Consolidation W2 R3 - Beautiful Day, Beautiful Run

[Roadrunner65]

One of the nicest runs since starting and graduating C25K, and despite the unusual, unprecedented circumstances we are in right now.

A truly glorious morning, so quiet too. Living quite near to the coast, I don't usually head towards it on my run on days like today, but inwards, around the village, as the traffic that way on weekends like this would normally be too much for my own sense of safety.

But today, like days past and days to come, was very quiet, not a single car passed by.

I had such a long day sat at the computer the day before, with so many demands and stresses put upon me during the day, which I only managed a couple of short comfort breaks from in 11 hours of screen time, not good I know. At the end of the day I was mentally drained, then the missus needed my help, so no run for me in the evening as I'd intended and prefer.

So up early in the morning, determined not put too much time between runs, not to deviate from what is now becoming an every other day habit.

The toxic tens inevitably kicked in, I was expecting them, after being sedentary for the entire day previous.

After 10 minutes though, I found my rythym, got into my stride (a small stride but a stride nonetheless), soaked in the sun and briefly the sight of the beach and sea as I passed it by, idyllic, usually.

I want to push harder, but felt content 'cruising' so didn't; I know I should if I want continuous improvement, which I do. I'd downloaded the NRC app (recommend by 10k runners on here) which gives you a time/distance announcement every 1k completed. My average kpm was declining each time, so that in itself was the bit of motivation I needed to give some extra effort, to push a little harder, for the last 5 minutes.

I don't think it had much impact on the time, but I felt it did physically and mentally. I wanted to teach myself a bit of a lesson too, for sitting for so long and stressing so much about things that should not matter in the grand scheme of things.

I'll stick with the NRC app I think, it seems to be what I need and want to spur me on.

Am missing MJ's encouragement a little, from the C25K plan. I might draft him in again one day to coach me on a run, but we have to move on don't we, I've told myself this, and him 😉.

[Hidden]

Your run sounds lovely. I'm also consolidating having graduated last week. Yesterday's run really lifted me out of the doldrums after I came across wooden hearts tied to trees along my run route. Every heart contained a motivational message or an appreciation for our wonderful key workers. It was really moving.

I'm running app free and just using my simple wrist watch to structure my run into 5/30/5 minute sections. Eventually I'll hook myself back up to the free Strava on my iPhone to see how I'm progressing, but at the moment I just want to be out in the fresh air, free from gadgets and just putting one foot in fron of the other. (Say she who started to browse Garmin watches this morning......!).

Enjoy your runs away from your desk! 😀

[Roadrunner65 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Delly-dot. Lovely post. Made me laugh, as I too am looking at fitness watches, better than the arm strap or holding a phone, as I like to glance at it. I have strava too, I like that it shows me the route. But near me, there are few new routes to create.

Congrats on graduating too by the way.