Running "fails", gremlins etc...

[Rainbowsmurf]

Warning: slightly long post.....

So, graduated C25K. (Felt great.) Did Race for Life 5km. Even finished with a bit of sprint. (Felt amazing.) Had a few weeks off running due to illness then holiday ... but... picked it up again. (Really pleased with myself.) Did a parkrun, ran the whole thing and didn't look a twit. (Really happy bunny.) Fancied a 10km race. (All enthusiastic.) Started the Bupa 10km training plan. First week looked easy so thought I'd try running faster than usual. Having done the parkrun I was also keen to beat my time.

FAIL!

Did first faster run in the gym due to weather - no problems, great fun. Did second run outside (which I find more interesting but more difficult). Also faster. Hadn't had much sleep. Tummy playing up. Ate light breakfast but only just before I started running. Used the stepping stone podcast which I can't usually get on with but hey... in my sleep-deprived, upset tummy, too much food in my stomach state it was going to be fine right? Right?

Walked home 2/3 of the way through having completed bits of running but lots of walking. Was obviously never going to be able to run 10km. etc etc etc (Insert own gremlin phrases here if wished.)

Then calmed down and realised that I run because I love the way it feels on a good day and I like the way I feel afterwards. Decided to do the parkrun again yesterday. Wanted to try and beat my time but wanted to make sure I didn't overdo it and could keep running too.

Decided (part way through) to stop focusing so much on the time and more on enjoying it. My goals were:

1. Enjoy myself

2. Finish without needing medical attention or falling in the river

3. Run the whole thing (but see 1 and 2 above)

4. Improve on my time (but see all of the above)

And I relaxed and enjoyed it and knocked 14 seconds off my original time to boot!

Haven't signed up for a 10km race yet. Want to make sure I can keep running and enjoying it. Will keep following the training plan and if it goes well then I'll sign up for a timed 10km run. If it doesn't then I stick to the parkruns. No pressure. Much more fun. (That's the plan today anyway!)

[Steve_L Graduate]

I'm absolutely sure you can run 10K. The key, initially, is to forget about speed. The first time I ran 10K, a week after graduating, I'd set off on a speculative run aiming for a gentle 8K. I just looked for a comfortable, easy pace that wasn't tiring and that I could sustain. Luckily, I found it, and after 5,6,7 K I realised I could keep on running. I got to 8K and decided to keep on going. Amazed to complete 10K. Since that run, 10K has been easy to repeat, and although I'm not fast, I've got my best time down to about 62:45.

I think there's a bit mental element to long runs, and once it's cracked, almost anything is possible. I've got my first Half Marathon in five weeks!

Give it a try!

My first 10K - connect.garmin.com/modern/a...

[Rainbowsmurf Graduate in reply to Steve_L]

HM? Feeling exhausted at just the thought. Thanks for the encouragement though. I'll get there eventually. I'm just not in a rush now.

[Rlear Graduate]

I'm following the BUPA 10k training plan although I'm doing each week twice as I really don't need to do it in 8 weeks time. Our local 10k (which I want to be my first) isn't until June. I am not worrying too much about pace. Just doing what the plan says. My pace is around 6min/km. I am finishing wk 2 tomorrow so I have been doing it for four weeks now. Still finding it hard though!

[Rainbowsmurf Graduate in reply to Rlear]

6 min/km! I dream of 6 min/km. I'm at about 7. Can go a bit quicker in the gym but not in the real world.

10km by June sounds reasonable.

[goonkeepgoing Graduate]

You can do 10k but take it at your pace.

I didn't get to 5k until several weeks after graduation and it was a couple of months after that before I did 10k. The first time it took me 67 minutes. I've only done it twice since but time is down to 58 minutes. I think it's because I often find the time to do 7 or 8 k but 10k just still feels a really, really long way that I only want to do on a day I have loads of time and no other jobs to do ( ie rarely! !)

Have you looked at Virtual Runner races? These might give you some gentle motivation before you feel ready to sign up for a full event.

Good luck. Take it steady. Continue to enjoy it and you'll get there

[Rainbowsmurf Graduate in reply to goonkeepgoing]

I will keep taking it steady thanks. (It's what everyone gets told when they start isn't it?)

[goonkeepgoing Graduate in reply to Rainbowsmurf]

It's a skill in itself!!! My hubby got carried away and ended up with an injury

[mfamilias Graduate]

Running should be a pleasure before anything else. I still can't get myself into the training programme thing yet - although I should start thinking about it soon if I want to do a 10k next year. Well done for getting it straight in your head, and ENJOY YOURSELF!

[Rainbowsmurf Graduate in reply to mfamilias]

Thank you.

[JoolieB1 Graduate]

Great post, this is something I have been thinking about. I think for some people, the fun is beating personal bests, increasing distances and for others it is about the resulting "feel good" from running. I am 51 and feel if I start thinking about constantly getting faster, it is going to take the enjoyment out of running for me. Even completing a parkrun in a time that I am comfortable with is good enough rather than pushing and pushing to go faster. I am looking forward to running in the woods, across the fields and in new places. Want it to keep it as being fun. Julie

[Rainbowsmurf Graduate in reply to JoolieB1]

I do think that some element of challenge is good for me but too much too soon is likely to lead to massive fails on a regular basis. Doing the training programme is enough at the moment. I don't need the added pressure of a race date.

[Rainbowsmurf Graduate]

Thank everyone for your comments.

An update: went out this morning in a good frame of mind with a favourite route planned that would enable me to complete the run time needed. Was going really well a few minutes in as I was enjoying it and keeping up a sensible pace until disaster struck and I swallowed a fly. The poor people in the petrol station were treated to the sight of a pink clad woman bent double on the pavement appearing to choke, cough, spit, sneeze and almost throw up all at the same time.

(May need a new route on Wednesday to avoid the place!)

Almost did the two timed runs but stopped a minute short on the second one due to a very tight calf muscle and (possibly corresponding) tingly foot.

Survived though and enjoyed most of it!!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Balancing the need for personal challenges and the resultant satisfaction of achieving them against continued enjoyment are challenges for most runners. I did not follow a plan to reach 10k, because it restricted my freedom to just go out and do what I wanted to do........just run along a beach, for instance. I reached 10k purely by sticking to the 10% rule and increasing one long run each week.....it doesn't take long. The same method, over a much longer timescale, now sees me running 10 miles on a regular basis.

C25k aside, I have not followed any plans, but then I don't do organised runs, apart from parkrun, but I do believe that while the plans are maybe an ideal preparation, based on those employed by pros, that many recreational runners will do just fine if they get their distance up to race distance well in advance and just get miles on their legs.

The important thing is to keep running, keep smiling.

[Rainbowsmurf Graduate]

Thanks. I will see how the plan goes and might switch to the +10% method as it seems simpler. I'm definately going down the "getting the distance up to race distance well in advance" route. Much less stress that way.