NRC 10k Plan: WEEK 2 DONE!!! Or - Do you hear the call of the 𝚆̶𝚒̶𝚕̶𝚍̶ plan?

[CBDB]

Finished week two of my NRC 10k plan.

I didn’t feel like running today, but the plan called to me.

So does anyone else feel that having a plan just gives you that extra little nudge to get out there on those days where you definitely do not want to go out there.

It certainly works for me. It’s the call of the 𝚆̶𝚒̶𝚕̶𝚍̶ PLAN!

So I ended the week with Coach Blue Benadum‘s DEUCES, a rather fancier way of doing 2 min / 1 min Jeffing at 5k pace.

Annoyingly, I had decided to listen to LBC Radio for once (Lineker fan, here), and not music, being unaware how chatty Coach Blue would actually be. And no music, no bounce either! Just a steady jeffing 5k-pace plod.

Which is slow for me. (Have I mentioned before that I’m an ultra-slow runner?)

I must plan my music/audio vs NRC-coaching sessions better. (Have I also mentioned I’m the queen of planning?)

There are NRC audio-guided runs, especially the distance based runs, where the audio coach is nowhere to be heard for huge lengths of time (because of my slow speed), and those sessions would be great for story-telling-and-news-y-types of audio.

And then there are NRC sessions where the talking never stops! And they are better with music, but annoying with podcasts and such.

I must remember that for the future, to fine tune my running accompaniment!

So is anyone else having the difficulty of choosing between accompanying music or talk when going out there in an NRC run?

Some useful links are below:

★ My Week 1 was blogged about here healthunlocked.com/bridgeto...

★ NRC 10k Plan with links: healthunlocked.com/bridgeto...

★ And Cross-Training, Flexibility, Strengthening workouts, as well as tending to any niggles, head over to our sister forum Strength & Flexibility forum at: healthunlocked.com/strength...

★ A link to a different 10k plan, our HU Bridge 10k Magic Plan at healthunlocked.com/bridgeto...

Keep on keeping on, everyone!

[Beatlesforever Graduate10]

Yay well done! I really enjoyed NRC's 10k plan when I went through it last year and coach blue is one of my faves, especially his speed/ hill repeats workouts 💙 😃 well done, hope you enjoy the rest of the plan 👏👏👏👏🏃‍♀️(I'm Lineker fan too btw 👍💪)

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to Beatlesforever]

🙏👍🏽⚽️👍🏽🙏

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10]

I’d always choose music with an NRC run. Not enough headspace for commentary and chat at the same time. This time I’m repeating runs from the HM plan I’ve done before so I often do my long run with a talk podcast and not using the NRC guided run commentary.

I don’t really find having a plan as such gets me out of the door, but having an event booked does! That’s mainly because when I’ve followed plans without an event, I’ve been very relaxed about how long a week lasts so it doesn’t take a fixed length of time.

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

Running without the coach??????? 🫣😱🫣😱🫣😱🤣🤣

Great stufff! 👍🏽

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to CBDB]

I wouldn’t have done it last time but I definitely feel it’s a mark of progress that now I’m happy to do a long run alone and going out for say, an hour and a half run doesn’t seem like quite such a big deal any more! I can’t quite believe I’m in that position now.

There was a really helpful Women’s running podcast which talked about the different runs you might do while training for a race. The long run was described as your chilled out, time on feet, mental health run where you can just enjoy it. Having a podcast I’d like to listen to for that run feels like a treat! It’s funny the way our brains work sometimes!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

That sounds great! I worry sometimes because I just listen to the voices in my head

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Times passing so fast, you'll be finished before I start, well done on getting out and yes a plan helps motivate

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

thanks, they certainly do motivate me.

We need a couple of time machines on these forums, don’t we.

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to CBDB]

I only have 5 weeks and 6 days to go, then my plans can start

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

oh yeah. You booked yourself into that time-making machine… I remember! 🤣🤣🤣👏 you’ll have more time! Yey!!!

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to CBDB]

Yes, there's no end of people saying they'll come for a run with me when I retire and I'm really hoping they won't. I'll have 40 hours to fill each week 😀

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

🤣🤣🤣

[Cmoi Graduate10]

Nope, while I'm with you re Lineker, I still hate plans, it's definitely the call of the wild that gets me out there! Today it was grown-up listening (France Culture podcasts) and frivolous running (hilly trails and a random field) for me.

I never use audio-coached runs, gave them up after C25K and an extremely brief, horrendous encounter with Stepping Stones.

Enjoy your plans, they clearly work well for you!

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to Cmoi]

uuuh frivolous running! Love that! 👍🏽👏

[Cmoi Graduate10 in reply to CBDB]

It was extremely frivolous - Oh look, I can get into that field and run up that slope for no good reason at all! I've not been strong enough to do that for a while, so I was giggling with joy at being able to be so silly!!

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to Cmoi]

🤣🤣😀👍🏽

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Cmoi]

I think there are quite a few of us scarred by Stepping Stones, although some people absolutely love it!

[Cmoi Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

I've no problem at all with others loving it, just wasn't for me. Slowing down my cadence while being told how to count to four, accompanied by the sort of insistent "music" that triggers panic attacks in me - no thanks!

[Freecloud Graduate10 in reply to Cmoi]

😂😂

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

I’ve found stepping stones ok. I love running to a beat and there are not many podcasts which do that. So I see Stepping Stones a really useful tool in my aresenal of running tools.

I can understand also where people are coming from, who don’t like Stepping Stones. The music is quite uninspiring, and she could count a bit more with the beat, I find.

But I have used it now 2-3 times for a bit of a change from my usual go to sessions. So I’m actually glad it’s there.

[OldManRunning Graduate10]

Hi CDDB, I did enjoy the plan in my running however it's now limited to run Tuesday, Thursday and parkrun and do whatever type or length of run I feel like 😂 😂 😂When I do a NRC run I play both the run and a music app. The music automatically quietens when the talking starts 😁👍

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to OldManRunning]

yeah, that’s what I usually do as well! It works quite well, that way. Just the mileage runs, say 7k runs in NRC means that coach Bennett doesn’t pop in very often.

[OldManRunning Graduate10 in reply to CBDB]

Yes I noticed there are some longer gaps in some commentaries maybe they're enjoying your music too much 😂 😂

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to OldManRunning]

🤣🤣🤣

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10]

I've not tried running to speech radio though I listen all the time at home. If I'm running alone it has to be music.For short intervals I prefer no music as if I'm enjoying it I resent the interruptions 😂

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to Yesletsgo]

👍🏽👍🏽🎶🎶 (I’m a music runner at heart, as well!)

[LottieMW Ambassador]

I’ve just done the 5K run in the last week…it’s billed as a headspace run, but it’s CB on his own, and he basically just asks a question every 500 metres…so that would be a podcast one for you. Other headspace runs with Andy P would not as they chat a lot!

I’m a music runner…but I may start listening to some podcasts when I’m otherwise running “naked”…so no interruptions from my apps at all.

Love a plan because it gives me some structure…one of the reasons I started C25k in the first place when I retired…something to do 3 times a week! The NRC10K plan is making me go out and do runs I would never have chosen…speed and hill runs in particular!

FWIW…I’ve never tried Stepping Stones after reading posts about it…it seemed that a lot of people said it was too fast for them…plus I prefer my 60/70’s rock music too much! 😂

…oh and I’m a Lineker/footy fan too…

🐌🏃🏻‍♀️😄⚽️🎶🎧

[StringsandKeys Graduate10]

I love having a plan and structure. When I’m just running whenever I end up doing just 30 minute runs and then a 5k at the weekend whereas at the moment I’m doing the 10k plan and while I stretch it so I’m not running 5 times in a week it works for me. Also prefer the friendly running NRC plan yes it’s chatty but I just listen to music. BBC i player currently has a two hour playlist for running with 80s music so I’m happy!

[Debsyp Graduate10]

just completed 25 minutes easy run 2 of week 1 of the NRC 10k plan (again) really enjoy the structure of a plan, also listen to music whilst coach Bennett et al talk specifically to me whilst running 🤣