A disaster run doesn't have to be a disaster and that pigeon is almost as big as that cat.

[spoonierunning]

So I was meant to be doing a park run at clumber park today. Sadly Mr Mouse er Spoonie, oh why didn't I use my normal name of LittlemouseLilly it's all too confusing for my little brain... Anyway Mr Mouse had a rough night and there was no way we were going to make it in time so after munching on toast and a lovely earl grey tea I decided to just pootle off for a 5k and start my interval training (with zombies) along my normal route, leaving battle dog at home as we were heading to clumber park later to meet up with other sprockers and humans.

So off I went, I'm getting used to going out without Ferd on the odd occasion. Mr Mouse wasn't convinced it was safe me going out you know as thunder had been rumbling about and I have metal shoved in my face. I told him it was fine, the thunder had gone, it's not like a few facial piercings are going to act as a lightening conductor.... Husbands..... Honestly.

So walking down the road to exit Nottinghamshire and enter Derbyshire and I spot a little black cat streak across the road, up into a hedge, some moments later it jumped out with a pigeon that was almost as big as him in his mouth. It was impressive. I wonder if he managed to drag his prize all the why home and if his owners were impressed. It's amazing the things you see in the morning before everyone else has gotten up.

And so today was the start of my interval training using zombie 5k.

Now this is actually a couch to 5k plan that I am adapting to intervals to improve stamina and speed.

So the actual programme is

10 minute walk

15 second run, 1 minute walk x 10

10 minute free form run (run walk as you feel like it.

Because obviously I can already run 5k I am using it as interval training so my plan was

10 minute steady pace

15 second fast pace, 1 minute steady pace x 10

Followed by steady pace until I got to my stopping point

I started off really well and boy the intervals as they progressed were actually harder than they sound. I did 6 reps and had to stop, well not stop I dropped to a walk break. I tried to start again but I had pretty bad tummyache, I normally run on empty, the toast I'd consumed was under the assumption I wouldn't be running for another couple of hours, I hadn't eaten and run straight away, I thought I had left enough time between eaten and going out but alas no.

I was feeling pretty de motivated and blurgh and upset cause I had geared myself up for a park run. I tried to push on and finish the intervals which apart from missing two fast pace bits I did, but I kept dropping back to a walk and not being able to get the steady pace run mojo back and my tummy was cramping. I was not a happy little mouse.

I decided to not push it and call it quits for the day and just walk the rest of the way. A cyclist past me an I started to question why I was running and not out on my bike, I should get my bike out, I could cycle, cycling is way more fun than running (I haven't been on my bike for years because of my knees but it's something that's been on my mind a lot recently). But then I have myself a mental kick up the backside, without the running I wouldn't even be thinking I could actually maybe be able to get back on my bike (it's pink, a land rover, I miss cycling). I also like running. So some motivational bargains with myself, get through my interval training plan (and when I have a job - still waiting for conditional offer to turn into firm offer with a start date) I will treat myself to a garmin forerunner 10 or maybe a 15.

So on I walked feeling a little bit better about the general carrying on, but that today was still all a bit pants and I was wondering if I should give up the whole interval thing.

The app was still running, tracking my distance and time, I was just happy listening to Rammstein (incidentally German Industrial Metal apparently not the best music to run to).

I got to the road leading to home and decided to stop the app and listen to the birds and I got a shock. You see despite walking half of the route I had covered 5.7k in 49 minutes and something seconds, yeah so what you might think - last week my 5k time was just a smidge over 40 minutes. So something, somewhere during the initial running bit, with the intervals was working, it might actually be worth continuing after all.

So there you go what might seem like a pants run might actually surprise you.

[MarkyD Graduate]

Hi SR, so, after the long story, you were not so slow after all!!

I loved the "just poodle off for a 5k" what progress you've made.

Rammstein, eh? Gott weiss ich will kein Engel seine

[spoonierunning Graduate in reply to MarkyD]

Yeah I listen to an interesting mix of music

And it is mental that I can say I pootle off to run 5k such a phrase would not have been in my vocabulary at the beginning of the year

[Treemouse Graduate]

Haha, I keep thinking Mr. Treemouse is philandering when you mention Mr Mouse! Well running is a funny old thing, and it just shows you how our brains try to trick us into a) giving up and b) telling us that we're not doing well. You are doing brilliantly, and I have to say , that having run to a Sonisphere playlist, I share your dilemma. I love rock/metal, but it's not great for running! Keep up the good work, and I hope that the job offer is firmed up soon. x

[spoonierunning Graduate in reply to Treemouse]

Haha I get confused when I see comments where you are referred to as mousey as that's how I am mostly known. My little brain is easily confused.

I was thinking about trying 90s nu metal to run to or cradle of filth just for the fun of it. I was doing ok with my classic rock mixes, Meat Loaf is surprisingly good to set you up. That or I will try classical music I am sure I can find some suitable pieces.

[MarkyD Graduate in reply to spoonierunning]

I've run to Sisters of Mercy 'Lucretia My Reflection' in the past. It is not too fast and the bass guitar just goes on and on, unrelenting. And it's about 5 minutes long so that's a good part of the run.

[AncientMum Graduate]

Zombie 5k? Lol that would be me if I did a run at Miles_Yonder's normal time

What a great post! Who cares if the run wasn't exactly what you wanted? You got to run, your time gave you a pleasant surprise, you weren't struck by lightning AND you saw a cat catch a pigeon. It all sounds fab!

Good luck with your future zombie training.

[spoonierunning Graduate in reply to AncientMum]

zombiesrungame.com

No actual zombie encounters today, I was however rewarded with a hot shower

Didn't actually see any lighting but running with thunder rumbling was fun, I like storms. I'm mad.

The cat and the pigeon well it was interesting! I did debate if I should rescue the pigeon. Maybe I should give my cats a little more credit when they bring things home, but then again seeing mouse guts is not something easy to get excited about.

[aliboo70]

Well done on today Spoonie! send a pat to Ferd from me! Sounds like you've really made good progress! Poor pigeon though

[spoonierunning Graduate in reply to aliboo70]

Thank you

[Miles_Yonder Graduate]

Ah, my dearest Spoonie, that sounds like quite a run, despite your initial disheartenment, and quite the time. Incidentally, I'd never say "so what"! A person's time is personal to them and I'd only ever applaud. *nods*

Also:

"It's amazing the things you see in the morning before everyone else has gotten up"

Yes. Yes it is. One of the reasons I love it. I'm yet to see anything exceptional though. Your huge pigeon/cat combo is interesting.

Are you going to continue with the intervals?

Well done on today; not the run you were expecting but it sounded good.

[spoonierunning Graduate in reply to Miles_Yonder]

Thank you. Yes I am going to continue with the intervals, I am sure all the early runs of the zombie plan will work nicely then I will have to see if I will need to adapt it. The zombie training plan actually has you doing some stretches during runs later on in the programme so I will see what is and what isn't suitable.

I am still hoping to see a fox though. I have obviously seen foxes before just I haven't seen one while running.

[Beads Graduate]

Well done on the run, you know if you get the bike out again you can do both, either a duathlon or triathlon, best of both worlds.....

[spoonierunning Graduate in reply to Beads]

I don't know if my knees would cope with two different demands one straight after the other. I need to get a new cycling helmet first. I was thinking a 3 mile route to start and then I could build up, I used to cycle around 10 miles a day and was able to happily do 20+miles. I don't even know if my bike doohickey that tells me how fast I'm going and how far I've gone is still working, or actually where it is.

[Beads Graduate in reply to spoonierunning]

Don't think hours and hours of running and cycling, There's a sprint distance triathlon, which is 750m swim (if open water, less if pool based) 10 to 15 mile cycle (15 to 25k ish) followed by 3 mile (5k) run. They're 'fun' and do-able. (Or the 'super' sprint (one of which I did last weekend), 400m swim (open water), 15.5k cycle and 2.5k run (not enough time to get into the run, by the time my legs anoutsided breathing had settled and I was 'in the zone' I was almost heading up the finishing straight), I preferred the 'proper' sprint distance.)

[MrsMozzer Graduate]

Nice to see some fellow Rammstein fans on here

By the way, I do some good runs to Rammstein/Nine Inch Nails and the like...and part of my half marathon last weekend was fuelled by punk! Whatever floats your boat