NRC 10k Plan: 555 second run

[MissUnderstanding]

Yesterday was a frustrating day for all sorts of reasons. You know those where everything is just more difficult than is should be? Where it’s sunny when you’re indoors and immediately rains when you leave the house? Those are the days when you need a really good run!

Next on the plan was the 555 second run. I have to admit, I wasn’t excited about this one. Don’t get me wrong, I love a short run but this one wouldn’t usually have me outside the toxic ten! I decided to use it as the beginning of my run and keep going if I wanted to.

It didn’t start all that well. I’d found a dry spell and finally had a pair of dry trainers. Massive puddles again without a sensible diversion. Nothing for it but to paddle through 15 cm deep water. Even trying the basilisk lizard technique didn’t work. So much for dry trainers! At least Coach B was with me!

I’m not sure if the run malfunctioned or Coach B was just on one and talked constantly! I liked the commentary a lot. He was talking about how we measure a run. It was a novelty to think about it in terms of seconds. This second year of running, I’ve really embraced running for time rather than distance and it was nice to have the validity of that reinforced by the run. If I’d stopped when the run ended, I’d have felt short changed because I was just coming to the end of warning up and hitting my stride! It was a good decision to keep going today.

It was a bit of an epic run. Wind, torrential rain at times, more epic puddles, shoelaces that wouldn’t stay done up and alternating between too hot and too cold! 6.5 km altogether which was the longest run I’ve done in a while and nice to end it feeling good, if totally soaked to the skin!

I currently have three pairs of trainers stuffed with newspaper so it’s a rest day today. I’ll do some strength work and try and fit in a swim later. I might end my swim dryer than my last run!!

Happy run or rest days to you all!

[dijep Graduate10]

I had to think seriously hard to work out how long a 555 second run was ... then gave up and switch to a calculator 😂I can definitely see why you decided to carry on after the 555 seconds and it sounds like it was a great run despite it perhaps because the condition were so awful. Well done 👍

Great photo x

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to dijep]

Thank you! I like a fifteen minute run but under ten, especially in the rain, is just too short. Maybe as part of a longer walk but on its own, I’m only just starting to enjoy it! It’s got to be worth the effort of getting into a sports bra!! I liked that I couldn’t really picture how long I was running for. That was a nice distraction.

I think you’re right-the crazy weather really did make the run. It was bonkers to be out but it really did make me feel alive. The best was a flat section (of which there are very few around here!) with a high wind pushing me along. That felt amazing! Once you’re totally soaked, you can’t really get any wetter and it doesn’t seem so bad! I’m always surprised by how quickly trainers drain out, even when they’re full of water!

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Oh this flipping rain.....surely it'll end soon and there'll be talk of hosepipe bans before we know it 😂😂😂.

Enjoy your rest day

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

It’s crazy isn’t it! I’ve just driven over to Bath and I would have been better in a boat for most of the journey! Hope it’s a lovely day for you too ❤️

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to MissUnderstanding]

Thanks, yes it's crazy weather, there's a lot of trees down in the south and the ground is waterlogged, ah well it can't last.A trip to Bath sounds lovely, I'd go in the spa 😄

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

I love the spa! The pool on the roof is my favourite part. It’s a lunch and shopping trip with a friend today which is going to be lovely.

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to MissUnderstanding]

Lunch and shopping is great. That roof pool is blissful

[Annieapple]

🍏Visualising 3 pairs of trainers drying out!! That represents an awesome amount of hard work!! Well done and enjoy some rest now! Must admit that’s one Coach B run I have ignored but silly me I could always run further 🤣 Well done MissU your posts are always appreciated!!

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Annieapple]

Thank you! You’re far too kind ❤️

I quite like starting off a longer run with a bit of a guided one. I like listening to talk based podcasts and they just don’t work with coach b chatting at the same time. I often start with the guided run and music then switch to the talk one afterwards to finish off. That way I get to listen to coach b and don’t end up with a big backlog of podcasts!

The trainer situation had got a bit out of hand. MrU ran after school yesterday and had to paddle to his car in his run kit. That meant four wet pairs of trainers. I think that’s a record! Luckily pair 1 are finally dry and didn’t get too wet on today’s run. Pair 2 are nearly there! I’m glad I didn’t bin my mostly-dead GT 2000s got just walking around the place in!!

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10]

When I did the 555 Second Run today your words regarding barely getting through the Toxic 10 really resonated. I stopped as soon as the 555 seconds were up but unintentionally cut Coach B off in mid flow as he rounded up the run. Hope he forgives me

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Yesletsgo]

I’m sure he will! He stopped talking to me mid run today, then did a couple of bits together and then seemed to sort himself out! If he can be a bit unpredictable with us, I think we’re justified in cutting him off!!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10]

HUGE well done to you... an epic run indeed... and under those circumstances too !

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

Thank you! It was certainly memorable!! Today’s run was fine but won’t stick in my head the way that one did!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

I bet!!! A real smasher !

[Beachcomber66 Graduate10]

Excellent run MissU. Those conditions were challenging, to put it mildly! I too had a wet muddy timed run this morning. Mine was with CB and Andy Puddicombe. I found it surprisingly relaxing; I nearly always run to distance rather than time, but I enjoyed the change; 40 minutes Monday and 45 minutes today. I will revert to 5k on Saturday, but the jury is out on Monday’s long run (assuming we are not awash by then!). 5 minute increments seems to feel a lot easier than adding on an extra 1k.

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Beachcomber66]

I missed this! Apologies…notifications have been a bit hit and miss!

I really like those headspace runs. I wasn’t expecting to but the NRC HM plan had them and they were great. “Running towards your goals” is my favourite. Is it that plan you’re doing? I remember there were a few jumps took more slowly. It’s nice that it’s so flexible and Coach B will forgive you for stopping him early!!

Since having IT band problems, I’ve almost always run for time rather than distance (apart from now I’m back on a plan!). Love the simplicity of it!

[Beachcomber66 Graduate10]

I have taken a few weeks out from the Nike HM Plan. I zipped through from 10k to 15k a bit too quickly for my liking, and I wasn’t happy with my pace or leg strength. My physio found a lot of tightness in my calves and quads too.

So I have been throwing in some shorter quicker runs and lots of exercises and stretches. I will probably run 8k or so on Monday and gradually build back into the plan from 10k. I have been through the HM plan before and I really like it. 🙂

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Beachcomber66]

That sounds very similar to what happened to me when I had IT band issues! My physio sent me to the gym and kept beating me up, sorry, giving me sports massages which helped a lot. Good luck with the build back. I did 8k before Christmas but have had flu and all sorts so my longest recent run is 6.5km. It’s so nice to be feeling like I’m on the way back up again now…I hope your build up goes well too! Have you got an event or is it just for fun?

[Beachcomber66 Graduate10]

I intend to run another HM this year, but it is likely to be on the trails around here. Keeping fit enough long enough to do a HM race on a specific day is asking a lot from my ageing frame 🙂. I usually do a number of 10 mile runs each year. I have booked for the GSR again, so hoping to get another medal from that.