NRC Sneaky Speed: Are you a hammer or a nail... - Bridge to 10K

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NRC Sneaky Speed: Are you a hammer or a nail? 🤷‍♀️

MissUnderstanding profile image
MissUnderstandingAdministratorGraduate10
19 Replies

I’ve fallen into a pattern of doing a speed run on Friday morning and going straight to Pilates. Well, technically I’ve done it twice but I really want it to be a pattern so I’m telling myself that it already is! The pilates class has a very conveniently located old airfield behind it (pictured) which is perfect for intervals. Today, I even used some of the old markings on the tarmac for my starting line. At one point, I was visualising myself running alongside planes coming in to land, Tom Cruise on motorbike in Top Gun style. Whatever gets you through, hey!

This morning’s run what “Sneaky Speed” and I remember finding it tough when I did it about a year ago. Warm up first. Then intervals: 90 seconds 7/10 effort followed by three 45 second intervals at 9/10 repeated three times with a minute between each interval. It’s relentless!

My warm up jog was uneventful. A nice, gentle five minutes alone before starting the podcast, then five more with Coach Blue to take me beyond the toxic ten. This ended very nicely at a bench where I paused and stretched. A few funny looks from dog walkers but I don’t mind too much. Time to start.

The first interval was really tough! Coach Blue warned me I was likely to go too fast and I think I did! 90 seconds felt like an extremely long time. During the walk break, I remembered that I’d done exactly the same thing last time round. Now at the other end of the runway, I found another suitable starting like. This one was lettering on the ground which said “No motorcycles” which I suspect wasn’t original airfield road marking! I was looking forward to this interval but 45 seconds still felt like a really long time at the harder effort. 30 seconds in my brain was yelling at me to slow down but I focussed on trying my best to keep to the required effort. The great thing about having a full minute recovery walk is that you’ve got a lot of time for analysing how it’s going. I decided to pay attention to exactly when that voice kept kicking in. When you’ve got twelve intervals in total, it’s a good time to try that sort of thing! Interestingly, for the whole speed run, including the longer intervals, consistently at thirty seconds I got a “please stop!!” message. I’ve been reading about responding calmly to those voices instead of overreacting (Steve Magness-Do Hard Things is a brilliant book). Quick systems check and I made a reasoned decision about whether I need to slow down-I never needed to. Treating that voice as a message I could choose to listen to or not was really helpful in keeping pushing where I was supposed to.

This was one tough run. Those intervals just kept on coming and coming, and throwing in a longer one every fourth one was brutal, even if it was at a lower effort. Mentally, it was as much of a challenge as physical. After the first set of four, I thought there was no way I’d make it to the end and decided that I was just going to do what I could and celebrate that. That helped me feel more in control and actually made it less likely I’d stop the run early.

There was a comedy comment from Coach Blue who noted that we were either hammering the speed run or nailing it, so we should think about whether we were a hammer or a nail! I was hoping to come up with a comedy answer but at that point, I was just hanging on for dear life so maybe I was neither!!

I was so glad this run ended. It was really hard but in a really good way. I feel like I really challenged how mentally tough I was today and I got through. I was super pleased to look back at my stats from last time and compare with today. Everything single interval was faster today, even though I didn’t feel like it.

I’d definitely recommend this run but go into it knowing it’ll be a challenge. Challenges are there to show us how strong we are though and I’m feeling like I could take on the world right now!

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MissUnderstanding
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19 Replies
SueAppleRun profile image
SueAppleRunGraduate1060minGraduate

That does sound tough, I was willing you on as I read about it. Awesome that you were faster than a year ago when you last did the run.

MissUnderstanding profile image
MissUnderstandingAdministratorGraduate10 in reply toSueAppleRun

Thanks so much! I feel super pleased with myself for getting to the end. It was hard! The Nike Run Club app is so good for taking you right outside your comfort zone and making you realise you’re stronger than you thought. Have fun when you get there!

SueAppleRun profile image
SueAppleRunGraduate1060minGraduate in reply toMissUnderstanding

I've had a couple of days off running but hoping to go tomorrow, I've written out a plan for days running so other things won't get in the way, but filling in the gaps, I do like to see runs tucked off in NRC and I agree it does push us a bit

MissUnderstanding profile image
MissUnderstandingAdministratorGraduate10 in reply toSueAppleRun

You absolutely deserve those recovery days! June was an epic month for you! Really looking forward to your run reports. ❤️

SueAppleRun profile image
SueAppleRunGraduate1060minGraduate in reply toMissUnderstanding

Thank you, I look for yours too, always a good read and make me want to get out and run.

Bluebirdrunner profile image
BluebirdrunnerGraduate10

Wow, those inner voices can be hard to ignore...love that you have a handle on them. 👍

A gruelling workout, but you nailed it I think. 💪🏃‍♀️🏅xxx

MissUnderstanding profile image
MissUnderstandingAdministratorGraduate10 in reply toBluebirdrunner

It’s a battle! I used to think that you were either mentally tough or you weren’t , but recently I’ve really realised that through practise, you can get better at dealing with those sorts of thoughts. The good thing about hard runs, especially interval ones, is that you get plenty of opportunity to have a go and a little break to reflect on how it’s going. My physio has had me doing lots of shorter, harder runs. I wasn’t all that sure I’d like it but it’s been so good for me.

Thanks so much for the support ❤️

CBDB profile image
CBDBGraduate10

Hammer and Nail! Of course! You nailed this run! Fab post!

MissUnderstanding profile image
MissUnderstandingAdministratorGraduate10 in reply toCBDB

Thank you so much! Looking back, I think I was definitely both! A few intervals felt great-you know when everything feels like it’s flowing and you’re flying. Most I felt I was hammering myself to keep going! 😂

cheekychipmunks profile image
cheekychipmunksGraduate10

I’m still as impressed about you doing Pilates straight after as I am of the run itself MU! I can just about manage yoga. 😅

I remember that run too, and the hammer/mail comment! Well done on a tough run - you nailed it! 👏👏👏

MissUnderstanding profile image
MissUnderstandingAdministratorGraduate10 in reply tocheekychipmunks

Thank you! The Pilates instructor is brilliant. There’s usually a lot of core work which isn’t too bad post run. Some hideous single leg glute bridges with added arm waving. The stretches are absolutely lovely! Plus since I’ve now got a membership to the leisure centre, I can go and sit in a jacuzzi afterwards which is a super treat!

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate10

Ooh , another one for me to try. It sounds like you’ve found the perfect place to do intervals. Well done on your improvement MissUnderstanding

MissUnderstanding profile image
MissUnderstandingAdministratorGraduate10 in reply toDexy5

Thank you! I really enjoyed the run…especially when it was over!! It’s been a bit of a tricky week with one thing and another and with a tough run like that, it’s so good for just filling your head with running and having some fun. I’d love to hear what you think of it when you have a go! You’ll be watching out for the hammer/nail comment!

Gthants profile image
Gthants60minGraduate

Pilates after! Yikes! I can't do yoga now and the pilates "moves" I remember and can do are limited, but I do miss it. However, th idea of running and then doing pilates is way beyond my capabilities. Really well done for combining to two - and especially for sorting out your head to get your running in. 🙌

MissUnderstanding profile image
MissUnderstandingAdministratorGraduate10 in reply toGthants

I’m quite lucky in that I’ve done Pilates for a long while now. On top of that, my physio has had me doing all sorts of core and stability work since April so I’ve got quite a good base. The class is such a good one with adaptations so if I’m finding my legs are a bit tired, I’ll do a stretch or easier version instead. I feel I’ve doubly earned my coffee (and other Friday treat from the cafe!)!!

Thanks so much for the good wishes. There’s often nothing like a really challenging run for sorting your head out when it’s been a busy week!

Gthants profile image
Gthants60minGraduate in reply toMissUnderstanding

And this is a big deal, isn't it. Non runners (OMG - I said that in a runner's voice! 😲😲😲) think running is about fitness and energy and strength and the physical stuff. But getting out of your own mental way is a big part of it. Since Week (say) 7 there have been some good runs, but maybe two that have been as I want - controlled, meditative, emotionally balanced. It's the near-meditation that I'm seeking.

MissUnderstanding profile image
MissUnderstandingAdministratorGraduate10 in reply toGthants

You are so right! Apart from injury, pretty much everything I’ve found hard about running has been my own head!!! It’s been great to feel like I’m making a bit of progress in that, although I’m being realistic that it’s not going to go away altogether. Getting better at dealing with it is a big win though!

That meditative running feeling is an amazing one and one we’re all chasing after! It’s just the best. Like calm and excitement and flying all at once!

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate10

Late again... that is me! Phew... what a run! I am exhausted just reading it!

The Nike Apps are so useful and yes, you are right...challenges are there to show us just what we are made of... although sometimes, maybe we cannot be sure?

Huge well done you... maybe I will try to follow your example... and have a little challenge for myself on my runs at the coast next week...

Not this one though! 🤣🤣🤣

MissUnderstanding profile image
MissUnderstandingAdministratorGraduate10 in reply toOldfloss

I missed this! I think you’re right-sometimes we think we know what we’re made of but until we are put to the test, we never really know. I’m definitely going to be a bit braver in trying the things that are a bit scary. Nike Run Club is great for throwing a few curve balls!

Have a brilliant run, whichever you choose! I’ve seen a new playlist is out for July. There are a few tempting ones there! Just have a wonderful time and keep the joy! ❤️❤️🏃‍♀️

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