series of tough runs ☹️

[ReyC]

A few weeks ago I was on a high, managed some long runs and a 10k quite happily and did some fast (for me!) recovery runs..

I confidently signed up for hu10 again and then of course, hit a wall.

My past few runs have been really hard.. I’ve had to walk a bunch (no judgement, just not something I do as I find it impossible to re-start!) and I’ve had stitches and been pretty slow.

Today I ran through 2 stitches, managed 6k and tried to make up for it with a good stretching session.

No running for me this weekend as my other half is away and I’m solo parenting so hoping the rest puts me in some sort of shape to manage the hu10 next weekend 🤞🏽

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10]

Sometimes it goes like that-the weather is tough at the moment. One run, it’ll just all come together again, probably when you least expect it. You’ve shown you’re tough enough to keep going through those tough runs and that’s massive.

Good luck for the HU10! Remember walking any/all of it is totally fine. See how it goes and don’t put yourself under any pressure. Hope you have a fun run! Pom poms waving here. 🎉

[linda9389 Graduate10]

Bad patches have a habit of coming along when least expected. Best thing is to take the pressure off and just enjoy the running again. Run/walk or run slow or run shorter, but enjoy the running you do. Of course that's not so easy when you have a fixed date goal like HU10 or another event. Then adaptability is key. I can't run 10 miles, so I've decided to start with a longer warm up walk, run the 9k I believe I can, and walk the rest. Another approach would have been an interval run - a few years ago I ran a marathon with fixed run/walk intervals: run 1.2k, walk 0.4km (it's much easier to restart if the intervals are fixed and the ratio can be whatever you want it to be). The HU10 may be just the push you need to run 10k again, but there are always other options - making changes can make it more fun.

Good luck, and above all else, be kind to yourself.

[nowster Graduate10]

The recent sunny humid weather has meant that I've been having to do run/walk intervals to stop myself overheating.

I've also not been able to sustain a good steady plod -- I keep finding myself pushing too hard then running out of steam.