10K Today? Yeah baby....

Morning all,

Aussie here basking in the glory of post-10K goodness... the powers that be were against me this morning as my alarm failed to go off so I was 30 minutes late out then the Garmin thought it was still in Finland so took about 12 minutes to lock on to a satellite. The positive there was a decent warm up walk and now I'd also decided to mess with my pre-planned route again and do it backwards and start wherever Garmin decided to "lock on"... so - 45 minutes later than planned and fuelled with a banana, a coffee and some water, we're off! The weather is AWESOME for running... still, cool and grey skies... thank youI

The first 2K are the usual stuff with the gremlins but I'm soon over them and trying to keep a nice steady 5K pace (but remembering I have another 5K after that)... By the 3KM mark I have the gates of Richmond Park in my sights and I'm about to turn left onto trails that I haven't seen before - into the great unknown... hmmm... those look like hills! Not big hills, not even little hills really, but it is an incline that does go for a while (TT will be laughing now - "those" aren't hills!)... oh well, power down, slow down and off we go.. just remember that it's downhill on the way back... I should have also remembered that as I was loving the downhill sections that these would be uphill on my return... oh well - onwards we go.. I find myself pacing okay up the hills and then dropping my heart rate on the downhills and flat... I have no idea of timing as I hit 5K (and I don't care - this is about distance today)... and it's another 3K through Richmond Park (and some more gentle inclines) before I see my exit gate and the downhill I've been waiting for.... off we go! Legs were feeling fine and I was feeling great... It "felt" like I was doing okay.... I scared some rabbits and squirrels out of my way so I must be flying through the park... not many people out this morning but a few doing walk/run and some on "flying 5Ks" I suspect...

9K comes up on the Garmin and I managed a smile - longest I've ever gone and I'm still going... bring it on... thank you C25K and all you lovely folks... I think I can actually do this... less than 1000m to go now! A quick glance at 9.8K and I think "why the devil not - let's see what we've got left" and push hard... the legs respond and speed up, the stride gets longer and we're over the 10000m mark before I know it!

I'm exhausted, I'm excited, I'm elated and I'm down right chuffed to bits... On the 8th March 2014 I started my C25K journey and I could barely make the 60 second runs... in just 18 short weeks I've now just run non-stop for 1 hour, 6 minutes and 23 seconds and covered 10000 metres (6.2 miles)....

Thank you C25K and thank you to all of you here for your support... Whenever I felt like stopping I remembered all you folks on here wouldn't let me stop - you'd want me to keep going, you'd want me to succeed and you'd be waiting to hear all about out...

I am ever so slightly proud of myself today and there may have been some raising fists in the air on Richmond Road this morning... all of you runners will understand it...

Happy running folks... now to devour some protein filled breakfast!!!

[catchmeifucan]

Wahay, absolutely brilliant, you must be soooo pleased!

[Hidden in reply to catchmeifucan]

Thanks - I'm a rather happy Aussie today...

[MrsSparkle Graduate]

Well done Aussie! Your report of your run really does express your excitement at your achievement, and what a great achievement it is! You have come a long way in a fairly short time. Well done again, you'll be smiling all day.

[Hidden in reply to MrsSparkle]

Thanks - I certainly have been smiling today! It's been great!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

That first 10k run is special!! Well done Aussie, isn't this running thing great. As you say, four months ago you could barely run at all.......now look at you. As for being "ever so slightly proud", that must be the understated Aussie way........ over here we say YABBADABBADOOOOOO!!!!!

Keep running, keep smiling.

[Hidden in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thanks Iannoda... it's been a great journey to get here and long may it continue... I walked about 20km today too so I think the legs will say thank you for a rest later this evening over a pint...

[GettingFitter Graduate]

Fantastic Aussie sounds like a superb run and a great achievement. Which garmin do you have? Been thinking about getting one but just using my smartphone at the moment and a polar HRM.

[paul2014 Graduate in reply to GettingFitter]

Aussie has the Garmin Forerunner 620

[GettingFitter Graduate in reply to paul2014]

thanks Paul will take a look

[paul2014 Graduate in reply to GettingFitter]

You're welcome. I have the same one with the newer HR chest strap. If you love stats this is the one to have

[Hidden in reply to GettingFitter]

Thanks GF! It was a great run... still can't believe it! As Paul says, it's the 620 with the HRM...

[paul2014 Graduate]

Congrats, Aussie and you should be more than 'slightly proud' of yourself. It's a massive achievement and one you should rightly celebrate. Impressive time and steady split times. Well done

[Hidden in reply to paul2014]

Thanks mate - I am well chuffed.. and the speed left in the tank was a bonus!

[paul2014 Graduate]

Quick question, Aussie. Did you follow a self-made 10k plan and did it involve interval training or just increasing your distance each week?

[Hidden in reply to paul2014]

I started with B210K but it knocked me about as it was a LOT of running (and I had the wrong shoes it turns out) so I pared it back to 2 x 5K a week and then a longer run (6, 7, 8 and then 10)... that seemed to work for me okay... putting in the 5K twice a week got me "fitter", the long run increased my stamina...

Intervals and speed work next (after my race) to improve pace... but I'm happy enough where I am now for a while... one long run of 8-10 a week would be fantastic for me (and 2 x 5K during the week)...

[paul2014 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for the info, Aussie. I'll probes ly do something similar. I'm probably going to do a few more 5k's but then I may start looking at increasing my distance on one of the runs per week (probably 10% increase) to get me upto being able to attempt a 10k.

[Hidden in reply to paul2014]

Sensible plan - I think a lot of it is mental after 5K towards 10K but you need to take it nice and easy as us old folks need our bodies to SLOWLY get used to the additional beatings we hand out to them...

[paul2014 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Haha. Very true

[no-excuse Graduate]

Way to Go Aussie! Well done, knew you would do it and enjoy it! I am so pleased for you, isn't this running amazing! You will be all ready for your race now! That's a great time too. x

[Hidden in reply to no-excuse]

Thanks - I am as ready as I can be for the race... 2 weeks time... Time to rest now!

[AmberC Graduate]

Congratulations Aussie, fantastic achievement. I can certainly identify with the fist pumping......I was like that the first time I hit 5k.....we share all share your joy....I'm sure you are still wearing a huge grin, bask in the glory & happiness of your journey. Well done.

[Hidden in reply to AmberC]

There's even some sunshine to bask in today! Thanks!

[emkeenan Graduate]

Yeeesss Aussie!!

This is fantastic! I was sure you could do it- and I'm absolutely delighted for you

This looks like a fantastic run, really picking up speed at the end as well showing what a competent runner you are to have that in the tank after 8K. 10K is such milestone, as you say, I found it unimaginable that I'd ever run for half an hour, let alone an hour at the beginning of this programme, some mornings I still wake up and surprise myself.

Funny how our technology always plays us up for the important ones too, between your alarm and Garmin and my ancient iPod I'm starting to think they're in cahoots

Also, this run is further proof what excellent running partners we'd be, within 1 minute over 10 K is some coordination- we should start a synchronized running team

Enjoy your weekend, be proud, savour the buzz,

Emily

[Hidden in reply to emkeenan]

And to top it off, I walked about 20km today and my FitBit reset itself as I synched it so according to my stats I ran 10K and walked 10m... Bloody technology!

Still can't believe I did it - but I did... and you'd make a great pacer...

[danzargo Graduate]

Well done aussigtc that is BRILLIANT. You've made amazing progress in just 18 weeks. It took me waaaaaaay longer to achieve 10K, so bloody hats off to you.

I too was in Richmond Park this morning doing the parkrun. Gorgeous conditions and lots of runners but I still found it incredibly hard! Waiting for my time from them, but my watch said 26'27 so we'll see what the officials say.

Good luck with your running. Superb achievement.

[Hidden in reply to danzargo]

Thanks Dan! Another PB for you in the park today?

You're a bit of an inspiration so I followed your 10K story quite closely... Thanks for your support and I might see you out on a Parkrun next Saturday...

[danzargo Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Alas, todays parkrun time WASN'T a PB. I have clocked 26'27 prior to today. That's when TurboTortoise was there as my lucky charm......

[Hidden in reply to danzargo]

9 seconds off...! You'll get em next time mate!

[rr76 Graduate]

Thats an awesome run Aussie - you should be very proud of what you've achieved in such a short time. I always like reading about your progress- your love of running really comes through. Hope you had a great protein filled breakfast to celebrate!

[Hidden in reply to rr76]

Thanks! Had a great day post-run...

[lizziebeth57 Graduate]

Slightly proud???? You should be bloomin' chuffed

Well done!

[Hidden in reply to lizziebeth57]

Thanks! I am...

[Ray801 Graduate]

I seem to remember being 'slightly proud' when I completed my first 10k a couple of weeks back. Well done Aussie.

[Hidden in reply to Ray801]

Well done on your 10K... after the elation of 30 minutes running, then the elusive 5K I thought that was about as good as it got and I "got" this running thing... Hitting double that distance is just incredible... felt great! Thanks!

[poppypug Graduate]

Well done Aussie ! Brilliant write up, you smashed it !!! Congratulations xxx

[Hidden in reply to poppypug]

Thanks - and been walking all day to keep the muscles moving....

It was one of those runs where (apart from the tech) it all just came together... Mo Farrah is safe but I certainly won the race against the demons... I never thought I could do 5K let alone double that... Just goes to show you the solid foundation C25K gives us is the right foundation for any distance beyond that...

[Hidden]

G'day KK! It certainly is a LONG WAY to 10K... very pleased I am! Thanks!

[Ullyrunner Graduate]

Woohoo ! Congrats Aussie. Nice consistent pace too. No wonder you are feeling pretty good!

[Hidden in reply to Ullyrunner]

And still feeling good! New shoes, new legs!

[AncientMum Graduate]

Wow Aussie WAY TO GO!! 10k and negative splits!!! I am so very pleased for you. Congratulations. I actually said I want to run10k out loud for the first time today. It's so exciting. Very well done mate, you must be very proud, exhausted but very proud

[Hidden in reply to AncientMum]

Go for it AM - nice and slow to get up to 10K but it's entirely possible... couldn't believe it myself until I did it!

[Treemouse Graduate]

Aussie I am SO pleased for you! I knew you would do it and what a great feeling that must be. I say must be, because I failed miserably in my attempt. I got to about 2K and my calf/achilles/left ankle were playing up. I decided to walk the 3k back home (feeling so dejected) but as my 10K race4life is next Sunday, I daren't push it. Mr Treemouse is going to give me a massage this evening, and I'm going to rest up completely until Sunday. I just daren't make it worse and have a week for it to settle. Oh well, such is life! Have a brilliant, smug, running God weekend and bask in the glory! You deserve it (brilliant time too! )

[Hidden in reply to Treemouse]

Sorry to hear you're on the injury couch... hope you're feeling better. You'll be back out there soon enough I'm sure... You'll remember I spent a week there as well and it was time well spent as I really needed to recover... Take it easy when you get back out there!

[misswobble Graduate]

Well done aussie! Another milestone ticked off. Next up 13 k! And go .....

[Hidden in reply to misswobble]

Maybe..

[Binkibelle]

With week 1 run 1 under my belt only this morning I find this post inspiring. Thanks for the write up. I am interested to know how your week 1 run 1 went, to get a feel for your journey, I've searched but can't find a post.

[Hidden in reply to Binkibelle]

Thanks! With the new site it's a bit hard to search back then (and I think I joined somewhere in week 4-5)... Here's my write up when I finished though...

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

[BoPeep9009 Graduate]

Brilliant Aussie well done you! Seems like only 5 minutes since you were hobbling kneeless down the stairs and worrying what would happen next - now you're popping out 10kms and still mobile to the tune of 20km walking!!! Impressive stuff!!!

[Hidden in reply to BoPeep9009]

Thanks! The day I could barely walk was a very dark day... I'm happy I listened to people, rested and got my new shoes sorted out... No stopping me now (I hope)...

[BoPeep9009 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Yeah you're going to be fine now and if something feels weird you know what to do!