10k by accident ! On Consolidation Run 10 !

[PlymBorn]

Firstly, I never planned to do a 10k so soon 😐. Secondly I went out this morning thinking I might not run as I had pain in my back which resembled that of a broken rib I had last year 😫 (and I had been doing a lot of heavy lifting yesterday). Thirdly (and the key to all this), I was in another part of the country I’m unfamiliar with 🤔. Back story done, here’s what I happened.

Didn’t sleep much last night as was muggy and as said above, was in some pain after helping with a house clearance. I had brought some of my running kit as half minded to do a run 🏃when here. As I couldn’t sleep, I got up early and thought I’d go for a walk 🚶 and see how the pain was ... if ok I’d do a run, if not, I’d return to the house 🏠

I’d planned a route through some woods 🌳and countryside the night before and memorised the route 🗺 which would have been about 5k. Started my usual warm up walk and everything felt good ... in fact the pain I had was easing. 5 min walk done and pain no longer there, so off I went ... as I turned to run into the woods, I had to change plans (here’s where things go wrong) ... it had rained ☔️ here yesterday and overnight and it was boggy and slippy and I had no wish to slip or fall. 🤕

So, I changed my route .. now, I said I bought part of my running kit ... I did not bring my phone armband so had no GPS, so couldn’t plan a route, just go with my gut and remember my route for the way back. 🥴

I got into a rhythm, memorising places, being cautious crossing unfamiliar roads and took my eye off time and distance ... no usual alerts as just had my watch ⌚️ not my phone 📱 (tech not set up in normal way).

Thinking my playlist 🎼 was quite a way on, I checked my watch ⌚️and found I done over 4K ... great 👍 ... but that means I’m over 4K away from the house 🏠 😲😲 .. no money 💰, no buses 🚌 I know of or their route anyhow ... looks like I need to run back ... yes I could of walked, but was feeling fresh and good.

So, I run a bit further ... and turn tail .. and run back ... and got my first 10k! 🏆💪

Now I don’t recommend getting lost, or the way to do a first 10k ... but as my dad said when I told him, “son, if life went to plan every time where’s the joy of a surprise” .... and being he was a runner and fit as butcher’s dog 🐕 and I reckon would still run me into the ground as he was a Royal Marine for nearly 25 years and at 75, still running, his words were his usual wisdom I have always looked up to.

Sorry for the long post!

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

Congratulations that sounds like an awesome run

[PlymBorn in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thank you 🙏 ... not by design nor planned!

[SueAppleRun Graduate in reply to PlymBorn]

Sometimes the best runs are that way, i did an accidental 8k once in the rain

[PlymBorn in reply to SueAppleRun]

See whilst I enjoy the rain ... 8k in it ... you deserve a pat in the back! 👏👏

[SJ60]

What!!!!!!! Wow! That’s a phenomenal run 🙌 well done 👍 I hope you’ve put your feet up since.

[PlymBorn in reply to SJ60]

Hi SJ60 ... thank you so much for your kind words .. 🙏

Well, I was back at the house by 6.45am ... and after a bacon sandwich (after cool down stretches), I was back to house clearing, cleaning and shifting stuff into a skip !

[SJ60 in reply to PlymBorn]

Crazy 🤣 how’s your rib?

[PlymBorn in reply to SJ60]

Good ... think it was a muscle injury .. as in knotted and the run helped ... I spoke to a GP friend of mine ... he said I was now a proper runner ... as in I think every ache pain or injury is a catastrophic impediment ! How rude ! ... but probably true!

[Instructor57 Graduate]

'If you go down to the woods today your sure of a big surprise' 😁

(Although I'm sure there are many on here that don't know those lyrics 😁)

Well done you !

👏👏👏

What a way to do your first 10 k 😂

Excellent pace also !

Sometimes the best planning is not to plan 😁

[PlymBorn in reply to Instructor57]

Thanks Ian ... Teddy Bears’ picnic ... I do so remember that !

I realise I’m going to have to be stricter ... as so far this week, 2 runs not to plan ... could be setting myself up for a fall if I’m not careful ... as my old school report said, ... needs to be more disciplined in his approach!

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to PlymBorn]

Haha yes, teddy bears picnic 😂

Well , you've done it , but yes !

The last thing you want is to be out of it for weeks on end .

Trust me it's not fun !

But what an amazing achievement 😁👏👏👏👏👏👏

[Jools2020 Graduate]

What an amazing accidental run! And what an achievement. 10K ! Many congratulations, Ian, you deserve that success! Your time and pace are pretty darned good, too! 👏👏👏👏👏👍

I hope that your back doesn’t suffer for it.

Wise words from your dad!

[PlymBorn in reply to Jools2020]

Thanks Julia ... Slightly taken aback with doing 10K .... the pace is what shocked me to be honest!

I think as I was looking around checking the roads more than usual I wasn’t concentrating on pace ... but as I said earlier, I’m going to have to reign it in a bit ... twice I’ve gone against plan.

And Yep, dad knows best ... I think he was proud as punch ! Never been athletic .. my brother yes, him yes, but not me ... until now ... he’s asked that when I go down next, would I like to run with him .... that’s my medal 🏅 !

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to PlymBorn]

That would be fantastic; really special. He’s obviously very proud of you.

Definitely take it easy on your next run!

[PlymBorn in reply to Jools2020]

Oh I will !! .. time to ease back ... 30 mins Sunday and that’s it ! I mean it ! I really do ! That’s it .. 30 mins !

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to PlymBorn]

I’ll be watching you! 😉

[PlymBorn in reply to Jools2020]

Yes Miss Julia ... 😔

[MontyMooDog Graduate]

Great run, great time and a great write up. Full marks all round 😂👍😁

[PlymBorn in reply to MontyMooDog]

Thanks MontyMooDog ...all by accident (incompetence) ... but feeling very pleased 😀

[Hidden]

What a way to do an accidental 10k! I think you better get yourself over that bridge to the 10k forum and get yourself a badge!

[PlymBorn in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Delly ... totally unexpected and do wonder if it would have gone so well if I had planned it !

[Couchphoenix Graduate]

Well done PlymBorn 👏🏻👏🏻 accidental 10k sounds great to me....sounds like having to concentrate on an an unfamiliar route took your mind off the run itself and how far you’d travelled....but who cares, a 10k is a 10k....nice one 👍

[PlymBorn in reply to Couchphoenix]

Thanks Couch ... I do think if it had been a familiar route I wouldn’t have run 10k ... would have been all planned.

My incompetence... I mean distracted by other concerns 😂 ... was the key reason why today’s result occurred ... think it will be some time before I do another 10k .... maybe ...

[PlymBorn]

😂😂 ... definitely a Janner thing ! I was born in Leigham.

13.5 .... 🤔 hmm ... no I think I’ll build up to that one slowly ... he says !!

[Run4Hills Graduate]

Wow! Well done!

Looking at your time, pace and elevation-blimey!- you are obviously super fit and raring to go.

What I am amazed at is your discipline and self-control for sticking to the 30 min runs and not extending before now. What’s your average pace for a 5K?

Running is also in the blood it seems! For some people it comes so easily. My other half just runs and runs and runs! Not me!

I did my first 5k run in week 7. I felt good so just kept going -at nowhere near your pace! So ...I do get what you are saying! Sometimes it just happens.

I also think that running can sometimes sort out any very minor aches and twinges. Re-alignment. Am no doctor though.

Why not ask the forum for help in planning your next few runs? Join a running club? I think you should be on a very different trajectory to the average plodder like me. Well done.

[heathertemp Graduate]

Well done! I also did a 10k by accident in Bangkok when I set off with the 10k runners instead of the 5k ones. They were reopening the roads by the time I finished but I still did it!

[PlymBorn in reply to heathertemp]

😂😂😂.... thank you ... and that post heather had my laugh out loud !

[HennieR62 Graduate]

This is brilliant, how you can possibly run 10k by accident!! 😂😂😂😂 Best sort of accident I guess. Well done, and great post with the pix.

[PlymBorn in reply to HennieR62]

Thanks HennieR62 ... to be fair, I could of walked back but that would have taken far too long for my impatient self ! .. sometimes incompetence comes up with a good result !! 😃😂

[Blackberrypie Graduate]

Quite some accident there! Great work

[PlymBorn in reply to Blackberrypie]

Thank you 🙏

[Sky-Runner Graduate]

Great story and huge well done on your first 10K. Love your Dad's words of wisdom.

[PlymBorn in reply to Sky-Runner]

Thanks 🙏 Sky-Runner

[Hidden]

Wow, what a wonderful run, congrats, are you sure you’re not half gazelle? 😉😃

[PlymBorn in reply to Hidden]

Half gazelle .... that made me smile !! 😂😂

Should see my pace today though, 7mins per km ... slightly different but was taking it easy after the week’s exertions.

Thank you 🙏 for your kind words.

[Hidden in reply to PlymBorn]

Oh that sounds a perfect pace, the importance of the slow restorative runs 😁

[PlymBorn in reply to Hidden]

Exactly ... felt good and easy today which was the aim !

[Birdlady64 Graduate]

OMG!😱

If that had been me I would have got hopelessly lost and ended up having to run (or crawl) a marathon🤣

Serious kudos to you though 😎 and what a totally amazing run. It's obviously non your genes 😁

I've only managed 5.6k up until now but know what you mean about hitting that spot where you feel like you can keep going for ever

[PlymBorn in reply to Birdlady64]

Thank you ... it just fell in to place ... by accident yes, but fell into place