Saturday long run - 8K 😊👍🏃‍♀️

[Jools2020]

So - last weekend I ran for an hour and that went very well. Today my plan was to run for 1hr 15 mins. I had trouble with the tech - my watch wouldn’t acquire a signal. I decided just to use Strava. Warm up walk over and off I go, excited at the thought of a longer run! I would just take it steady and enjoy it!

After a while of running, I realised I hadn’t heard any notifications, and I know when I’ve run for 1km. I wonder if Strava is working! I take out my mobile and check. All is OK, but I must have turned the notifications off. I can’t sort it out and run at the same time and I decide it’s not really that important. I’m not bothered about pace this morning.

I carry on round the same route I ran last week. Oh no! The Demon Hill. I don’t seem to cope with it so well this morning - I swear it’s got longer and steeper! I plod on, resisting the temptation to walk. I found a new ‘slow’ this morning! I just didn’t believe it was possible to go any slower and still be running. Yes, it was! I crest the hill and my breathing slows as I head downhill towards the town. I’ve no idea of course what my heart rate is doing and I miss my watch telling me all that good stuff.

I see the little park again and go in. This time I do a couple of circuits. I need 15 minutes of extra running this morning. I go into the underpass maze and find a new way out onto the road I’m looking for. I run past the back of my house and guess that I’ve been running for an hour. I take my mobile out of my pocket to look and I’m right.

On I go, back towards Tesco for the second time. I’m getting tired, but because I’m running slowly I know I can keep going. I take my watch out a few minutes before the end so I can see when to stop! I reach 1hr 15 mins exactly and stop the run! 8.29kms.

Strava robbed me of a couple of minutes when it processed the run, but I don’t care! I’m so happy with this run! 😊👍🏃‍♀️

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10]

Hills round here have a habit of getting steeper too! It must be spreading across the country. Well done for getting up it and finding that extra slow setting. Sounds like a great run.

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

Thanks! And that ‘runner’s high’ when you know you’ve had a good run is hard to beat! 👍😊

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

Totally agree about the ‘runner’s high’. Still got mine from yesterday. The longer distances are still very new to me so pretty much every time I’ve finished one I’ve literally been jumping up and down and cheering for myself. I am so pleased to live rurally so nobody can see that!!

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

I think it’s a pity they can’t see that! It might get them thinking about running themselves 😂

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

I like to think that I’ve inspired a few sheep and cows!

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

🤣

[Raisemeup 60minGraduate]

Well done Jools, that's a great run using slow running as a tool to go further a good, safe tactical choice - and it delivers! I'll be doing similar once I'm running 5ks more regularly and then, hopefully, extending.Good luck with future runs and best wishes i

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Raisemeup]

Thank you. That’s what I’ve always done and it’s served me well! I’m sure you’ll do it if you want to. Good luck! 🤞👍😊🏃‍♀️

[Frenc Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Super well done Jools2020 ! Tech notwithstanding a great run. Hurrah 😃!

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Frenc]

Thank you! 😊👍

[GailXrunning]

Another step forward (well, many steps to be precise). 👏👏👏👏👏 Lately, I feel like I’m running just behind you, returning to a 60-min run earlier this week and hoping to get in a c.70/75-min one tomorrow. 🤞

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to GailXrunning]

Thanks! We should be running buddies. Obviously great minds think alike! 😊. I’m thinking maybe 90 minutes for my next long run, but may end up repeating this one, depending how I feel on the day. Good luck with your run! 😊👍

[GailXrunning]

I guess we are already! 🙌 Really looking forward to tomorrow. Am taking exactly the same relaxed approach towards it: should be no problem if I run nice and easy.

[Runninggirl59 60minGraduate]

A great run Jools, I know what you mean about hills, they just get in the way ! I managed 57 mins yesterday but I did have to stop twice to sort out my laces as I couldn't feel my feet so will go again next week! 🏃‍♂️😀

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Runninggirl59]

Hills are a nuisance and so are laces! Hope your next long run is enjoyable. 😊

[Runninggirl59 60minGraduate in reply to Jools2020]

Cheers, yours too 👍

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

Good run for you today Julia, tech sometimes is a problem, so Demon Hill has got steeper and longer, probably has but you kept running the full 1 hour 15 minutes, well done, if you do run 90 minutes that would be around 10K 👍🏃🏾

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

Thanks Al - yes, I would be happy with 10K in 90 minutes 😊😂

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

I’d be happy with that run too Jools, especially getting up that hill

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

It was a good run! Thanks Sola 😊

[Roxdog Graduate10]

Well done!

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Roxdog]

Thank you, Roxdog! It was a lovely run 😊

[nowster Graduate10]

A great 5 miles for you. An 8km run like that (on unhappy knees) was my first ever run of just over an hour.

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

Funny how we remember our first long run! My first 60 minute run was when I realised I could run longer distances. It was less than 6K, but was an easy run and did not tax me at all!

[Instructor57 Graduate10]

Great run jools !Good to see you stretching out the distance again !

I didn't get out this weekend as have been away at another gig in Manchester 😁

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Instructor57]

Thanks, Ian! I could have pushed on for the 10K but decided to play it safe as I was getting a bit tired and I was helping with the grandchildren in the afternoon!

You can soon make up for the missed run 😊

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10]

Fantastic Jools, what a lovely run. 🥰

I know exactly how slow one can get running up hills, because I often do exactly the same! I enjoy being in ‘first gear’ even though people have been known to walk past me on the steep ones! 😅

Your run sounds delightful, and 8k is a great distance. Really well done! 👏👏👏

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Thank you! I really do enjoy slow running. The hill on that route is more of a mental challenge and I don’t allow myself to actually walk 😂 although the line between walking and running might have been a little blurry! I’m working back up to 10K (and maybe beyond!)