WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A GOOD RUN AND A... - Couch to 5K

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WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A GOOD RUN AND A BAD RUN?...NO THIS IS NOT A JOKE!

59er profile image
59erGraduate
β€’27 Replies

Conditions today much the same as a couple of days ago when I had such a good run so I was looking forward to this. I did a few glute activation exercises before I left and some foot exercises too which is another story.

Four minutes into my warm up walk and I decided to take off my long sleeved top. As I did so Michael said 'you've run for 20 minutes??' I should've quit while I was ahead! Instead I started over. Less than five minutes in to my run I was struggling but this was still the warm up right? My playlist wasn't helping - I really need to remove anything that isn't upbeat even some of my real favourites - old stogeys I have found, short but not too big around. I had decided to try a new route through the vineyards today. I soon found out that one vineyard track looks a lot like the last one πŸ˜‚ When the sun's out it makes you feel good! Alas, it also makes you feel hot! I should've worn shorts and a vest today 😩 My last five minutes of running and I realised I was developing a headache - dehydration! Then no sooner than Michael had said I had one minute left to run than Chuck came on to tell me about riding in his automobile and I managed to pick up my pace yearning for him to say ' that's it, you can slow down now ' Mike not Chuck that is. All in all it was bad but I felt so good when it finished - a bit like going to the dentist.

It's so strange how runs can be/and make you feel, so different. I don't know what went wrong today - answers on a post please 😁

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59er profile image
59er
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27 Replies
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IannodaTruffe profile image
IannodaTruffeMentor

Restedness, hydration and nutrition are at the top of my list of my variables that need to be optimised for a good run.

Add to that all the environmental variables, weather, temperature, pressure, gradients, surface, the current state of the country, etc. etc. and you have a whole load of things that can tip the balance.

Every run is training for the next one..........there is always something to learn.

59er profile image
59erGraduateβ€’ in reply toIannodaTruffe

I've taken all that on board IannodaTruffe - more attention to hydration certainly AND nutrition - getting a good nights sleep is sometimes out of my hands - I do my best but mother nature sometimes isn't very kind. And I guess the rest I can't change. Thanks for that!

IannodaTruffe profile image
IannodaTruffeMentorβ€’ in reply to59er

These variables are not always within our control, but if we know that one or more is less than optimal, then we can at least lower our expectations and make it easy on ourselves by not pushing too hard.

some runs are good, some marvelous, some disappointing and some terrible....that's just the way it is. As Iannoda says, there are factors to take into account, but sometimes it's just life :)

59er profile image
59erGraduateβ€’ in reply to

It is funny though that it doesn't matter whether it was good, bad or indifferent -they're really all good because we finished them!

β€’ in reply to59er

Exactly!

Tasha99 profile image
Tasha99Graduate

Hormones play a massive part in my ability to run well! Not sure if you’re female or not though. Just remember, the bad runs make the good ones sweeter. Hydration the day before impacts me a lot too.

59er profile image
59erGraduateβ€’ in reply toTasha99

I am indeed female! Hence the sleep situation.....you may know what I mean πŸ˜‰

Tasha99 profile image
Tasha99Graduateβ€’ in reply to59er

Hormones πŸ™„πŸ˜• Can be a 2-3 minutes difference over 5k

59er profile image
59erGraduateβ€’ in reply toTasha99

Oh well! πŸ™„

AlMorr profile image
AlMorrAmbassadorGraduate

To some runners, simply a "bad run " is a run, ran a few seconds or up to a minute slower than the previous one, for example, a runner who usually runs 29 minutes at a parkrun will say that he had a bad run if he runs a parkrun in 31 minutes. I was at a parkrun about 3 weeks ago, a lady was disgusted that she ran it in 33 minutes because she usually runs it in 32 minutes, these runs are taken very seriously by some runners.

59er profile image
59erGraduateβ€’ in reply toAlMorr

If only that were my problem! πŸ˜‚

davelinks profile image
davelinksGraduateβ€’ in reply toAlMorr

I know someone at Parkrun like that Al, beats himself up if he runs a minute or 2 slower than the previous week, perhaps I shouldn't, but it does make me laugh!

Jacca profile image
JaccaGraduate

I have no idea what makes a good/bad run. I only know we all have them. 😊

59er profile image
59erGraduateβ€’ in reply toJacca

How right you are!

SueAppleRun profile image
SueAppleRunGraduate

Those tough runs build strength and make you enjoy the good ones even more, oh hot and daylight would be bliss to me

59er profile image
59erGraduateβ€’ in reply toSueAppleRun

Yes, I am lucky enough to be able to run during the day - the warmth too is a blessing. Another week though and it's back to Blighty and I'll be layering up and trying to convince myself that I really do want to go out for a run!

Smelliepoo profile image
SmelliepooGraduate

App directions and having to start again and all of that can really throw you off your game, so as much as you may have run the same distance and feel exactly the same before hand, as soon as it says something you don't expect you have to do something other than what you are being told to do you fumble and the rhythm goes! I am enjoying this mainly because I am releasing control to the buzzer, which frees the mind of having to decide what to do!

For some reason the app didn't work for me, it kept on stopping mid run and really messed wihh the intervals. It was not long til I switched to an interval timer instead. I don't get the encouraging messages though!

59er profile image
59erGraduate

I know exactly what you mean! This is not the first time the app has had a life of it's own. I was on the NHS site yesterday and saw that you can actually download the runs - no leaving it to chance - which I thought was a great idea. Perhaps that might work for you?

Smelliepoo profile image
SmelliepooGraduateβ€’ in reply to59er

I did one of the pod casts, but the music was... Lets just say not my style!! I find that music gives me more motivation than the little pep talks! Instead I use another timer that I set myself. A 5 minute bell to start running, one half way through and a minute before the end so I can pick up the pace a bit. It does the job! But thanks for the thought!

59er profile image
59erGraduateβ€’ in reply toSmelliepoo

That might be the way for me to go once I've graduated again - I kind of didn't know what to do after last time - felt a bit flat and lost so I might do that for a few consolidation runs.

Smelliepoo profile image
SmelliepooGraduateβ€’ in reply to59er

The app I use is called tabata (although there are lots out there) you can have 2 sets for free, but I find that is all I need. There are a lot that are free to download, but you have to pay for other bits.

59er profile image
59erGraduateβ€’ in reply toSmelliepoo

Thanks for that. I'll take a look!

RunningMigster profile image
RunningMigsterGraduate

Sometimes there is no rhyme or reason to it.

I've had runs that have been hard and not enjoyable but have been a quick pace, and I've had runs that I've really enjoyed and thought were good but turned out to be really slow. Maybe there is a lot that needs to be read into that!.

I always have a really good glug of water just before going out though. Last thing you want, especially in a hot climate, is to worry about dehydration.

Good luck for your next run, hope it's a good one

59er profile image
59erGraduate

It's not the speed I'm going for just a good enjoyable run which makes me feel good for the rest of the day.

I always worry about drinking too much before I go out just in case I need to go when I'm out. You obviously wouldn't have that problem. I will take some on board tomorrow though and see how I go. Who knows it might make me run faster πŸ˜‚

Smelliepoo profile image
SmelliepooGraduateβ€’ in reply to59er

I always make sure I go to the loo just before I leave and as soon as i get back! Paranoid that the after run wobbles will spread where it is not necessary!! And once you start stretching you just never know what might happen!! 😳😳

59er profile image
59erGraduateβ€’ in reply toSmelliepoo

Haha! Ain't that the truth 🀣

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