Time for a new test today, circuits! Never liked the idea before, but after the tough challenge of Fridays run, I liked the idea of trying out my first 30 minutes somewhere relatively flat.
My girlfriend Becca decided against running with me, she's just started working from home part time as a dog groomer, and with a booking this morning, it would be cutting it fine on whether we could both get back and through the shower in time. She still came along for support and walked Odie 🐾around which really helped seeing them on the laps. Damn though was it foggy!
The first 5 minutes or so were as usual, took a while to warm up and get the legs flowing & felt a bit slower due to that. Controlling my pace was going to be a challenge because I wasn't used to running anywhere so flat before. Back of my mind though I knew this maybe my best shot this week at trying to catch that magical 5K on top of my first 30 min run.
Either way decided if it wasn't going to happen today would take it easy on R2 & R3 because graduation is so close and always the more important goal.
The circuits weren't quite as boring as I imagined they would be, the park is around a decent sized lake, and although it was hard seeing much for the fog it was still enjoyable. Turned out there were plenty of ducks to watch, and magpies to salute as I rumbled on through the laps. Everytime I passed Becca and Odie I'd give them a shout of how many minutes I had left to go. It felt like progress 😊
The mid section of the run I felt pretty well warmed up, and at this point started experimenting a bit with pace, deciding if I was to pick it up a bit whether to try moving quicker or for a longer cadence. The longer stride felt better and tried it for a lap or two.
Time was starting to go quickly when I headed into the last 10 though was just beginning to feel tired, took the pace down a bit and thought I'd fire it up again at the end if there was enough in the tank. There was a bit and I glanced at my Gear Fit, distance v time it was going to be very close. 3 minutes left at first it felt like an age, then I put it into perspective 3 minutes is a cup of tea brewing. Go for it!
I pushed onto the end and lapped Becca for the last time as she was talking to another dog walker. 1 minute to go and used what I had left for that finish. 30 minutes and done!! 😊
Bashed the button on my gear fit and it didn't respond, please no! stop! Carried on messing with it for another 10 seconds or so whilst I was stumbling into my 5 minute cooldown walk. Beccas dog walking friend passed me by "You can't stop now, she's going to be late!" she said, I laughed and strolled round to meet Becca at the gate.
Checked the report on my wrist and the verdict was 3.09miles 😬 I couldn't have got much closer, there were a few walking steps included into that at the end, but I didn't care I had just run for 30 minutes, and felt on top of the world 😊
It wasn't easy, the energy I would have usually used normally controlling the inclines and descents, I'd poured into the pace, and it was a new experience.
Also a bit worrying now after checking strava was my heart rate had reportedly been a lot higher with an average of 187 & even peaking at a crazy 214 😮 I just hope it was the gear fit playing up a bit, because sometimes it's not always that accurate. I didn't really feel like it had been that high 🤔
Will defo take it steadier for the remainder of the week, as I go back to my normal route. Just 2 runs to go, and now I've done 30 and put my all in today trying to break 5k it's time to take it a little easier on myself.
Graduation is all that matters now and I can smell it 😊
(Oh and the new trainers felt great!)
So close to packing it in...tears after 10 mins
Feeling disappointed - so close and yet so far.
W9R1
W9R1
