First 5k this year

[Yesletsgo]

The weather for the last few days has just been grim so I promised myself that, as long as it wasn't raining, I'd go for a run this morning. As per the forecast, when I woke up it was dry and the wind had dropped so off we went.

The paths are still very muddy in places, churned up by dog walkers, horses, bicycles and probably runners too. From time to time it was necessary to slow down to a very ginger walk to avoid slipping over, but it looks like the mud is firming up a bit.

Last time I ran I did a little over 3 km and it felt like really hard work. Today was different. Husband and I agreed we'd aim for 5km and I set off at a good pace. Sometimes he'd lead, sometimes I would. As I ran I thought about the advice Coach Bennett gives about looking ahead not down. Easy to say if you're on an athletics track, but when you have to avoid ruts, puddles, hoofprints and the inevitable piles of poop it's a different situation altogether. I tell myself that the uneven terrain is doing wonders to improve my ankles, balance and coordination.

I managed to keep up a consistent pace until the end of the run, when NRC told me I'd reached 5 km. This was the muddiest bit of the whole route, where the path meets the road, so I had to slow right down. I paused the app, then realised that if I stopped now it would bring the average pace for the whole run right down which wouldn't really reflect how I felt it had gone. As soon as I was past the mud I restarted the app and sped right up, overtaking my husband who was gently jogging home, and completed 160 metres at a minute/km faster than the rest of the run.

Not quite sure why I felt I needed to prove anything to myself, especially as when I checked my pace afterwards the fifth km wasn't slow, but some days you just gotta do what you feel like

It's just under a month since I've run 5km, I'd forgotten how much I like this distance. It takes me a while to get into the run, and I enjoy the last 2 km of a run much more than the first 2km. It's tempting me to increase my distances and see how far I can push this idea.

Happy running everyone!

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10]

It’s so funny the things we do for our stats! When I’d fallen flat on my face, almost the first thing I did was to stop my watch. I’m working on caring less! Sounds like a great run-clearly the day for muddy 5k’s for the first time in a month!

[Yesletsgo Ambassador Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

It was really good to be out, I've missed it. Even better that my stats were tweaked a little 😂

[Roxdog Graduate10]

Another runner who did a squelchy one today! Well done!

[Yesletsgo Ambassador Graduate10 in reply to Roxdog]

There's a few of us about today Roxdog

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

That was a good run and I totally understand why you had to speed up at the end 😃 I've done that

[Yesletsgo Ambassador Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

Glad it isn't just me

[Oldfloss Administrator 60minGraduate]

Great fun , a muddy run and a burst at the end... I love doing that, ( although it may be quite some time before that happens again), I just call it, checking I have some left in the tank!

5K done... well done you!

[Yesletsgo Ambassador Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

It's been a while since I've felt that need to speed up 😁 I hope you can do it soon as well