Blue Monday? Nah.

[Chinkoflight]

Sunday was a day of unadulterated rest! So out today to stretch the meter and on with the January Quest - to make 8k comfortably en route to an anniversary, aspirational 10 k somewhere in March/April. So set the meter at 7.5 k with the option to run on. Cold but essentially dry save for some big puddles. It's a challenge to start extending the run with short extra bits and without doing an out and back, so today I took in a lap of the village playing field. I've not done this since the first longer runs of C25K when this seemed one heck of a challenge. It was a bit boggy and slow though. Just goes to show how far you can come and how much can be achieved. I'm still amazed by this, it almost feels out of body unreal.

So very pleased , as that lap enabled me to finish short, and take the option of going on for 8k.

And the bonus today was seeing my first close up flock of fieldfares and redwings albeit a bit small at around 50 birds. They fly in from Siberia or somewhere Scandinavian for our balmy winter. Now that's an achievement.

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

I notice the actual time you ran that 8K run from the timer below "outdoor run" was 01:16:09-02:10:13, that's the middle of the night between 1 and 2 o'clock in the morning, I have a feeling that is wrong and you ran it 12 hours earlier, anyway, well done , lovely seeing those birds from Siberia.

[Chinkoflight in reply to AlMorr]

Hi Al, I think that is 01 (January) 16 (day). 09.02 to 10.13. it reads 01-16 09:02-10:13 Definitely not dark or in Australia! Definitely not a Night Runner, I like my bed too much!

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10 in reply to Chinkoflight]

👍 🏃🏾

[Chinkoflight in reply to AlMorr]

For the absolute avoidance of doubt, hopefully this photo enlargement of the tiny print is absolutely clear I actually ran on Monday not on another day and posted on Monday for....? You will notice from the original screenshot that it was taken a few minutes after the run. I do this because I use Strava to record the totality of my activity including warm up etc. I use my smart watch to record the actual running element so I can add this data as a screenshot to Strava. I use Strava as a sort of diary, and to reflect on progress. I like accuracy and fact checking. It's become really important having foolishly taken my good health for granted. I try and keep all my posts upbeat and positive. Happy to spin a bit as I practice my creative writing skills but the facts are the facts and never mis-represented. 😏

Date and time

[nowster Graduate10 in reply to Chinkoflight]

US date notation?

And if you can do 8km today, you can probably do 9km next week. However, you might be best setting your aim at 8.5km and going by feel like today. I don't think it will take you as long as March to crack through 10km. Best of luck!

[Oldlady64 Graduate10]

Fantastic post, I really enjoyed reading it!

I loved the inclusion of the bird life as I also really like to watch out for birds along a run route. I haven’t seen any field fares this winter

As yet I’m still taking things easy as only 6 days since I had a negative test after covid. Hopefully I’ll try a shortish walk/run in 3-4 weeks time.

[Chinkoflight in reply to Oldlady64]

COVID seems a bit worse this time around. My son has been struck down for the third time and has been knocked sideways for three weeks. His first proper run today too, he's a serious runner with proper long legs! Fingers crossed for a speedy recovery.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Oldlady64]

Well done..listen to your body..I'm just three weeks on from negative and hoping for a mini jogette, weather permitting, this week. It is so good just to be out and taking everything in!

.

[Oldlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

Thanks! It’s not easy but I’ll wait it out and then give it a try.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Oldlady64]

We do our best xx

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10]

Well done you..no ill effects from your knock? X

[Chinkoflight in reply to Oldfloss]

Just some very big black, blue, green and yellow bruises and scabs and grazes all over the place but thankfully no fundamental damage so very lucky, thanks for asking.

[Folkylass Graduate10]

Well done Chinkoflight. that’s brilliant. Once my RED JANUARY is finished my aim is to start improving my distance and my training for a 10k race. I’ve got till May so 4months to get some park runs and distance running under my belt.

You are doing great.👏👏👏

[OldManRunning Graduate10]

Well done Chinkoflight 👌👍. I'm in a similar position thinking of around 8k now but the puzzle is where to extend the loop without overdoing the distance. Actually a nice place to be 😁 I to hope to capture that elusive 10k. My local one is'nt until July but I feel that's too far away so will have to travel somewhere I think.