And it was going so well

[SueAppleRun]

Following Parkrun on Saturday I made a plan for this week. 5k used to be my happy distance, about 3 years ago, but I haven't run many actual 5k's in the last year. I wanted to see how long it would take if I started slow and didn't take walk breaks.

It's still windy out there but only 17 miles per hour, west South west, less than half the speed of Saturday's wind.

The man was right, I can hear him say, "if you hang your keys up when you come in you can always find them when you want to go out" trouble is I took the hook down weeks ago when I started painting the kitchen, so I spent a good 5 minutes looking for them and then forgot my tissue.

Off I go! Paul Simon singing in my ears, coach B chatting to me. A grateful 5k.

I intended to keep my pace around 9:30mpk and see how far I could run without walking.

1st k 9:59 not bad considering it included a bit of warm up walk and quite a few roads to cross. Heading for the seafront, this wind doesn't seem to know what it's doing, gusts on all sides but not too bad.

2k 9:42 I'm settling in nicely and running along the seafront heading east.

Turn inland, breezy but fine, the sun is shining and now I'm running past bungalows with pretty front gardens.

3rd k 9:37 running past shops, heading north, the sky in front black clouds, to the left and right a few fluffy white clouds and behind clear blue. I'm enjoying myself, still running, towards the railway line and the gates are up. I realise I'm in with a chance of negative splits and feeling great.

Across the railway line and turn left.....slap into the wind, bang go my negative splits, now this is hard and about three and a half k into my run I take a walk break, then run then another walk and that's how it goes for the rest of the run .

I realise it's not quite 5k so round the block and back through the park where I met a lady with a small white dog and a walking stick. She called out how far had I run and I stopped to chat for a few minutes. At this point I wasn't bothered about time. Ran home, stopped the watch the NRC and indoors.

Glass of water, 2 satsumas a handful of nuts a splash of water in the nutribullet, I've got to get through the satsumas somehow. Kettle on, stretch.

50 minutes but a really lovely run. 4th k was 10::02 and the 5th was 10:46 but I'm happy.

Am I grateful? Oh yes, for so many things. That I can run, that I worked hard all my life so I can enjoy my retirement and that I had 10 really wonderful years with Willow. I'm grateful that I have amazing children and grandchildren, and I'm grateful I found this forum full of brilliant VRB's who've encouraged and inspired me to keep going.

Enjoy your day whatever you are doing.

[Beatlesforever Graduate10]

That is brilliant, very well done on that grateful 5k. I know it's a bit of a cliché but it's so important to really stop and appreciate what we have ☺️ we're also grateful for all your wonderful posts and all your support 🤗

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Beatlesforever]

Aww thank you. Yes, it's easy to think about what we haven't got rather than appreciate what we have. 😁

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

That was a good run for you today Sue, I am sure with a little more training you will be able to run your goal of 5K soon non stop without any walking breaks, I agree with you that you are very grateful that you can run and enjoy it too.

This morning I went a walk at the very same place 5 years ago that I "officially became a runner" which is run 3 of week 6, when I got home I cut the grass in my garden, just in time, about 10 minutes after I finished cutting the grass there was a shower which made the grass very wet to cut, so that was a bit of luck that I completed it before the rain, have a great day 👍

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to AlMorr]

You too Al and thanks, I'd have done it without that wind straight in my face, I didn't expect that

[Jools2020 Graduate10]

Well done, Sue! Another 5K notched up for you. Shame about the wind, but the most important thing is you enjoyed the run. The wind was part of your training to make you stronger!

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Jools2020]

I never thought of it like that! Thanks Jools 😃

[BGood]

Well done Sue

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to BGood]

Thanks BGood

[Folkylass Graduate10]

Well done Sue on another 5k! I’m so pleased that you are gradually getting stronger each day. You are so inspiring. 👍😄😄x

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Folkylass]

Garmin tells me my V02MAX is going down week by week but I'm sure it'll go back up again one day

[Folkylass Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

👍🥰🥰

[Killerblue Graduate10]

That sounds like a lovely morning run and well done on your 5k no matter the pace or speed or time, you did it and enjoyed it and it made you feel good 👍 surely that’s the point isn’t it - that you feel good 👍 and what a lot of things you have to be grateful for 🌻

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Killerblue]

Thanks 😃 I didn't mention how ticked off I get because I can't run faster did I 😉 I'm am grateful that I can run though

[Gthants 60minGraduate]

I love your posts! I'm incredibly soppy and I'm always either near tears or actually in tears when I read, so this was a cracker! You managed to fit about a year of running experience into one run - fun/memories/chat/weather/scenery/sadness/joy/dogs/post-run recharge.

Lovely - thank you & happy running.

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Gthants]

Oh no please don't cry! They are supposed to be light hearted, there are days when I cry a lot, but today I have put mascara on and hoping it stays put til bedtime. Do you think I over do it? I'm not after sympathy, I just waffle on

[Gthants 60minGraduate in reply to SueAppleRun]

It's not sympathy; it's (maybe an exaggerated) sense of empathy. I'm not quite like my lady who can cry over a TV commercial or the trailer for a film, but I do tend to get emotionally involved in stuff. I've also lost a LOT of people in my life and so I feel it.

I like your honesty. I really like how you don't go on about it, but that you do NOT write him out of the picture.

You absolutely don't overdo it. My kids are close to 18 and close to 16 and when we lost someone very close to us about 5 years back, I hid nothing at all about the way I was feeling and how it was affecting me. I believe absolutely in emotional honesty.

We're talking about running, but we're also talking about life. Sometimes those two things are intertwined. Stay true to you and keep on doing exactly what you are doing.

I sincerely hope I didn't offend you; I was just being honest - and I DO like what you write!

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Gthants]

Thank you and of course you didn't offend me, Willow and I started C25K together and so was part of my journey, then he wasn't and I was facing retirement, the plan was always to run more and head into old age the best I can be.

[Killerblue Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

I also get emotional reading your posts but it’s not because you overdo anything at all. I hate mush and sentimentality but you don’t do that. You have a really interesting way of writing that draws me in and makes me want to continue reading. It is the way you write and the honesty but practicality if it that’s makes me empathise so much. Please keep writing 👍

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Killerblue]

Goodness, thank you very much 😊

[Sulley101 Graduate10]

The “Grateful” run is one of my favourites and I repeat it now and again to bring back lots of happy, positive thoughts 😊. Glad you had a good, enjoyable run 😁

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Sulley101]

Yes Avery happy positive run

[Runninggirl59 60minGraduate]

Well done Sue, 5k is 5k whichever way you look at it! Look at the wind as your raining buddy, I think it was just toying with you today!

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Runninggirl59]

It won today but then it's blown dry all my tee shirts and running shorts so I've won too 😃

[Doris8 Graduate10]

Well done Sue .You’re doing really well considering you weren’t very well for a long time when you were working, and with all that what’s happened lately I take my hat off to you. A very determined lady. Retirement does help especially with the job you had you didn’t have a lot of time to yourself . Make the most of it. Enjoy your 5 km or half marathons you’re building up to. 👏👏😊

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Doris8]

Thanks Doris, I am, I'm actually learning a lot about who I am and what I want out of life, it's an interesting experience 😃

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

Welll done for getting out on another windy day . It may not be as windy as Saturday, but it’s still blowy out there on the coast. I try and arrange my route so that I run into the wind first, but I don’t know if that’s possible from your home. There’s no shame in walking when the wind is against you, and I’m sure on another day you’d have been fine. Keep on keeping on 🏃‍♀️💨

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Dexy5]

I can't really go east without going south or north or west first from home and whenever possible I'm running from home,, it was ok apart from getting excited because I was in with a chance of negative splits, I'd always expect to be slower round the roads because of crossing roads and hopping up and down curbs.

[Oldlady64 Graduate10]

Absolutely brilliant, keep going!

I did my first park run in a while on Saturday and had to do a far bit of walking. I’m working hard to run the whole 5k again soon 😆.

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Oldlady64]

We can encourage each other then 😃

[Mudita11 Graduate10]

Great report as always Sue. Glad the wind was a bit kinder than on Saturday - that was near hurricane force I reckon 😉😆. I haven’t run since then but hoping I’ll get out tomorrow morning before I start work at 8am xx

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Mudita11]

Once it was straight in my face it felt stronger than Saturday but it was about 45moh when we ran Saturday, it's due to drop tomorrow.

[Mudita11 Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thank goodness xx

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Mudita11]

Yes itllbe nice not to be blown around, but two lots of washing blew dry today so I'm happy.My bone conduction headphones arrived today so I've been listening to podcasts,

[Annthepan]

That was so inspirational, it made me cry. We so often dwell on the bad things it was lovely to see the good things written down and inspired me to write my own list. We are lucky to just be alive in such a beautiful world. Thank you so much. xx

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Annthepan]

Please don't cry, and yes, we are lucky

[Scruff55 60minGraduate]

That’s a lovely run and a great post. Thankyou. It’s my type of run at the moment too. Great that you found your keys and got out there. Relax now and enjoy your day too.

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Scruff55]

It was thanks

[grumpyoldgirl]

Lovely run report Sue. And some lovely comments from the community too, what a special place this is 🥰

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to grumpyoldgirl]

It certainly is isn't it?

[59er Graduate10]

Sounds like it was a glorious day even with the wind which seems to have blown the cobwebs away. Your runs seem to energise you as opposed to wear you out - you must be getting fitter!

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to 59er]

Thanks, I think I am getting fitter and over three and a half years my resting heartrate is getting lower, but that wind really made the last couple of kilometres hard going.