Virtual Remembrance 5k

[Anniemurph]

Look what turned up today!

On the 11th November I did a virtual run. I hadn't done a 5k for a while, and as this was for Remembrance Day I decided to see if I could improve on my PB. I cheated slightly, in that I chose an ever-so-slightly downhill route, with no traffic to get in my way, and found a fast-paced playlist to spur me on.

The first km went okay, and the second one was a whole second quicker. Then I started to get tired. I pushed on though, but my third km was quite a bit slower. Was I going to make my PB? Could I do two more at this pace?

It sounds really trite, but what helped was thinking of all the people in the wars who probably thought they couldn't carry on either. I know running is in no way comparable to what they went through but it made me grit my teeth and dig in. I was still a bit slower, and I'd resigned myself to not getting a PB, but I thought all I could do was my very best.

I've discovered that if I am running hard, I lose all capability for rational thought. I had no clue what time I was aiming to beat. I knew when I set out, but 4km in, I'd lost it completely and all I knew was I had to keep running as fast as I could at that point - not that fast, but far better than my normal gentle potter I am very pleased that I remembered to hit the stop button at 5km because this is something I've forgotten to do at several races

I looked at the time and thought it looked fairly good, but was delighted when I got home to realise that I had beaten my previous 5k time by 1 minute and 39 seconds.

I have no clue how I am ever going to beat my new 5k PB of 32:10, but hey - a problem for another day.

Lest we forget.

[SaskAlliecat Graduate]

Very beautiful and special bling! Great job on the PB!

[Anniemurph Graduate in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Thank you! Yes, it's bling I will treasure.

[misswobble Graduate]

Oh well done Murph! Lovely thing to do. Beautiful medal as well 🙂

Wear your poppy with pride 🙂👍

You’ll beat that PB soon, no doubt about it. I’m going to try too as mine has slipped out of sight

[Anniemurph Graduate in reply to misswobble]

I keep forgetting it's you, Wobble! Suits you, though

Ta for the congrats, though I'm not aiming to beat the PB any time soon Good luck with going for yours though!

Nice bling, innit? A small but great thing to do.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Anniemurph]

Is there a bit of the Tissington trail that is completely flat for 2 and a half K.. then we could run there and back!

[Anniemurph Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Completely flat... erm... possibly...

No. That's why I take the bus up and run down! I'm not daft, you know!

Although to be fair, some bits are flatter than others. I'll have a look at the profile and see if I can identify any flat(ter) bits

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Anniemurph]

Please do... another joint run maybe ?

[Anniemurph Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Lovely! I'm away this weekend but I will get onto it as soon as I'm back

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Anniemurph]

Brill!

[Anniemurph Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

We had such a nice run - I will try and find us somewhere just as good!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Anniemurph]

I shall really look forward to it x

[Irishprincess Graduate in reply to misswobble]

Oh MissW! It looks like you did your biggie!! I had to do a second take there as I didn't recognise you with your new look 😊

A massive well done to you, you're amazing 👏👏👏

[poppypug Graduate]

A new PB , great stuff Annie !

That is such a lovely medal , Well done to you xxx

[Anniemurph Graduate in reply to poppypug]

Thanks, Pops! It's a grand bit of bling, isn't it? And a new PB always goes down well xxx

[Hidden]

Very speedy and for a good cause too

[Anniemurph Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Well, speedy is all relative, but for me it was! Thank you for your kind words

[Decker]

Lovely medal Annie - and congratulations on your new PB!

[Anniemurph Graduate in reply to Decker]

Thank you, Decker - I'm pleased with both the bling and the PB!

[Decker in reply to Anniemurph]

As you should be! It really is a nicely designed medal.

[Anniemurph Graduate in reply to Decker]

Yes, some medals are just nicer than others, and whoever came up with this one did a great job

[ancientrunner Graduate]

Well done Annie. That's a lovely bit of bling.

[Anniemurph Graduate in reply to ancientrunner]

Thanks, AR!

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate]

Well done on your new PB for 5k Anniemurph😊...

Lovely medal for a great cause and you worked hard to get it.😊xx

[Anniemurph Graduate in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

Thank you Jan! It is a great medal and I'm pleased that I did work hard - thank you for your kind words xx

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Yeay.. go you! Lovely medal! Mine and Mr Of's came yesterday! Also very lovely!

We could find a totally downhill route to run down for 5K... I could do with one certainly!!!! I get slower !

Well done!

[Anniemurph Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Ooh, picture? Was it the same one?

I don't like running too much downhill because I tend to hold back in case I fall over

Thank you

[Hidden]

Brilliantly done and I don’t think your comments are trite at all. Thinking of others’ sacrifices to help you find your own strength is a wondrous thing and respectful to them. It’s a medal to wear and display with pride. Well done you on getting such a great pb.

[Anniemurph Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thank you, Jan. It really kept me going as I ran, and whenever I felt tired I did find the strength to push on just that bit more by keeping in mind the day and the reason for my run.

[Sandyscroll]

Lovely post. Your medal is well deserved and for such a good cause.

Well done on your PB too. What a great surprise for when you got home! 😀

[Anniemurph Graduate in reply to Sandyscroll]

Thanks, Sandy. You're right, it was a lovely surprise when I got home!

[Martin_Rose Graduate]

Well done, that's very special bling.

[Anniemurph Graduate in reply to Martin_Rose]

Thanks, Martin!

[PippiRuns]

Congrats Annie, very nice medal 🥇 and good job on that PB! I can relate to the thing about being unable to think rationally when I run. It sounds funny but I become really “empty-headed” when I run and I mean that in a good way! ☺️

[Anniemurph Graduate in reply to PippiRuns]

Thank you! Glad it's not just me who stops thinking - I tell myself I enter a meditative state

[PippiRuns in reply to Anniemurph]

Sounds much better than empty headed!

[Fishypieface Graduate]

Beautiful bling and time, well done! I did my own poppy run and bunged some money in a collection tin but I wish I'd signed up for one of these. I think it's important to think about these things and what better time than when running.... I thought about how different the world would be, a very sobering thought!

Looking at your medal though, I have a feeling I'm going to become addicted to bling as well as running!

[Irishprincess Graduate in reply to Fishypieface]

Join the club........🤗

[Anniemurph Graduate in reply to Fishypieface]

Thank you!

Yes, doing the run for a specific 'event', however virtual, made me concentrate a bit more, I think. I treasure my running time because it equals thinking time but more often it is just about my task lists or a problem I'm dealing with, so focusing on Remembrance Day was quite special.

When I started running I was never going to enter any races. Gracious me, no. Now it's all about the bling, and there have been two events where I've 'only' received a technical t-shirt instead. Not good enough!

[Irishprincess Graduate]

Oooh what beautiful bling Annie! What site did it come from?

Well done on your PB, that's fab 🏃🏃🏃

[Anniemurph Graduate in reply to Irishprincess]

Thanks, IP! This one was from race4reward.com/ - nice, isn't it?

And yes, I'm pleased with my PB as well