Fast Finish run ☀️

[Jools2020]

Now don’t get excited! This run was part of the training plan I’m following. It should be called ‘Faster finish than usual run’!

I love this training plan, although I’ve stopped posting after every run as it was getting boring. It’s not boring for me, though - doing them is fun! I’m good at following instructions and I’ve continued to do 3 runs a week.. I also have to do a strength workout after each run. Last week, I did a speed intervals run which practically broke me 🤣. And there is more of the same coming up! Hill repeats on Thursday - HELP 🤣

I was looking forward to the run this morning. Back home after a week away I decided on my usual route up to the pond, the back way through the trees. It’s a warm day here and the humidity was high, but with a slow run like this, the humidity tends to affect me afterwards rather than during the run.

I wore a long sleeved top and running tights. Probably a mistake with the tights as my legs were a bit warm towards the end!

The run that I did this morning was an easy one. 5 minutes in effort zone 1. 20 minutes in zone 2, with a faster finish in Zone 3 for 10 minutes. Zone 3 is described as ‘neither pushing nor holding back’. So at the end I could have carried on and was not out of breath.

I really enjoyed it, looking at the changing colours. People watching! Plenty of dog walkers about and other runners. All running faster than me 😊. Listening to my music and not pushing myself on the run, just concentrating on my effort now and then. I’m getting used to the zones so I don’t have to focus on them all the time now - just the occasional correction, usually because I’ve realised I’m putting too much effort in. My stats on Strava showed me I’d got it right, with a clear division between the zones.

At the end of my 10 minutes in Zone 3, the workout was done, but I jogged slowly for a few minutes and walked a bit. What a great run, it worked on so many levels.

Pic is from a long walk in the Churnet Valley in Staffs where I was last week! 😊

[Sandraj39 Graduate10]

Glad things are going well for you Jools and great that you are enjoying your plan! It certainly sounds as though it includes quite a variety of runs! 🏃‍♀️🙂

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Sandraj39]

Thanks! I think the turning point that got me back on track was joining the running club - then I joined this plan. I’d reached a kind of plateau. I now know that I was simply trying too hard. Some of what I was doing was right, but I wasn’t giving it enough time to make a difference. The slow running, for example. My coach says I’m about to see noticeable improvements! I’ve been following the plan for coming up to a month now. I’ll see what happens. I’ll probably leave it now for a few weeks and post again when I’ve got something interesting to report 😊

[Annieapple Administrator]

🍏Must have been a beautiful walk in the Churnet Valley judging by that photo!

Wow 🤩 fab run too! Gaining strength and stamina from those fartleks at your own pace! Well done for pacing it so right. … you make it sound easy, but it takes a bit of work to get that zoning correct for you! You are acing it! 🥳

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Annieapple]

Thanks! It was a fab 8K walk, by the canal, stopping at a pub halfway for beer and chips!

I’ve found it tricky to get used to the effort zones. Usually I’d be looking at my pace - but this plan has nothing to do with pace or heart rate, not yet, anyway. Just time spent running in the zones, giving the right amount of effort as described. Intervals and hill repeats are all in the plan. Each run is sent to my watch, and I can look in advance to see what I’m doing. Time will tell!

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Sounds like you've perfected that run, glad you enjoyed it

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thanks, Sue - yes I think I have 😊, maybe the last of the warm runs? Think we’ll be in single figures by the weekend.

I’m volunteering at parkrun on Saturday - Tailwalker! 😊

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Jools2020]

That's a coveted role 😀 apparently at my local one you have to book it weeks in advance, enjoy your experience.From what I've read I might not be up to walking 5k by Saturday so I'm having a lay in 😂 but will be back soon.

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

Yes, I noticed on the volunteer roster that there was a space so bagsied it quickly!