Silent running

[Gthants]

I managed to leave my headphones at home, well, on the post by the back door this morning, and almost used that as an excuse not to run. Instead I just sighed and got on with it and am so pleased I did!

Gremlins are an issue at the moment in the first ten minutes (on Sunday's run, I was pretty fed up after 15 minutes, checked by watch, and saw that it had only been 7!). Today I focused on nature to get me through - a kite, a pair of thrushes, the first jay I have seen in years, and a rabbit; this almost matches the deer, woodpeckers, and waterfowl from Tuesday's run! I found it quite meditative, just thinking of one step at a time, keeping a steady rhythm and not constantly checking my watch or phone to see how far I had come or how fast I was going.

I am trying to build time and distance and really consciously focused on a steady pace for the first period. Around 4k ish I put in a fast few hundred metres at probably 3/4 of what I am capable of.

I had more in the tank when I finished - 5.5k, 38 minutes.

I did tai-chi and warm up exercises before and the usual post-run exercises afterwards.

(How can I post more than one picture? Any suggestions?)

[PeggySusi]

That sounds like a perfect run, quick, and interesting - especially if you had more in the tank.. glad to hear that your energy levels are buoyant! No help on the photos, sorry. I’ve often wondered how people post collages, so I hope someone will explain.

[Jools2020 Graduate10]

Great running! And it’s good to run without headphones. As you’ve found, you notice so much more. I do that sometimes, too - but usually when I’m running somewhere more scenic.

Following this training programme that I’m on, I tend to stick to a route near my house that’s fairly flat. An hour or more running here gets a little boring so I find that an interesting podcast helps distract me. I’m still running slowly (to heart rate) on my longer runs and that’s when I need the distraction. For my speed interval runs I’m too busy concentrating to need distraction!

You can make a collage to show more than one picture. 😊

[Tasha99 Graduate10]

I’m still working on being able to run without music. I’m approaching my 6 year runniversary! No distractions fills me with dread🤣

Make a picollage

piccollage.com/

[Gthants 60minGraduate in reply to Tasha99]

This was probably my third or fourth run (in 10 months of running) without any music/podcast/talking book. It's certainly different. In general I will stick to some form of noise, but today was actually really refreshing and it certainly helps with meditative running!

Six years! 🙌

[Gthants 60minGraduate in reply to Tasha99]

(Oh, and thanks for the link!)

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Those runs where there is no music or spoken word can be wonderful, and remind us of a simpler time, having said that, I like music as a background most the time.Fabulous wildlife to see.

If you have an android phone click library, click utilities, scroll down to collage 😁choose up to 6 photos

[Gthants 60minGraduate in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thanks!

[Sax64 Graduate10]

This is a great post. It's good to see you running so well. Well done you. To keep me going at an easy pace I like to choose the Headspace runs on the NRC app. Not only can I successfully peg the speed, but it keeps the the mind focused too. Today's run was a 40 minute one 'running towards your goal', worth a try. Re collage, on my Samsung I go to Google photos, library, utilities and scroll down to find collage.

[Gthants 60minGraduate in reply to Sax64]

I have done some of the NRC runs before - I like the Headspace runs, plus the fact I can tie-in with Apple Music and have the music fade up and down when there's chat. Am getting close to being able to run for 40 mins! 💪🏻

[Sax64 Graduate10]

That's brilliant, you'll soon be there, only 2 extra minutes. Actually I don't like the music with Headspace runs because there's usually something to focus on in the silences: either your body or your surroundings for instance. My mind usually churns rubbish constantly and this is a way to ignore that, if only for the duration of the run.

[Gthants 60minGraduate in reply to Sax64]

If I didn't have the rubbish, my mind would be entirely empty ...

[Sax64 Graduate10]

Ha ha 🤣

[GTFC Graduate10]

This is sounding like really good progress 👏👏👏 Well done. Here's to more 'steady away runs 😊

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10]

Great photo! Since the site will only let you post one (without making your own collage first), you picked a lovely one! Nature is so good at gremlin busting. Sounds like a super run. It’s really nice to hear your back out there after the injury. Some massive progress there to celebrate 🙌

[Leotigris Graduate10]

how lovely to see so much wildlife on your runs.