The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men.... and a virtual 5k from hell 😵

[Birdlady64]

So my plan to do the longer runs of the magic plan on Saturday mornings lasted one week...

Blame it on the fact I'm still not sleeping that well - for a total of 3 hours and 8 minutes last night to be precise. I just couldn't force myself up and out.

Blame it on the fact my hairdresser was coming at 10 this morning - my first proper hairdo since before lockdown.

Blame it on the fact that hubby wanted to go to the garden center this afternoon to buy a pair of loppers.

I very nearly didn't run at all today. However reading everyone else's inspirational posts and achievements shamed me into donning my kit at 6 this evening. I told hubby it would be a short 3k.

But having left the house Im thinking "No it's MMDs Virtual 5k!"

The 5k from hell ensued. 45 minutes of torture. I did not enjoy that one bit at all. I almost stopped at 3k but I couldnt let team MMD down 😤

Not my best run by a long chalk, but a run none the less. And I still feel better for having done it than sitting on the sofa 🙂

[Instructor57 Graduate]

Well done you ! 👍

I'm so impressed you went out when you did .

I'm afraid if I miss a morning run then I couldn't face going in the evening .

And well done for continuing to the 5k, that as real determination 👍😁

[Birdlady64 Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

Thanks!

I know what you mean although I did more or less all of the plan by running in the evening after work.

I had it in the back of my mind to try for the 6k I intended this morning but it was quickly obvious that wasn't going to happen.

I'm still glad I went out though

[MontyMooDog Graduate]

Oh no!! Maybe not the best thing if you're tired. But at least you got out and are fitter for doing it. I didn't have my best run today either but better than nothing. Let's look forward to next week👍🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️😁🙏

[Birdlady64 Graduate in reply to MontyMooDog]

Yes absolutely looking forward to next week. Itmeans my holiday is getting closer 😁

[MontyMooDog Graduate in reply to Birdlady64]

Now that is something to look forward to👍😂

[nowster Graduate]

Wee, sleekit, cowran, tim'rous beastie

O, what a panic's in thy breastie! ...

But Mousie, thou are no thy-lane,

In proving foresight may be vain:

The best laid schemes o' Mice an' Men,

Gang aft agley,

An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain,

For promis'd joy!

Robert Burns, To a Mouse (1785)

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_a_...

[Birdlady64 Graduate in reply to nowster]

You are an absolute mine of information 😁

I want you on my pub quiz team 🙂

[nowster Graduate in reply to Birdlady64]

I'm not that good on recent pop music or sport. You'll need someone else for that. 🤣

[nowster Graduate in reply to Birdlady64]

PS. There were two John Steinbeck books on the O-Level syllabus my year. One was "The Pearl". Guess what the other one was called? 😉

[Birdlady64 Graduate in reply to nowster]

🤔

I can't even remember my O-levels they were so long ago 🤣

[nowster Graduate in reply to Birdlady64]

That I remember such trivia makes me a useful pub quiz team member. 😉

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

Well done for getting out there and keeping going when it was hard work

[Birdlady64 Graduate in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thank you !🙏

It's the hard ones that help us grow as runners.

[Maxi80]

You got to use a quote from John Steinbeck in the title so that’s a win!

[nowster Graduate in reply to Maxi80]

The title was Steinbeck, the quote he used was Burns. (See above.)

"Grapes of Wrath" is biblical, of course.

[Maxi80 in reply to nowster]

It took a while to read but it is.

[Birdlady64 Graduate in reply to Maxi80]

Ha ha! Yes!

[Hareshaw-Granny Graduate]

Really well done finishing your run. Think you and I could do with some sleep counselling!. Sleep just defies me most nights, ping awake at 3 every morning. Such is life. At least running is a break. 😁😁👍

[Birdlady64 Graduate in reply to Hareshaw-Granny]

Thank you!

I'm not convinced I finished it as the intention for today was 6k, but that will have to wait until later in the week. Monday will be the short 3k 'recovery' run for me I think.

As for sleep we must be virtual twins as my watch says I awoke at 3.17am this morning 😁

[Hareshaw-Granny Graduate in reply to Birdlady64]

What can I say. Probably something to do with age 🤣🤣👍

[Jools2020 Graduate]

I admire you so much for going out on a run with all that going on! You are an inspiration.

I’m with Instructor57 on this - if events conspire to prevent a morning run, I don’t even consider running later in the day!

We all have runs that don’t go according to plan. Runs that somehow seem more effort than they are worth, for many reasons. But you persevered, even carrying on after 3K to the full 5K. You turned it into a positive! Well done! 👏👏👏👍🥰

[MontyMooDog Graduate in reply to Jools2020]

I think I'm going to change my running time to just before dusk on the weekdays as I can park at the Uni then for free and miss all the early traffic. Will then run under artificial lighting. But will run at about 9am on Saturday soon to get used to the parkrun🏃‍♂️👍

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to MontyMooDog]

Running at 9.00 a.m. on Saturdays is a really good idea! I think I might have to rethink my plan soon and start doing faster runs on Saturday, working up to 5K and maybe do my long run on another day 😬.

Running at dusk would seem to be a good idea for you. 👍

[MontyMooDog Graduate in reply to Jools2020]

Sounds like a plan if you are thinking on doing parkrun when they start late October..... 👍

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to MontyMooDog]

Yes, that has always been my aim! Our local one is really friendly. I’m wondering with the rising cases of Covid that plans to restart the park runs could well be put on hold again - we can only wait and see.

[MontyMooDog Graduate in reply to Jools2020]

Apparently they are "Covid secure" so will be going ahead albeit possibly with a different format eg: staggered starts or over 2 days etc etc. Have you been to one before?

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to MontyMooDog]

That’s good news! I’ve been to our local one to watch and take photos. It had a very nice atmosphere and was very encouraging to new runners, even runners that wanted to do 60 seconds of running and 60 seconds of walking.

[Birdlady64 Graduate in reply to Jools2020]

Yes it's all supposed to be about inclusivity

I've never been though my granddaughter was running at the Cardiff one near where she lives.

I'd like to give it a try when they start. I can literally walk 10 minutes to the start of my local one in the woods.

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to Birdlady64]

That’s useful to be so close!

[Birdlady64 Graduate in reply to Jools2020]

Ive run most if the course many times through the plan, but still need to tackle the uphill finish 🥵

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to Birdlady64]

Ah! Yes, I’ve heard about this ‘uphill’ thing 😂 don’t have any experience of that ! Our park run is as flat as a pancake of course 😀

[Birdlady64 Graduate in reply to Jools2020]

Everywhere is flat as a pancake where you are 😁

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to Birdlady64]

Yes, and I love it! 🙂

[MontyMooDog Graduate in reply to Jools2020]

I've watched my daughter run at quite a few venues and all seemed pretty friendly. I'm going to give it a go but just hang around at the back the first couple of times and watch what goes on with the new Covid format. It may be worth you visiting your local venue and having a trial outing before they start up. The courses are all on line👍

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to MontyMooDog]

Good idea, I will do that. I’d like to reassure myself that it’s low risk.

[Birdlady64 Graduate in reply to Jools2020]

I agree. Nothing is risk free, but it's all about managed risk I guess. We will have to see how things pan out over the next few weeks

[Birdlady64 Graduate in reply to Jools2020]

Thank you!!

It may have been better to wait but I know there's no way I would get up early on a Sunday.

I do prefer first thing in the morning, but my definition of first thing is a little different to yours I think 😁

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to Birdlady64]

😂 my idea of early is getting later almost daily due to the dark mornings!

[Jane_1961 Graduate]

I think this is all about running when it’s not easy. Anyone can run when it’s comfortable. The sense of achievement when you get out there and complete your run however short or slow it is, is amazing.

Well done you certainly deserve your relaxation on the sofa now 💐

[Birdlady64 Graduate in reply to Jane_1961]

Thanks!

I've definitely been chillaxing on the sofa all evening!

[Tillybeach Graduate]

Well you still 5k which is runamazing! Whenever I have run with a time pressure, i don't enjoy it. Look forward to the next one!!

[Birdlady64 Graduate in reply to Tillybeach]

Thanks!

No pressure apart from self -imposed, but yes I agree 🙂

[Summersprint Graduate]

Well done you. Be proud of yourself. Every reason not to run but you did it.

All runs are different and don’t be disheartened you completed the run you stuck with it.xx

[Birdlady64 Graduate in reply to Summersprint]

Thank you 🙏

[Blueboy5050 Graduate]

I never say bad run anymore, not a good run or I didn’t run well, is as harsh as I’d go. As for your run, against the odds you smashed 5k, that was a great achievement, up against it and you still did it. Heart of a true runner, gratz

[Birdlady64 Graduate in reply to Blueboy5050]

Thanks

And that sounds like a great mindset to have

[Bagofnuts]

Well done for hitting the 5k mark and time does not matter you did it. Sometimes runs will be wow where did that speed come from other times they will be wtf I just want to stop and have I only ran 400 metres. I graduated in April and now have completed a half marathen and did my first early morning 10k today. It will get better, it will still be a git sometimes but enjoy the feeling of finishing and being able to clear your mind of things

[Birdlady64 Graduate in reply to Bagofnuts]

Thank you 🙏 and congratulations on your 10k earlier today 👏

I've already done 60 minutes and reached 6.5k and am working my way to 10k.

And yes - I always enjoy the feeling of finishing but not always the feeling of running at the time 😁

[Ruby69 Graduate]

Well done for getting out there. Agree the feeling when u finish challenging yourself always with it 👍🏼🏃🏻‍♀️😎

[Birdlady64 Graduate in reply to Ruby69]

Thank you

[Wigsy]

I'm only on week 7 so no where near the 5k you're doing (I'm in awe), but boy do I empathise with the "don't let yourself down" argument coupled with trying to crush the negative thoughts during the run!

In the car on my way to my last run (I meet a friend a few miles away) I was feeling particularly grumpy but then saw my 80 year old neighbour jogging up the hill to my house (a long steep hill).

I had to laugh. If that wasn't a sign from the gods ...... 😂

[nowster Graduate in reply to Wigsy]

Can't have your neighbour putting you to shame. 🤣

[Birdlady64 Graduate in reply to Wigsy]

😁Hills are my nemesis 😤

[Bogshuffler Graduate]

You did it! Nuff sod.

[Bogshuffler Graduate]

Nuff said, bloody predictive text

[Jcilom]

I'm happy for you that you went out and did your best for that day. Well done.

By the way, what the dickens is a lopper? I thought it was a certain throw by a baseball player. I don't know much about baseball either.

[Birdlady64 Graduate in reply to Jcilom]

😁

Gardening loppers are sort of like scissors used for cutting twigs and branches, with long often telescopic handles