! 👏👏👏 that breakfast sounds amazing 😋 and definitely well deserved! I wish there was some decent vegan bacon out there but it's just one of those things I've had to learn to live without
Thanks Beatles! And a second run this week, very happy. Yes, getting to know the area. Had a few visitors in the last week or so, too - all good! I had a brief flirtation with a vegetarian diet a few years ago and I missed bacon the most I think 😊
I’m exactly the same with bacon. I don’t mind the Richmond one but I have made myself accept that it’s a compromise substitute rather than anything like a like for like replacement.
It’s great to spot someone else who is a fan of the good coffee as a run reward! Sounds like a fantastic one this morning-you absolutely earned your butties and caffeine.
Those “I’m not going to run today but I’m now going running” last minute changes of mind always end in great runs!
Ooh bacon butties 🥓😋 and it's not even the weekend!Nice 5k Jools. Sounds like you're settling in. You'll have all those routes with a downhill finish mapped out in no time!😃
Thanks, Diane. It feels like it should be the weekend, though! Not sure why, it’s been an odd week. Yes, I’m getting to know the area. Lots of green spaces here - not sure whether to go out and find one, or go into town (10 minute walk) for a bit. Spoilt for choice 😊👍
Sounds like a good run this morning Jools and how exciting to have a new area to discover. I did a 5k this morning too, the weather was gorgeous and bumped into a friend running in the opposite direction - 15 mins later.......... Have a lovely Easter 🐣
It's good to know that there are positive gremlins out there too, persuading you out of the door when you didn't mean to run - much better than the normal kind of gremlins! Even better that you had such a positive run, exploring a new area.
I love the headspace runs as well. I’m a bit injured so not running hardly at all, so find the guided runs really helpful. The one with English Gardner is excellent 🙂
Nice run for you today. Perhaps you will have some new exciting routes to explore in your new area - all in good time I'm sure.Lovely to have coffee to look forward to!
Thank you, Roxdog. I’ve been trying to get a feel for the area. I have no sense of direction and I don’t want to get lost! I look at the map first to look at where roads go and I’m starting to feel more comfortable here. There’s a huge park to the south, but it involves woods and I’d need a running buddy for that. Once I’m confident enough with 5K again, I’ll join the park run and see where that leads! I walked into town after my run and had a really good day 😊👍
Thanks, Ian. I had a great sense of achievement today! That NRC run is really good. I’ll do another one next time for a shorter run. Just wanted to do 45 minutes today 😊👍
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week3run1 ✅. 3 x 17 mins with 1 min walks. 
