Finally ... First 5K

[Joeys86]

Super happy to have run my first 5K this morning!

I graduated about a month ago now and have been doing about 4K in 30 minutes 3 times a week since.

The last couple of weeks have been a real mental battle for me where I lost my confidence and struggled to run without having a panic attack.

This morning I headed out for a run, aiming for 30 minutes. I was conscious to slow my pace down, take it easy and enjoy it.

I got to my usual turning point and took a quick minute break to put my phone away (doing a running challenge with work that requires a photo and video of running 🙄). I checked my pace and saw I was going about 1minute per KM slower than usual and definitely could feel it. I turned around to head back. As I approaching my final minute I decided to carry on. I’d roughly plotted the next turning point for a 5K so carried on to there, then back to my original end point. Annoyingly at 4.8K I got stuck behind a bin lorry with no space to overtake 😂 so did a bit of on the spot running. Then carried on for another minute or so and was done.

Slowing down definitely helped me. I’m so pleased to get this done. This time last week I was really thinking running wasn’t for me!

What a great start to a Friday!

[Blossom- Graduate]

Wow well done! Must be like graduation all over again! I'm still chasing The 5k, slowly, but will get there!😏

[Joeys86 Graduate]

I’ve been telling everyone and anyone who will listen they need to slow down! But its definitely got some benefits. Just need to stop being so competitive with myself about my pace and distance!

[HennieR62 Graduate]

Fabulous!! Well done you ! 👏👏👏👏👏 🌟 🌟 🌟 Just when you think you may not do it .....

Slowing down is definitely the thing

[Joeys86 Graduate in reply to HennieR62]

Thank you 🥰🥰 How has your week been?

[HennieR62 Graduate in reply to Joeys86]

You’re welcome! I’ve had a really busy last couple of days so have postponed today’s run again, did the other 2 fine thanks, trying to do 1x5k, 2x30 minutes for 3 weeks. I’ll try and do it tomorrow, don’t want to convert to a 2-runs-a-week habit😃. Your week has clearly just got better !!

[Joeys86 Graduate in reply to HennieR62]

No harm in another rest day! I think I’ll go out again on Monday now and try your way of 2 x 30min and 1 5K a week. Good luck for tomorrow, hope its not too hot! Have a lovely weekend 🥰

[HennieR62 Graduate in reply to Joeys86]

Done it! Not fast not pretty, but 30 minutes. It wasn’t too hot just yet, ran back into the freshening wind which was a challenge! Have to say I probably wouldn’t have gone if I wasn’t checking in!! 🥴 Thank you again. It’s amazing what tired legs can manage!! I’ll be aiming to get back to mon/weds/fri runs next week. I read on someone’s post that they do the longer distance on the first day of their week, then if things go awry there’s time to catch up, so that’ll be my approach. Have a lovely weekend too. 🙃 🌞 ☀️

[Joeys86 Graduate in reply to HennieR62]

Longer distance on the first run of the week seems a good idea. I’m hoping to get out in the morning, but its forecast to be 22c at 8am!! 😱 Checking in definitely helps!

[HennieR62 Graduate in reply to Joeys86]

Also thunderstorms forecast here in the morning - extra incentive to get out early !! 🌩🌩 Good luck!!

[HennieR62 Graduate in reply to Joeys86]

Done it and home! I wasn’t quite early enough to avoid the rain, it started around 3.5k - and I was loving it after the last couple of days heat!! Just as well I bought a water-proof sports ear bud thing last week, knowing running in the dry weather is just not going to last. 😊 How have you got on? Hoping you’ve got out there! I know it’s early days, but I notice a definite change of approach on my 5k-day, really focus on times per km to not go too fast. ie to go slow enough to finish😂😂

[Joeys86 Graduate in reply to HennieR62]

Well done! I set my alarm early this morning, hoping to get out before 7. Didnt happen, I had a terrible sleep and almost didnt go, but knew I needed to check in with you! Was out the door at about 7:20. It was TOUGH. Luckily there was a nice breeze along the seafront but I still had to stop a couple of times to splash some cold water on my face. I think I need to up my water intake even more, I have been having 2lts of water a day plus other drinks, going to go for 3 from now on I think. Well done for getting your 5K! I did 4K, took me longer than usual as I slowed the pace again. Im going for a 5K on Friday when hopefully it might be cooler?!

[HennieR62 Graduate in reply to Joeys86]

But you went out! Fabulous!! Lack of sleep is the worst, I think, and you still ran. 👏👏 Some runs are just harder, I’ve definitely been grumbling to myself all the way through some! Why do I do it etc, but you just know you’ll feel good afterwards. I wonder about dehydration, even today I was wet more from sweat than the rain😊 The next running bling will have to be a head sweatband. 😅

[HennieR62 Graduate in reply to Joeys86]

PS makes a change for me to be out before you! 😂😂😂

[Joeys86 Graduate in reply to HennieR62]

Good morning! Good luck for today. I headed out at 7:15, ran for 20 mins then headed back home. I felt a little disappointed when I stopped, but it was just too hot. I could feel myself getting a little panicky. Usually that route has a pretty heavy wind, there was none today! Had a little word with myself on my walk back home and spun it around - not a failure to only do 20 minutes, but its 20 minutes in HEAT which a few months ago I would of laughed at the idea of me doing! Hoping the weather cools a little (please 🥵🥵) and will next be out either Friday or Saturday - whichever is forecast as cooler!

[HennieR62 Graduate in reply to Joeys86]

Ah well done you! VERY impressed you did 20 minutes - as you say so positively, it’s a SUCCESS!! I stayed at my sons last night and there’s NO WAY I can go out in the heat now. I don’t know if tonight will end up being my first late evening run ! Will see what the thermometer says .... ☀️ ☀️ ☀️

[Joeys86 Graduate in reply to HennieR62]

You might be onto something there! Maybe evenings are the way to go in this heat! There is absolutely no shade along the seafront in the morning, I might switch to an evening run on Friday! Have a lovely day ☺️

[HennieR62 Graduate in reply to Joeys86]

Having abandoned Wednesday’s run I got out this morning - hooray! Ready at 7 (!!), waited for an electrician to arrive so got out at 8. There was some heavy rain here last night, so a little cooler but still very humid. I managed 30 minutes and it was hard! I’m going to be strict on rehydrating over the weekend and get some early nights, there have been a couple of family things this week! Then I hope back to normal next week. Hope you have a good run today. Have a lovely weekend. 😊

[Joeys86 Graduate in reply to HennieR62]

Well done you! I set my alarm for nice and early this morning, then must of turned it off as I woke up at 8:30... I start work at 9! So I had to give it a miss. But I’ll 100% be out there tomorrow. Being strict with hydration is a good idea! I really struggle with it at the weekends, I think because in the week I keep a litre bottle of water on my desk at all times. Have a lovely weekend 😊

[HennieR62 Graduate in reply to Joeys86]

Yikes! That was a late start. You could maybe have run to work??? 😊

[Joeys86 Graduate in reply to HennieR62]

Wouldnt be far - only have to walk to my dining table!

[HennieR62 Graduate in reply to Joeys86]

😂😂😂😂

[Joeys86 Graduate in reply to HennieR62]

Saturday morning run done! I had a great nights sleep, woke up feeling excited to get out. It looked grey out there and like it was going to rain any moment. My pace was a lot slower than it has been, I did 4K in 35 minutes and without stopping for the first time in ages! It was a hot, slow run but so happy its done! Enjoy your weekend, check in next week?

[HennieR62 Graduate in reply to Joeys86]

Well done,👏👏 it’s great you did a no-stops run! I am still working on getting enough sleep! We’ve had some rain here now so it is slightly cooler. Phew. Yes check in next week. Have a great weekend. 😁

[HennieR62 Graduate in reply to Joeys86]

I did my fastest 5k!! So chuffed with myself. But have had a couple of better nights sleep, it’s cooler and less humid. When I set off the sun was just coming through the sea mist, it was lovely. I’ll stick to 30 minute runs for Wednesday and Friday, and think about where to add the 10% increase for week 7-9 runs. How are you? How have you got on today? 👍

[Joeys86 Graduate in reply to HennieR62]

Fantastic! I’m super impressed. My run didn’t happen! I had the absolute worst nights sleep, I was still wide awake at 4am. I managed a little sleep, my alarm went off to get up to run and felt like I’d been hit by a bus. I don’t do well on little sleep. Probably should of gone at 4 😂. Going to go tomorrow instead. I’m going to try your way of 5K on the first day of the week, then 30 mins for the other two. Actually though missing todays run works better as I needed to shift days around next week because of work, so going to do Tue, Fri & Sun this week. Have a lovely day 😊

[HennieR62 Graduate in reply to Joeys86]

Oh no! After the last few weeks I can totally empathise on the lack of sleep, it saps your energy. Hope you drop off well tonight! I’ll look forward to hearing how you get on tomorrow. Good luck!! 🤞🤞

[Joeys86 Graduate in reply to HennieR62]

Got out this morning for a fairly slow 5K. It was hard. Glad to have got it done! Will run again on Friday. Still loving that post run feeling 😍

[HennieR62 Graduate in reply to Joeys86]

Well done! It is brilliant when you’ve finished! And succeeded!! Slow is good 🐌 😊😊 Have a great week 👍 catch up Friday