Thursdays run

[LeeU]

Following on from Tuesdays run I was, if I'm honest a little disheartened and it was a little scarry, what if this was the start of me falling out with running?

I decided I was going to take it back to where it began, on the treadmill, plus it was heaving it down and I prefer a shower at the end of the run and not all through-out it!

I decided I was going to show myself how far I'd come and what I'd attained in that time, at the beginning of September I did week 5 run 2 as a speed interval kind of run.

I remember struggling through it, my normal long run pace was 6 kph which went up to 6.5-7kph but this was 2x 8 minute runs at 8kph, normally far outside of my comfort zone.

I selected the podcast, I used these all through the program anyway and set off on the 5 minute warm up walk.

Laura told me I'd done well and that, providing I'd completed the runs from the previous weeks and the run previous to this one I'd be fine, a little bit of reassurance is always nice.

The first 8 minute segment started and I set off at 8kph, next minute that segment was over and I was walking again, this time the walk seemed to drag on a little, I knew the podcast was still playing because the music was still there.

Laura then told me my 5 minute recover walk was over and it was time for the second 8 minute run, again, off I went, Laura then told me that I'd been running for 4 minutes, then I had 60 seconds to go, I reached out and hit the dial to increase the speed and finished the run on a little sprint.

I say and looked at the Garmin stats from the run in September and today, for the first 8 minute section my heartrate was 5 bpm lower than in September, in the second the heartrate was the same at it's peak 166 bpm BUT the difference here was that I was going faster at the end of the run. Through-out the second run my heartrate was consistently 3-4 bpm slower than in September.

Today I could have carried on for a little while longer at 8kph, in September I know I couldn't have.

Did I enjoy the run today, yes I did and I'm looking forward to getting out at the weekend and running, as usual, I'm slowly resigning myself to the fact I've committed to do the ParkRun for charity, that's not really the issue, the issue is I run for me, for my head and fitness and I feel like, until this run is done, I'm not doing it for me.

Sorry if that sounds selfish.

Happy running everyone.

[Debston Graduate]

It's always good to have a reminder of how far we've come, sounds like you had a really good run on the treadmill. Your fundraising Parkrun is for you just like all your other runs. Try not to feel pressured by it. ☺

[RunningMigster Graduate]

So glad you enjoyed it. Hard is ok to deal with but it sucks if it's no fun.

[Buddy34 Graduate]

Glad you enjoyed your run today as you know not all runs go to plan some are great some not so much.

You're not selfish , everyone should run for them only and no one else.

Just a thought could you go to the parkrun before the Christmas day one just to get it out your head as I think you're thinking about it a lot . 🤗🤗

[LeeU Graduate in reply to Buddy34]

Hi Buddy34 I run on the ParkRun course quite often, my first outdoor 5k was done on it, the longer 6k runs were done on the local canal tow path. I'm 'selling' this to the people I work with on the premise that I've never done anything like this before, I'm not lying, I've never done a ParkRun

[Buddy34 Graduate in reply to LeeU]

Ok . Then your first actuall parkrun will be ok then. Do you think you're a bit nervous because you've never 'ran with a group of people .

[LeeU Graduate in reply to Buddy34]

I don't think so, it's more to do with a feeling that I'm not running for me anymore, I think.

I know I could just loiter at the back of the crowd if I wanted to and then just work my way around, the majority of times I'm been outside running I haven't been on my own.

[Grannyhugs Graduate]

Great comparison and improvement there, well done. That's the best about a treadmill, you can set the speed.