a Relaxed 5K Headspace run

[Instructor57]

So, Had a great run last time on Monday, my first 1 hour run and 7.25K

and really enjoyed it .

But have been feeling a little low since then and needed to get my Mojo back

i wasn't really feeling it this morning after a poor night's sleep but needed to get this run in for my own peace of mind .

my main objective was do a maintenance run of 5K and enjoy it, that was it !

no other intentions what so ever .

it was a lovely dry morning with a nice cool gentle breeze , thats always a good place to start .

It was Jethro Tull on the playlist this morning (a blast from the past) 😊

i set off at a nice comfortable pace and managed to keep that fairly constant throughout the run, although that was not a conscious effort .

it was nice to feel that the run came naturally ! it feels like a nice comfortable base distance now , i will probably go for another 5K on Saturday at a bit of a higher pace (for my local virtual Parkrun) and then after that , another longer slow run so i can keep increasing my distance and/or time at a comfortable and sensible rate (as was the case on Monday) 😜

[Jools2020 Graduate]

Well done, Ian! Sometimes you just need to go out and run. 👏👏👏

Hope it worked! It’s good to be reminded that all the work we’ve put in is coming to fruition and you can just go for a comfortable 5K without overthinking it.

Sometimes it’s good not to have an agenda 👍

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to Jools2020]

Thanks Julia, feeling better for it 🙂👍

[Roxdog Graduate]

Seems like a sensible plan. A nice relaxed 5k did the trick (Haha, who would have thought 5k would be our relaxed easy runs a few months ago!). Whatever is going on in our lives can affect our mojo, but you are being really sensible!

My knee is a bit creaky after my last 60 min run and so I'm having 3 days off - I'm very familiar with what to do about my knees so know it will be fine. Listening to our bodies and minds os so important. 😊

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to Roxdog]

yes, it sounds crazy to refer to 5K as a relaxed run now, but it's true 😊

i think you are wise to take the time , you do seem to know exactly what you need to do regarding your injury, and your posts and advice regarding injury are always something i take onboard, so thank you ! 👍

[Roxdog Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

Thank you, it's great how we all support one another! Having had arthritis in my knees for several years now, I know the ropes! I now dare anyone to say that running is bad for your knees, because I have found the opposite to be true!

The James Dunne 30 day challenge is tough, but the drills are doing wonders for the high hamstring issue, it has improved even more in the last 10 days, so much so that I might stop referring to 'my injury' soon. I'm bored with it and I'm sure everyone else must be too!😂

Have a great day

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to Roxdog]

Absolutely,

Regarding the knees , it is more likely to be beneficial to your knees as a amateur runner , I cant find the link now but John_W posted a couple of interesting facts on this , don't know if you saw them but worth hunting out !

What is annoying though is to see posts like the one we have both responded too today about hurting knees and running' every day .

So foolish

[Roxdog Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

Yep, a bit like running an old, unserviced car into the ground!

[John_W Graduate in reply to Roxdog]

My recent knee posts:

healthunlocked.com/couchto5......

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

[Roxdog Graduate in reply to John_W]

I saw one of the posts earlier, but thanks for the other links! It's amazing how many non runners have just baldly stated to me that running will be bad for my knees, but I know this isn't true because the arthritis is significantly better than it's been in years. I get the occasional niggle, but now know exactly what to do. That does not involve anti- inflammatory meds, which actually nearly killed me 4 years ago - a long story but as far as I'm concerned they are spawn of the devil, over-prescribed and are used too casually, or wearing knee supports etc.

Owning your weaknesses and working to overcome them, or adapting to accommodate them, seems so important!

Cheers!

[carolinestanford Graduate]

Well done you 👍

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to carolinestanford]

Thank you ! 👍

[Feltip Graduate]

A nice comfortable run, well done 👏

Realising you weren't keen but knowing you wanted to go out and then the benefit of doing it, well done

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to Feltip]

Thank you , I definitely feel better for having done it 🙂👍

[ThisGirlNowRuns Graduate]

Well done - how nice being able to run a relaxed 5K even when you didn't really think you wanted too.

I was similar yesterday, kept telling myself I'm not in the mood as I was getting ready, doing up my trainers, walking out the door etc, but went anyway (achievement!). Wasn't relaxed and comfortable like yours but kept it going (bit of a slow slog really) and finished at 5K!

Funny isn't it, def mind over matter!

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to ThisGirlNowRuns]

Absolutely, mind over matter sometimes, I guess it's becoming a habit now to just run !

[wobbles_when_runs Graduate]

Wow, look at you just going out for a casual 5k. Nice and easy 😁 well done

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to wobbles_when_runs]

Haha, I needed to do it !

But feel better now 😁👍

[Birdlady64 Graduate]

A nice relaxed 5k? Pardon? Could you repeat that please?... 😉🤣

Who would have thought it?

I've been a bit like that myself with the running the last few days, not really sure what I want to do with it or where to go next. I signed up for the magic 10 but am wondering now about that.

I did a short 4k on Monday morning but had to force myself out yesterday evening. I did 5k but it was far from relaxed and easy. I knew I hadn't hydrated enough the day before ,- I don't think red wine counts 🍷🍷🍷🤣and maybe the 60 minutes on Saturday took more out of me than I thought, plus the swim on Tuesday. It was more like a toxic 25 and feet and legs like lead.

[Instructor57 Graduate]

Haha, sorry didn't mean to sound flippent about it ,

It was relaxed I guess because I just found a steady pace and just stayed there , I had a couple of days rest after my hour run but I could still tell I had done it !

I have now pulled out if the magic plan and will continue to progress things on my own rather than having s rigid plan .

And yes, I imagine you still feel the effects of your swimming !

Oh dear , toxic 25 ! 😂

[Birdlady64 Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

Yes - I've not had one like that for a while.

I didn't think you sounded flippant - I was just thinking it's amazing how far we are from that first run of week 1 when 60 seconds seemed like a lifetime. How cool is it that you can just go out and run a 5k with no second thoughts now?...😁

I might start the plan and then drop out if it starts getting too much in terms of time commitment - I'm still really slow. Plus I have a holiday in the middle, so I'm bound to fall off the wagon a bit then. Hubby raised an eyebrow or three when I hinted I might take my running kit away with me!🤣

[Sandraj39 Graduate]

I get days like this too Instructor57 - we are never going to bounce out of bed every day, desperate to run! However, you still pulled your shoes on and put the miles in - a no pressure, taking-it-easy run is great and we should all do them! Hope you feel better now for having got out there? Good luck.🙂

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to Sandraj39]

Thank you Sandra, and yes, I do feel better for it 😁👍

[Sandraj39 Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

...job done! 😀

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to Sandraj39]

😁👍

[Hidden]

Sounds lovely Ian, Well done!

No agenda just a nice 5k... glad it all went to plan and you enjoyed it!

🏃😊

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thanks , I needed that haha 😁

[Tinytears60 Graduate]

Well done Ian 👏👏

Tough to run when sleep hasn’t been great!

Same here- we could have peeled each other some grapes as a midnight feast 🍇🤣🤣