W3r3 pacing mishap...

[ktsok]

I was reminded today of how improvement is not a smooth upward trajectory. Today’s run was a juddering descent.

I was a bit snotty this morning but up for it. Runs 1 and 2 were so good and run 3 is the same formula, so all is well, right?! I walked beyond briskly for 5 minutes, waiting to be unleashed for the first 90 seconds. Michael said ‘go’ and I went... wayyy too fast. The 90 seconds recovery was barely enough before the first 3 minutes were on me. I slowed down (no choice there) but my legs were heavy, my arms were heavy (never heard of heavy arms from running) and I was a long way off smiling. Thank god for the 3 minute recovery walk. It was just long enough to gather myself for the final 90 second and 3 minute legs.

I think I had this worrying image in my head of doing a Park Run and despite being a fairly fit (looking) forty something, coming in last, behind children, octogenarians, one-legged penguins, etc.

If I ran like I did today, without pacing myself, I wouldn’t even get to the finish line. Time to concentrate on the here and now and remember to pace myself...🙄

[E27M14 Graduate]

But you managed to complete it and you learned from it. It’s all part of the journey. Well done, keep it up, I’m right here with you!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Well done, you did it and also have grasped the importance of pacing. One legged penguins are aware of the toxic ten healthunlocked.com/couchto5... which why they don't push too hard at the start of a run.

[ktsok Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Ok, interesting. Slow and steady at the start it is then 🙂

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

Very well done recovering to complete... it’s an experience that will serve you well.

My experience of parkruns is that you will be passed by someone a few age brackets above yourself and also some under 11 will be way ahead... this is just how it is, and both of these people will have considerably more running experience than you. It’s not a race and it’s only about being the best that you can be, so don’t worry over it, especially now... keep it as a goal and when you get there just run your run! I’m hoping to start running them by February but will be following my running plan, so some weeks I’ll be walking the last bit, other weeks will be intervals, and occasionally I’ll actually run the thing!

The great thing in your run report is as well as completing, you know why it was tough and can correct it next time, so that run has added to your running brain as well as the legs. Enjoy week 4.

[ktsok Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Yes... feeling a bit nervous about week 4 now, given today’s shocker. But hopefully lesson learned 🤔

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to ktsok]

I think if you go off at the right pace you’ll be just fine, you recovered pretty quickly which is my preferred method of judging my fitness level.

[ktsok Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

You were right. W4 was tough but I was just about fine.

Thank you ☺️