This will be a perfunctory post today. No great insight or allegorical themes. I completed today and it was tough, but this was my fault. For a little while, despite the advice given to me and me to others, I’ve had the pace of my runs nagging away like a domineering, but loving, mother towards her lackadaisical offspring.
Currently, for I’m about to reveal my pace for the first time, I’m looking at a 42 minutes to complete 5km. This is, I know, pretty slow. For someone that played a lot of competitive sport and without any attempt at a humble brag, one at semi-pro level, a bit of disheartening. The mantra is repeated on this forum and in my ear all the time, “Pace doesn’t matter. Time and Kilometres in the legs do.”. However, I’ve not been able to shake my current pace out of my head.
So, this morning I set off having already completed a 25 minute jog and been able to complete the final 2 minutes in something close to a run. Also, I had my occasional running partner, in form of my very fit middle daughter, accompanying me. She is the hare to my tortoise. The combination of these two, in addition to my nitpicking inner dialogue, led me to start off with a pace akin to a Mo Farah warm up.
It felt comfortable until the first time check and I was significantly further on my route than normal. This immediately focused my mind on the fact I had the start of a stitch. I hadn’t had this since Week 4. This is when I’d adjusted my pace down significantly to prevent the appearance of the beetroot headed, heavy breathing, gorilla near to complete collapse.
It is one thing to pick up the speed. But once you have settled in to the rhythm of run it is very difficult to slow down. I’d force myself to slow down but a minute or two later I’d find I’d sped back up. Physically I was suffering and the mental effort of either forcing myself to lower the cadence or prevent myself from stopping took it’s toll. You already know that I finished. And, I did but there wasn’t the gallop in the final minute towards the finish line. It was a stumble; then relief; then anger; then shame.
I’d allowed my pride to get the better of me. I was an athlete but this was 20 years ago. It took me 10 years of hard work to reach that pinnacle. There has been almost 15 years of virtual inactivity before the last 2 months.
I have a goal and I’m getting there. But, let’s swallow that pride and be realistic. I’m very overweight and middle aged. You are not going to be able to run 5km in 30 minutes for quite long time. Don’t push it. It will come. Enjoy the journey.
Remember, you’ve just run 25 minutes without stopping. It was slow, yes. But this more than you have achieved in the last 15 years.
So, when you hear the mantra “Pace doesn’t matter. It’s time and kilometres in the legs”. Listen to it you proud wally. Listen and understand.
I'm personally always happy with a five k of 40 or under, some days better some days more of a "practice run" 
Week 7 Run 2 - In the bag
W8 R1 - interesting!
W9 R1 done
W7 R2- I did it!!
W6 R1 Killer!!
