Absolutely was not expecting that!: End of a... - Couch to 5K

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Absolutely was not expecting that!

LoungeLizaard profile image
LoungeLizaardGraduate
23 Replies

End of a looooong week, i mentioned on Mondays report that I’d not slept well the previous night..... and that theme continued every night this week. The longest I spent in bed was 6 hrs, the longest uninterrupted period was 2hrs. It’s wasn’t the heat in the early part of week, it was my youngest on others....(being ill, ok now thankfully) to last night being out with clients in London and not getting home until 1.30!!!

To put it succinctly - I am f@&king tired (apologies admin!). Working like this is one thing, trying to run...... well let me tell you story.

The admins and mentors on here are great, but tonight just proved to me that we are all kind of like their kids (teenagers) and we all hear what they have to say, but we don’t really listen......

Why don’t we? Because we are running and we think we can just do most it with abit of extra umpf or luck or whatever. Now I fully admit, at the ripe old age of 47, I might just be talking about myself!

I ran my first 5k on Monday this week at just over 7.18/km - it was hard, I was glad it was over but I did it. This was after running 4.9k on Saturday (according to Strava) at roughly same pace (7.09/km).

Then this week happened and football on Wednesday (still wearing the black armband!) so tonight I needed to run, but was exhausted when I got up this morning. Following my previously mentioned friends advice, I got my kit on and still thought I can give this a go, just a short one.... so I got in the car.

Started running and immediately thought there was no way on earth I was going to make 5k tonight! Even in my new ASICS! Legs were heavy, exhaustion aches in my knees and back..... so I started to give myself intermediate goals.... I know this straight bit is around 1k (just under), I’ll jog along that and there is a another path that cuts my circuit in half at end, but I cannot maintain that pace (It just hurts).... so I slowed down...... and checked Strava hmmm 7.52.... need to be slower...... kept going down the cut through..... checked again after a bit... I was somewhere over 8/km..... good stay here.... .... but I’m not even breathing hard!!!! No, but you are sweating son, so stay like a good boy!

So I stayed and got back to the start and I’d done 3.6km - ok I’m done....... but actually I was fine.... a bit damp, but otherwise ok..... I wonder if I can run down that straight bit again.... I’ll see how far I get...... 0.7km later hmmm that wasn’t so bad.... now for the return...... back to the car park.... 4.9 (ahaaa! I’m not falling for that again) bit further - 5.0km (now you can go home son!).

That was completely unexpected. Oldfloss bangs this drum in at least 1 out of 3 posts.... Bluebirdrunner says it, IannodaTruffe has said it and a myriad of others I either can’t spell or my sleep deprived brain can’t recall the name tag...... and now I’ll say it in caps!

JUST SLOW DOWN! It really is as simple as that. This run had an avg of 8.18 and the splits are above..... on one hand..... for me personally, this is almost a eureka moment. I didn’t walk I just slowed down and I’m 5k better off! (Distance not cash!)

On the other I feel like a dumbass / teen and I’m now thinking - ahhh so that’s what they meant when they said that! I’ll just act like I didn’t hear them!

Stay frosty people and stay slooooooooow!

(Oh and Dexy5 - the new 25’s are in the photo)

❤️🏃‍♂️

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LoungeLizaard profile image
LoungeLizaard
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23 Replies
Crittermad profile image
CrittermadGraduate

Well done! I’m mostly mid 8 or even 9mins/km - occasional km in the 7s but not sustainable for me over a distance. My goal is currently getting to 5km at any speed 🐌

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate in reply to Crittermad

And you will Crittermad . When you get there it’s just like graduating all over again.

Crittermad profile image
CrittermadGraduate in reply to Dexy5

Thanks - got to 4.4km today - could have kept going I think - may try it next outing depending on 🌞

Jay66UK profile image
Jay66UKGraduate

Well done!

Saartjie profile image
SaartjieGraduate

We get caught up in the pace game don't we? We want to run further and faster and we're new to this so we can't do both!

Well done on your run. It's a great feeling if you can just keep going 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️

LoungeLizaard profile image
LoungeLizaardGraduate in reply to Saartjie

I probably could have done another km.... but I was also told to stay around 5k..... (See I am starting to listen!)

Saartjie profile image
SaartjieGraduate in reply to LoungeLizaard

😄

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate

Smart runners LoungeLizzard and a great post too. Oldfloss will be proud of you. 🛋 🦎

LoungeLizaard profile image
LoungeLizaardGraduate in reply to Dexy5

They’ll def see me coming!!

Ripcurlrana71 profile image
Ripcurlrana71

Great run and great learnings about yourself - your capabilities and limits. Well done Mitch. 😊🙌🏼👌🏽

LoungeLizaard profile image
LoungeLizaardGraduate in reply to Ripcurlrana71

Cheers Alka - I see you were out at 6am for a little jaunt!

Ripcurlrana71 profile image
Ripcurlrana71 in reply to LoungeLizaard

Just popped round the block. 😬😬

mountaindreamer profile image
mountaindreamerGraduate

We’re all just impatient running kids really, aren’t we! 😂

Big well done on another 5k! My plan for building distance later is to get slower and slower...🐌🐌🐌😎

LoungeLizaard profile image
LoungeLizaardGraduate in reply to mountaindreamer

Harness that inner snail 🐌

limberlou profile image
limberlouGraduate

Love the shoes!!!

Tasha99 profile image
Tasha99Graduate

Fantastic work! So funny how we won’t stop a run on 4.99k 😂

LoungeLizaard profile image
LoungeLizaardGraduate in reply to Tasha99

Lol it’s true! We all have closet ocd!!

DeeRunning profile image
DeeRunningGraduate

Nice 25s! Super smart 👍

Hey twinnie, we're running at about the same pace too lol. I did 5K is 42 mins ... but once again you're one number ahead of me 😀

Great that you slowed down and had a good run. Hope you get some rest and the kids return to full health soon.

LoungeLizaard profile image
LoungeLizaardGraduate in reply to DeeRunning

Hey Dee, it was actually you & I that were chatting about the 25s! God! See what I mean..... I’m a mental wreck! Lol.

Kids all ok now..... but wedding last night in bed at 3am.... this morning I’m being called relentlessly by my 17 yr old to be collected at 8am..... then he realises he has his times wrong and doesn’t need me!!! Grrrrrr 🤯🤯🤬😴

Fabulous450 profile image
Fabulous450Graduate

Oh I love this post LoungeLizaard! Well done you! Great time! 😁❤️

LoungeLizaard profile image
LoungeLizaardGraduate in reply to Fabulous450

Cheers Fab x

CKem profile image
CKemGraduate

Did my 5km today at 7:54. First time I’ve been sub 8! No way I can go Any faster at the mo

LoungeLizaard profile image
LoungeLizaardGraduate in reply to CKem

Well done Ckem - as the mantra says, don’t worry about speed, it’ll come when it’s ready!

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