drivers and smokers and hills, oh my - Couch to 5K

Couch to 5K

132,679 members158,718 posts

drivers and smokers and hills, oh my

icklegui profile image
ickleguiGraduate
22 Replies

Having graduated a while ago I did say I'd start pushing now towards 5k and towards running more often. More often isn't *quite* happening yet but I did do a midweek 6am run which I was happy with (despite the catcalling incident).

Today I pushed to 4.6K, so small increments still (only 200 m more than last week's longer run). I tested out a route which involved a few road crossings, and some were quite busy so it got a bit stop-starty, but can't be helped.

The silliest encounter with a driver though was on a quiet residential street, a car driving towards me slowing down. I looked over to judge whether they were turning into a drive or parking on the road. I kept going at a steady pace. They had ground to a halt, no indicators ... and were quite far away so I thought if they were going into a driveway, they'd easily be able to go before I reached it... and then the longest 30 seconds passed by as I slowly jogged past and realised they'd been waiting for me ... starting a queue of traffic ... oh dear! Did I look like I was going fast enough for them to wait? The worst part is I checked my phone after looking at them for a while so it must have looked like I was just dawdling ... and I didn't thank them because I just didn't realise they were waiting to turn ... oh well!

Then I had to slip into the road to avoid a cloud of boys smoking (weed) and then ...oh, the hills (ok ... slopes) that I've not been on for a while. Oh, I'll have to do these more often, or I'll never do them! I was thrilled to feel that I could keep going after the last uphill though, which previously would have been the end of a run.

Anyway, work has been dreadful, so I will have to manage my time properly and hope to get in another run this week.

Onwards, upwards, downwards, and across many roads...

Written by
icklegui profile image
icklegui
Graduate
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
22 Replies
damienair profile image
damienairGraduate

4.6K. Your within a hairs breath of 5K. Your only one lap of an athletics track away. When I’m exhausted and I get to 4K and I want to stop, I just tell myself that I’m 2.5 athletic track laps away from finishing. It breaks it down and does not sound as bad as 1,000 meters. Well done. You’ll get there and beyond.

icklegui profile image
ickleguiGraduate in reply to damienair

haha, the "athletics track" is a unit of measurement I never thought I'd use. I reckon I'll hit the 5K very soon! Thank you :)

Irish-John profile image
Irish-JohnGraduate

Progress! :)

You will get there, just enjoy the process and the victory will be the sweeter :)

icklegui profile image
ickleguiGraduate in reply to Irish-John

always enjoying this :)

Irish-John profile image
Irish-JohnGraduate in reply to icklegui

I never thought I'd "work" so hard at having fun lol :)

(at having sane, sensible and healthy fun I should add! 😂)

sigh...sounds like an average run for me, though the boys smoking weed would be from the local school in my case. I was chased down a long slope with no safe verges, in the dark, pinned in the headlights of a car once. Talk about feeling like a rabbit!

You're ahead of me with distance. the longest outside run I've done is 4.2k, and it took me 38.42 minutes, though I did do 4.33 on the treadmill a week ago. At the moment, with my breathing being so bad, I'm lucky to manage 3k, in fact my last three runs have been less.

We will get there :) .... one day in my case ...

icklegui profile image
ickleguiGraduate in reply to

I've only just pushed up the distance! And check out how much longer ago I started and finished C25K... :)

The pot smokers are everywhere round here. Some of them are very ... generous with their smoke :-/

Just seen about your breathing on other posts - sorry to hear it's a bit of a thing at the moment! Hopefully it will ease. It's not just the dog allergy then? I'm allergic to my cats (more in the eyes though). As for cars and verges, I am lucky round here with pavements but I probably get a bit complacent; your rabbit in headlights scenario would have me diving into a ditch.

in reply to icklegui

I honestly can't work out what is causing the breath thing. The allergy dog is moulting more, the cats are moulting. I hoovered upstairs thoroughly yesterday, and that helped, but i still couldn't run for toffee.

Except for my muddy cross country ventures (which I think i will give a miss till spring) it's mostly well lit pavements round here, but that particular lane led down to the church and the edge of the countryside. Probably a mistake in the dark. I tangled with a tree across the path in the churchyard too.

I wouldn't compare time since graduation. I manage to run three or four times a week because I don't have any other commitments except dog walking, while you have to fit it round work.

icklegui profile image
ickleguiGraduate in reply to

Well, it's a matter of time management, which I don't do very well! I see how many people get their runs in with kids and jobs and I know I could do better on that front!

Hope the breathing eases, what ever is up!

IgaT profile image
IgaTGraduate

Wow, hills! Congratulations! I think it'll take me a longer while to even think of them ;)

icklegui profile image
ickleguiGraduate in reply to IgaT

I haven't been consistently tackling them! and hills is really overstating them I'm sure :)

Sadie-runs profile image
Sadie-runsGraduate

Ooooh so very close, icklegui, so very close! And that sounds like an eventful run. Being the antisocial bugger that I am, I run very early mornings and other that the odd runner and a Fox 🦊 or two, I don’t have many cars or people to contend with.

I see you running 5k within a week or two. You mark my words. 😀

Sadie-runs xxx

icklegui profile image
ickleguiGraduate in reply to Sadie-runs

I'm an antisocial runner, no doubt, and usually it's quite quiet when and where I run. I avoid running on a Saturday morning when I know people will be making their way to and from Parkrun ...!!

Anthie profile image
AnthieGraduate

Nearly 5K and uphill! Great job! You're running fast enough for cars to stop and let you run past ;-) Hope your next run will be as fun!

icklegui profile image
ickleguiGraduate in reply to Anthie

Uphill AND downhill, let's be fair ;)

and the problem was that I wasn't running fast enough for them to stop, but they didn't realise that and neither did I! :D

Anthie profile image
AnthieGraduate in reply to icklegui

It's the impression you give that counts ;-)

Langley-Loper profile image
Langley-LoperGraduate

Lovely story! I find myself improving my posture and speeding up slightly when cars appear on my local single track roads....then slumping back down when they are out of sight round the next bend!

You are within touching distance of your 5k, it won't be long now...

icklegui profile image
ickleguiGraduate in reply to Langley-Loper

See, I wish I'd done that! I was quite tired and I really thought they couldn't be pulling in ahead, no indicator! Elfe5 I didn't think I was going to be mown down, the driver was too careful of me, if anything, bless them. They weren't impressed as I snailed past :) . I did speed up to pass the smokers though.

Elfe5 profile image
Elfe5Graduate

Oh the shenanigans around cars (I put that word in for Anthie, hope she notices!!) Very glad they didn't run you over icklegui! The only time ever that I switched from customary snail to adrenaline driven gazelle was when I thought I was going to be mown down - I suspect the driver wanted to see how fast I could run - hope he was impressed- I certainly was!! 😀

MickGJ profile image
MickGJGraduate

Respect. I'm so in awe of all you guys who "take it to the streets" and mix it up with the traffic and the youth. Makes me realise how lucky I am to live near a park. And to think I never ran in it once in 14 years....

icklegui profile image
ickleguiGraduate in reply to MickGJ

You are lucky! I've been to your local park only once I think. And yes - I never ran by the seaside where I grew up, until last Christmas, I get that feeling!

But I wouldn't say I've taken it to "the streets", it was not that busy! The youth were easily avoided and I kept my headphones in so as not to hear any comments.

VictoriaRuns profile image
VictoriaRunsGraduate

Sounds like the driver needed to make their intentions more clear!

Anyway, you are doing so well. No doubt you will hit that 5K soon, well done!

You may also like...

Oh dear! My first DNF!

around my local track every so often. Running slow and easy runs most of the time can be a trap!!!

You are my inspiration and my driver

but that doesn't mean I'm not thinking about running. I've been reading some blogs on here and...

Oh my jesus, the fatigue.

other than going to the kitchen for more watermelon and to look longingly at the cheese in the...

Oh my GOD I did it!!!!

and I want more of it. The first run I did about 50 secs with a few brief stops, then I did 60,...

Oh yeah!!! Oh my!!! 🏃🏻‍♀️🎓🏃🏻‍♀️

I did it! Misty morning. New music, not planned but first the first 3 tracks.... Where’s your head...