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!
Written by
PlymBorn
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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 !
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!
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!
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! 👏👏👏👏👏👍
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 🏅 !
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 👍
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 ...
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.
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!
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 !! 😃😂
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Fish, chips and mushy peas!
Hello all - 71 years old and hoping to run!
FAQ Post C25K COMPLETED…….WHAT NEXT?
