Speedy Gonzales! (Well, for me anyway!)

I have been using the short 20 minute run in roseabi's wonderful bridging plan to try to increase my pace and stamina, but I'm not very consistent and despite my best efforts my progress has been a bit irratic. I set out with the aim to keep my average pace during these runs the right side of 7:30min/km, but it has wavered around 7:25min/km and even been as slow as 7:43min/km.

Today I wanted to see if I could average around 7:20min/km. When I set off I wasn't sure I could keep it up as I felt I was working hard, but I found myself enjoying the challenge and Mymojo was buoyed on by the fact that my 50 year old legs were running at a pace they have definitely not done since my school days!

When I finished after 20 minutes I was so ready for my cool down walk and knew, judging by the looks from passers-by, that I was again doing a great impression of a beetroot 🙄🥵. But I was a Happy Beetroot, because when I checked my watch I had run an amazing average pace of 7:08min/km! Beetroot? Yes! But a very proud and happy one!

Happy running to all my fellow beetroots! 😊🏃‍♀️

[happytanya2]

Amazing well done 😊

[Hidden in reply to happytanya2]

Thank you happytanya2! 😊

[Allbarron Graduate]

Fantastic Delly!!! I'm trying pace too! No where near you tho . Just ran my 30 minutes of the plan and ran under 8.0/km which is great for me. But you......"the fastest mouse in all Mecico" 🤣🤣 Go you!!

[Hidden in reply to Allbarron]

😆 Arriba, arriba! Ándale, ándale! 🤣

[Allbarron Graduate in reply to Hidden]

🤣🤣🤣that's made my day🐭🐭🐭

[Shar71 Graduate]

Well done delly-dot and nothing wrong with a beetroot face 😂😂

[Hidden in reply to Shar71]

I agree! I was proud to own my beetroot face this morning! How's it going with you and your new trainers?

[dijep Graduate]

Wow thats brilliant 😊 😊 I'm just starting out on the improving pace journey and am intrigued as to how you keep your pace consistent do you run to music?

[Hidden in reply to dijep]

I was listening to Radio 2 and this morning's programme was quite chatty whilst I was running, so I don't think today's pace relied on the rhythm of the music too much. There's some chat on here about using the beats per minute of certain music tracks to guide your pace but I haven't checked that out yet.

[Nilsam Graduate]

That is a super beetroot plan. I can definitely see the logic and the results in these shorter faster runs. Well done. Great pace. 😎🏃🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️🤸🏻‍♀️

[Hidden in reply to Nilsam]

I think my three weekly runs are falling into a bit of a pattern......

🏃‍♀️the first shorter run is the one where I push myself a bit and aim to increase speed 🥵.

🏃‍♀️the second is the "housekeeping run" for 30 minutes, where I just keep things ticking over nicely and hope to improve a little over time 😊.

🏃‍♀️the third is my long run when I embrace my inner snail so I can make it to the end 🐌.

[Nilsam Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Hope copied this into my notes as the Delly-dot consolidation...with emojis of course. Time to do week 2 soon. 🤔🤣👍

[Hidden in reply to Nilsam]

😊

[SaltdeanSizzler]

Fab 🥳Beetroot Club... Snail Club there all great clubs to belong too 😝😂🤩

[Hidden in reply to SaltdeanSizzler]

I agree, and I am a proud member of both depending on which run I am doing! 😊

[Timotea Graduate]

Oh wow! If I do 10;05 I am pleased. 7.0/km is amazing. By the way my son who is 37 and runs regularly is at around 5.7. I think I need to join SaltDeanSizzlers snail club!

[Hidden in reply to Timotea]

Oh I am still a snail for the distance runs! 🐌

[BowlingT Graduate]

That’s excellent! Well done you. I am a fellow beetroot and as long as we are happy who cares eh?

Today I was running and a woman pointed at me appeared to be laughing, I had my earbuds in but when we finished I said to my husband who I was with “did you see that woman pointing and laughing at my red face”. Apparently she knew me (I was too busy trying to run to noticed) and was saying oh hello! Haha I just assumed she was mocking my red red face 😂

[Hidden in reply to BowlingT]

I kept bumping into former pupils as I ran during the start of lockdown and I know some didn't recognise me because I was such a beetroot! It was an unexpected form of disguise 😆!

[Fabat50 Graduate]

That’s a fabulous pace Delly-dot. Well done. I’m also a fully paid up member of the Beetroot Face Club.

[Hidden in reply to Fabat50]

Beetroot Face Club member for one run 🥵, proud Snail Club member for another run 🐌! That's me!

[RunRunRun13 Graduate]

Well done !!

I always come back like a beetroot even after a fast walk 😂 😅

A fast runner past me the other day, hair perfect not a drip of sweat and no beetroot face, smiling away (how the other half live) 😂😂

[Hidden in reply to RunRunRun13]

Ooh - I wonder which club she belongs to? Must be "The Slinky Gazelle Club". I can only dream of belonging to that one 🤔☁️🦌

[Fionamags Graduate in reply to Hidden]

The thing about gazelles is that they are all different and they travel at different speeds.... Actually I made that up 😉

[Hidden]

A cracking run for you there Speedy, and interesting to see how you’re building up your stamina/speed too. So far all I have done is run! I love beetroot, beautiful vibrant colour 😉🤗

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I love it. A vibrant beetroot ! That's me 😆 !! I shall have to remember that one!

I have to admit that I am enjoying the variety in these runs. roseabi knew what she was doing when she dreamed up this plan!

[Hidden]

I think I’ll take a closer look at mixing up my runs, did an easy run this morning but it felt soooo hard, heavy legs 🥴

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I've had hard runs like that too, like running through treacle. It's frustrating as I can't explain why. My hydration has been good, my legs are stretched and rested, but they just don't want to move properly. The good thing is these runs pass. They may come back, but they go again too. Bumps in the road, that's all - running hiccups.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Running hiccups, I likes that, thanks DD 🤗

[Dreambird Graduate]

Amazing achievement well done you - keep on going. I’m about to start this consolidation phase after completing week 9 this morning 🏃🏼‍♀️🏃🏼‍♀️👍✅

[Hidden in reply to Dreambird]

Congratulations on your graduation. Make sure that you post on the July Graduation Badge post for your shiny Graduate badge. Check out the July Consolidation Club post too as there will be support and advice there to help you on your way. Good luck!

[Fionamags Graduate]

OMG DellyD that's brilliant!!!! And without the ear torture of the Speed podcast? Hmmmmm.

[Hidden in reply to Fionamags]

Thank you Fionamags!

I tried out the C25k+ podcast but my ears weren't having it! Such a torturous noise!