Week 3 NRC half marathon plan and i haven’t run all week, my tuesday off was a bit busy and then someone went sick at work so i had to adjust my hours to cover shifts and sleep in. Friday we ran out of milk so work shopping instead of a run but this morning we planned to run along the top of the beach.
Willow was up, showered and dressed in running gear before my eyes were properly even open, we were on the beach soon after 10 and off he went for his short run, I set up headphones, play list and NRC 5 mile run.
I started too fast, but the views were beautiful across the sea to the right and the distant hills to the left, the path widens and i’m running my way with comfortable breathing and steady legs, it was way too warm but cloudy with a warm breeze coming from somewhere. I ran on, and the clouds parted to let the sun shine on me, ran on slower and slower. I was hardly breathing deeply just enjoying myself. After a couple of kilometers there’s a sort of plastic boardwalk on the beach, that looks perfect thought I! WRONG! it was sort of springy and sucked the energy out of my legs. Then it took ages before I could get back off it onto the path.
Then 4k ran and time to turn, At that point I decided I don’t like out and back runs and grizzled a bit at how far from Willow I was and the end of the run.
A couple of runners going the other way grinned and said hi and I cheered up a bit, ran on slowed right down even more and a couple of times walked a bit, 6k done nearly back on the last leg, along the path with no road.
When I get to the beach huts I’ll know I’m nearly finished, I’m gazing into the distance and can’t even see them, but across the sea I can see the pier so I know I’m going the right way, suddenly I can see the beach huts 😀all painted different pastel colors and then realize I can see the building near where Willow is.
Pick up the pace a bit, and I’m nearly at 8k but this run is a smidge longer to complete 5 miles…..
Made it! Onto the beach, Willow had tracked me so knew when I’d get there, off with shorts change into bikini top under tee shirt and that came off too…. did I stretch?? did I heck as like, I went straight in the sea, my goodness that water was cold but just what i needed. Flop on the blanket, drank my luke warm tea and grinned.
And Willow, I hear you ask, he ran his second fastest ever kilometer, he is a very happy man. I said 3 years ago, he runs faster and I run longer which is still true today, He ran a kilometer and then sat on the beach while I ran and as long as we leave home together and return together any running apart is fine by us.
Sometimes I really wish I could run faster because to get any distance I have to be out ages, today took one and a half hours, but mostly I’m just happy I can run
Have a great weekend
Written by
SueAppleRun
Graduate10
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What a stunning place to run and a superb run on a sunny Saturday! That cool down in the sea must have been heavenly. Well done to Willow on the PB too.
I’m also following the NRC HM plan officially a week ahead but I’ve taken a week of easy runs this week so I think you’ll catch me up. I didn’t fancy the speed work with a bit of a summer cold and a heatwave. How have you been liking it?
I’m loving the plan, just finding it hard to fit runs in so each week is taking much longer than 7 days, I planned to retire this year and train to run a half marathon but still enjoying work too much so the plan is fitting round work. I think next week long run is same distance and as I’ve decided i don’t like out and back I’m going to set off from home and meet Willow at the river where we usually start a run but before then I’ll work on shorter and faster and get back into more squats
I’ve either skipped a run or two or made the week longer as well. Five is tricky to fit in with life. I wish work would also extend the length of a week when I need it to!
I’ve found the plan excellent-all the variety is brilliant and it’s definitely pushed me outside my comfort zone. Plus Coach B is fabulous, obviously!! Enjoy your next one when it comes around.
I think David and I are becoming a ‘he runs faster, I run longer’ couple too 😀 though he’s already tried to go too fast too soon and hurt his knee, so maybe he’ll listen to me when I tell him to slow down, this time?
Did you get all the way to Shoreham Beach!? That boardwalk stuff is annoying to run on 👍 and very noisy too.
I was about half way between the car park west shoreham beach and the fort east of shoreham beach, started at Lancing yatch i can’t spell little boat, club which is where i swam after, it’s only about a couple of kilometres along there so i meandered along and around, just wish it didn’t take me so long but Willow sat and watched the boats sail away
I would be there now but going to the cinema, I’ve swim in the sea twice this week and once the week before and it’s amazing, i haven’t swam in pools much this last couple years so have to make the most of the sea
That’s such a great run! And what a fab place to do it. I love going past other runners and getting a cheery hello, it does perk us up doesn’t it! And your dip in the sea sounds perfect. Well done! 😊😊😊
An absolutely stunning place to run 😍 well done, it sounds like your knees are doing fine yay! A brilliant distance, I do like 8K/5miles, it's less daunting than 10k but challenging enough that it feels like a 'long' run. Speed doesn't really matter but I totally understand it's the sheer amount of time these longer runs take, I have the same problem. But as we get fitter maybe we'll get a tad faster too!
Lovely photo Sola, congratulations on your run today and well done to Willow on running his second fastest kilometer,
While walking Holly the dog this afternoon I met a man who graduated from C25K about 2 months ago, he can run a 5K in around 25 minutes but can't run longer than 7 km before stopping, he hopes to run a 10K before the end of the year, I told him to slow down but he said he can't. 😊 🏃🏾
Well done on your 5 miles especially in the heat and Willow on his PB. It’s lovely to have the sea and the beach on your doorstep . Those beach huts are real cool, saw a lot of them in Folkestone promenade last week , MrD daughter got her name down for one. Take care in the high temperatures you are supposed to be getting 😊
I took a small bottle of water with me for the first time ever today and very welcome it was too, there’s a beach hut for sale at £62,000 which seems a bit excessive to me. They are pretty though
Lucky you a dip in the sea following a run sounds blissful plus having your partner joining you! Hoping to run by the sea in a few weekends as we have a weekend by the sea I can’t wait now ☀️🌊
Just super... it looks and sounds to have been glorious! Well done you.I am on the HM plan with tweaks, but right now is on hold... with less running and shorter ones too as and when.
I just started a NRC marathon plan which hit the buffers from the start ☹️ I forgot I was dog sitting 🙈. I’ve got a race in a few weeks too😖. Best laid plans 🙄.
That looks so beautiful. What a great account , you always make me smile and a dip in that sea, perfect! I agree, a circuit is more satisfying but at least you know how long it is to get back with there and back runs.... I totally empathise with being slow 🐌 - the longer distances take soooooso long 🤣🤣🤣🤣. I'm getting slower too 🤭🙄. I STILL haven't got into doing that cross training work and now am sometimes finding 3x a week hard, due to the heat - too hot for me 🥵, Hey ho.... Keep running and keep enjoying it Sola and Willow too and thank you for sharing 🤗 👍🙆♀️.
Congratulations on your longest run of the year!👏👏👏I know what you mean about wishing you were faster as you do have to be on your feet for so much longer. And be able to find a large chunk of time from somewhere.
How lovely to finish up with a dip in the sea. I'm just a teeny bit (no a big bit) jealous!
Thank you Diane, it’s so hot, I’ve been to the beach a lot and getting braver and swimming longer each time, I’m hoping the tennis doesn’t go on too long as i’m looking forward to my swim today
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