6k and the pond

[Richard7]

Inspired by my fellow runners this week I continued my attempt to run some hills.

Monday I repeated a previous run for some continuity but Thursday I took a slightly different approach. Still time constrained in the mornings I picked two roads in my locality to run a loop around. Both roads have a good hill and are around 400m each. This made a great training loop to try my hand at hill repeats. I started with the intent of doing 5 laps which would have made 5k including the linking roads before anyone questions my maths! But after 3 laps I had had enough! Fitness just not there yet for this kind of continual hammering!

So today after a full days rest I set out on my weekend 5k run. But I decided that instead of trying to go for pace I would try to improve my distance and see how I felt for 6k.

So I set off taking the first hill nice and steady. After the town I hit the golf club and avoided the natural temptation to go hell for leather down the hill. Reaching the pond instead of avoiding it like I usually do I took in a lap to increase my distance by 500m - boy was it windy.

The plan was coming together. Now all I needed was to get to the end. As I came towards the final 1k a surge of energy found me sprinting - it was only for about 300m but felt good. Slowing back down again to a steady pace I had to run past the tempting bench where I normally finish my 5k as my calculations were a little bit off. Only 400m required so another sprint and the 6k was up.

Now my times are not normally world class by a long way but normally I struggle in the final 1k so this ability to add some speed in the final K was great. Checking my times after the run was a surprise as it was much faster (for me) than I had thought. Taking things slow early in the run had paid off and let me get more distance but also gave me more energy in the final 2k.

So slow and steady wins the day again. Looking back I wonder how I got here after just 5 months. Oh yeah Couch To 5k and the help and encouragement of this forum - thank you. Happy running and keep believing it's what gets you to the end.

[HeleneCorsa Graduate]

Great run report - well done! Reaching 6k with hills and in windy conditions is a great achievement.

[Hidden]

Really inspiring post. Thank you. You give me hope of reaching 5k and beyond.

[Richard7 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Flick - the downhill bits certainly helped. I think if I had all your hills to deal with I might not get out of the door.

[Hidden in reply to Richard7]

They arent all huge, many are long slow slopes. Im just a wimp.

[Richard7 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Wimps would still be on the sofa

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Very, very well done Richard

[Richard7 Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Thanks OldFloss - trying to keep to 3 runs a week. Just felt right to try a bit further today. Shorter runs for me during the week I think though to give me time to recover!

[Elfe5 Graduate]

Ah great, very well done!

I like hills in only one direction for now!! 😀