I’m really noticing the darker mornings now - as an early morning runner, I’m not happy about them! I do have a chest torch and it’s very good, but I prefer not to leave the house while it’s pitch black.
So - I checked the weather forecast last night and it was good! Not cold enough for my new warm running tights 😀 so shorts it is. Short sleeved tee shirt. Have to say, it was a bit chilly at first! Off I go, Santana through the headphones 🎵 🎧 and I’m certainly not running at an easy conversational pace this morning 😬. I try and gasp some Spanish, but it doesn’t work very well! I’ve done it again and started off too fast. I check the first km and it’s 7’ 07”. (I immediately shelve the plan for negative splits! I usually struggle with the second km if I set off too fast!)
The run seemed faster than last week, and it was. Very pleased with my improved pace! I found it hard work, though, because I set off just a little too fast. It’s very hard to judge. I was tired for the whole of the last km, but I did enjoy the run and it was glorious to be out early this morning and to watch the sun come up as I ran along the infamous Deadend Track!
Pic of Welney Sluice before sunrise.
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Jools2020
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Thanks, Ian 😊 I agree about the plans showing results! It was only a few weeks ago I couldn’t have imagined a pace of 7’ 08” 🏃♀️. I’m sure it’s the slow runs 👍
That’s what does it for me! I rarely see anyone. Only time I do is on Saturday mornings when I do my long run. Last Saturday I ran for an hour and a half - and of course the dog walkers were all out towards the end of my run 😀
Thanks, Birdlady. With a name like that, I might have guessed you would have visited WWT Welney. I have worked there and spent many happy times there with my camera during the Whooper and Bewick season!
Blistering pace 😂, well yes - certainly for me! Like you, I paid for it with the second km, but managed to pull it back in the third and fourth; well done for your 5K PB ! 🏃♀️👏👍
Thanks! Just back from my lunchtime swim 🏊I'm convinced the running has helped a lot with my breathing in the pool😁
Yes, my name comes from my hobby. I haven't been to WWT Welney for quite a few years now, but it was always lovely seeing the swans.
I've seen breeding Whoopers in Iceland - that was pretty special too.
Of course we don't get swans here in winter, but we do have the Brent Geese and usually a few short eared owls by the coast. It would be a great place to run, but I would want to take my binoculars and keep stopping everytime I saw something 😂
I’m not really a bird watcher, more a photographer, but the two overlap often. The local birdwatching club used to get frustrated with me, because I wouldn’t be interested in getting a distant shot of a rare bird, preferring a close up study in interesting light of a mute swan 😂. We have short eared owls round here, too - as well as many barn owls and a few tawnies.
Ha ha! Yes birders can be a bit of a strange breed.
I'm not totally one-eyed about it, I like all aspects of wildlife and being out and about amongst nature. It can be amazing what else you see whilst out birding, if only you look around you.
Well done on your 4K PB Jools2020 👏🏻👏🏻I’ve noticed how much darker the early mornings are getting now, a chest torch sounds like a good investment. Nice pic too 👍
Thanks 🙏. Chest torch is great! I tried a head torch, but didn’t like how it felt on my head. Also, I didn’t realise how often I turned my head slightly to look at things, and of course the beam went with it 😂.
I struggled to get going the first 2K (seems to be a thing atm) but my 70s/80s disco playlist didn't let me down - quick reminder that Red Lights Spell Danger and all became good
Well put it this way then. If you want to run a 29min 4k you need to be at 7'15" per Km pace to achieve that. So you need to find out what cadence you need to run at to achieve that pace. Run 1k at 150spm and see what your pace is. Then try 155spm etc etc and plan a strategy from there... 👍😁
Average cadence for today’s run according to stats was 169. I suspect, though, that my cadence is all over the place, which could explain why I had trouble with the speed podcast. Probably a good idea to do what you suggest. Thanks 😊
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Consolidating at 20 minutes
Consolidation continues: Junior Parkrun! 
