Weekly virtual 5K

[Instructor57]

so my previous run was a slow 6K as part of my plan to both increase my distance and also increase my pace over the shorter distances , yes, running slowly makes faster runners !

today i had thought about doing just a short but quicker 3.5K however , its saturday , so i wanted to do a 5K for MMD's weekly virtual 5K and also for my local Parkruns virtual 5K so that's what i ended up doing.

i have never run a real Parkrun before, in fact i had never run before starting this ! but during lockdown i decided to take on the challenge of C25k in preparation for parkruns starting again and i wanted to be able to complete it at a reasonable pace for my age (63)

so, out of the door at 06:10, dull and damp and a cool breeze , Perfect!

Jethro tull on the playlist this morning .

set off on my usual route and straight away noticed my initial pace was quicker than the last 5K so i backed off a little , after all this is just 2 or 3 minutes into the run ! a long way to go yet !

i didn't want to burn out in the first Km but it felt strangely comfortable,

so i decided to vary my pace according to my breathing and the terrain.

i picked it up a little on the flat or downhill and slowed it down on the inclines and managed to keep a comfortable breathing pattern throughout the run which turned out to be my best 5K to date.

My first 5K was 14 days ago with a time of 39:42 and this one was no less comfortable at 33:07

i have not decided yet but my next run will either be longer and slow or shorter at my optimum pace but i shall keep mixing things up a little 😬

[SammiN3 Graduate]

I'd just starting mixing things up too, it's a great feeling and obviously really paying off!! Well done 👏👏

No virtual 5k for me this week, but I hope to join you again next week!

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to SammiN3]

Thanks Sammi, yes it keeps me interested as well 😬

[Roxdog Graduate]

Wow! Everything you're doing is paying off and that shows in your time for that 5k! If it felt comfortable, then that was the pace for you! Brilliant.

I won't ever do a park run, because I don't like all the noise associated with my local one when I've come across it (loudspeakers etc) but it sounds like you're definitely ready for one when they re-start!

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to Roxdog]

Thank you !

we will see with the parkrun !

i at least want to go and do one just to see what it's like 😊

[Jools2020 Graduate]

A huge ‘well done’ for this run, Ian! 👏👏👏👏👏👍

It sounds like it was a comfortable run for you, too - even with all those personal bests on Strava!

Good to hear you’re mixing it up a bit; it keeps things more interesting! 👍

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to Jools2020]

Thanks Julia, as i think you have said before , it's nice to know you can do a slow one when you want as well .

what is it they say ,variety is the spice of life haha 🤣

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

It has made a huge difference to me and my approach to running. I needed a plan to follow. Then I suddenly realised - I could write my own! And modify it whenever I wanted 😀👍

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to Jools2020]

Absolutely !

i have signed up for Ju Ju's magic 10 plan and it's similar to what i'm doing anyway, it might just push the distance a bit sooner than i would if i was left to my own devices , and i might stick to it easier 😊

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

I think that plan will suit you very well!

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to Jools2020]

it will help me having someone telling me what to do haha 😂

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

😂

[Hareshaw-Granny Graduate]

Great result as you felt this a lot more comfortable and in a brill time too. Love hearing what your plans are as it gives us all something to think about.

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to Hareshaw-Granny]

Thank you !

i like to have plans to keep me interested 😬

[SJ60]

Great run and write up 👍 well done on PBs! You’ll be winning the park runs 👍

Not sure I’ll be joining MMD’s weekly virtual 5k this week depending on achy ankle

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to SJ60]

Thank you !

and i don't blame you resting if you have an achy ankle !

[PhoenixRise Graduate]

A massive well done! What a huge an impressive difference in time! Seems like your plan and hard work is really paying off 💪🏻

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to PhoenixRise]

Thank you !

i will either do a long slow one next or a shorter reasonable paced one. 😊

[PhoenixRise Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

Variety is key! Are you thinking of doing the Sept Magic 10K plan?

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to PhoenixRise]

yes, already in 😬👍

[PhoenixRise Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

Boom! See you at the starting line! 🏃‍♂️👍

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to PhoenixRise]

👍😬

[Birdlady64 Graduate]

Fantastic run for you!

You smashed that PB and it felt comfortable as well. AMAZING!

It's great to mix things up a bit. I started to do that too.

Glad to hear you're doing the Magic 10 😁

I signed up in a moment of madness but am slightly regretting it.... It's a big commitment but I feel like I need someone or something to push me a bit

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to Birdlady64]

Thank you !

Oh no, don't regret signing up for the magic 10.

I spent a while thinking about it and decided I needed someone to tell me what to do 😂

[Birdlady64 Graduate]

Ha ha!

How ironic considering you spent all your life telling other people what to do🤣

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to Birdlady64]

Hahaha 😂😂😂

[Tinytears60 Graduate]

Well done Ian

You’re improving all the time.. they pace is phenomenal 👏👏

Me thinks you and Jools2020 have similar taste in music 🎧 🎵 👍

I’m going to continue mixing things up too ... had a long bike ride today to give my shins a break... they not too bad but you know better to be pro active rather than reactive .. 👍😀

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to Tinytears60]

Thanks Jane,

hmm.....think it's time I went out on my bike again 😬

And yes, there seems to be one or 2 bands we both like 😁🎶🎸

[Blackberrypie Graduate]

Good work, that's a great improvement in a short time. I am enjoying mixing it up too - nice sense of freedom! Though looking forward to JuJu's plan next month as it's good to have some structure too.

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to Blackberrypie]

Thank you, and yes, I'm looking forward that also 🙂

[MccHa Graduate]

Hi Ian, better late than never as they say!!! Just saw your post 😮 and glad to hear to doing well and improving all the time 👍

Great efforts and run 🏃‍♂️. Keep up the good work 👏👏👏

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to MccHa]

Many thanks !

Look forward to increasing the distance now 😁

[Hidden]

Really is great how far you’ve come and what you’re achieving Ian...Very Well done! ⭐️