I did it! I went off-piste! (Consolidation 12) - Couch to 5K

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I did it! I went off-piste! (Consolidation 12)

Pnegirl profile image
PnegirlGraduate
โ€ข15 Replies

Feeling over the moon. After dilly-dallying around over trying a new route for ages, the weather finally forced me to take the plunge. The torrential rain over the last few days meant that the sportsfield would be treacherous so I opted for a 5k shore road route which took me past a small river going out to Morecambe Bay, a few fields and then back to the residential areas and main road. There were also plenty of hills thrown into the mix too, so my first encounter with inclines only resulted in a quick 10-second breather following a 30ft incline just after half way. Given that the last 300m or so of the run is all uphill again, I can certainly live with that little break.

I was so taken by the surroundings and visual stimuli going round that I don't think the sportsfield will get a look in at weekends any more (not so sure on traffic sharing the narrow lanes during early mornings though). There were so many beautiful views and things to look at, I can't wait to head out again. I also was extremely surprised to find that I'd run my fastest ever 5k and was grinning from ear to ear!

For anyone else apprehensive about trying somewhere new, I COMPLETELY get it, but try it when you feel comfortable to do so. You just don't know what delights you're missing out on!

Enjoy your Fridays and weekends everyone ๐Ÿ˜ and for any night runners tomorrow, be on the look out for any ghouls ๐Ÿ‘ป๐Ÿฆนโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿ˜ฑ

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Pnegirl profile image
Pnegirl
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15 Replies
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SueAppleRun profile image
SueAppleRunGraduate

Your run sounds perfect

Pnegirl profile image
PnegirlGraduateโ€ข in reply toSueAppleRun

I don't know about perfect but it's definitely my favourite so far. You watch, give it a few days, I'll be cursing those hills haha!

SueAppleRun profile image
SueAppleRunGraduateโ€ข in reply toPnegirl

Hills are strange, sometimes they are a challenge to be celebrated, and sometimes they are a a real chore

CBDB profile image
CBDBGraduate

Nice! ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿฝ

acountrycabbage profile image
acountrycabbageGraduate

Sounds refreshing! And well done on your hill hike! ๐Ÿ˜Ž๐Ÿ‘Š๐Ÿผ

Pnegirl profile image
PnegirlGraduateโ€ข in reply toacountrycabbage

Thanks acountrycabbage. How's everything going with you? I hope the weather hasn't been too much bother over the last week. It was bad here towards the end of the week and is awful today, yesterday was my only window for a run

acountrycabbage profile image
acountrycabbageGraduateโ€ข in reply toPnegirl

Good thank you! Hope allโ€™s well your end. Only managed one outing this week due to work (not complaining!) and babysitting my niece & nephew.

Weather has been awful too. Wanted to head out this morning but itโ€™s lashing it down. I need to look for some decent waterproof gear so I have no excuse! It clearly doesnโ€™t bother me once Iโ€™m out there.

Fingers crossed thereโ€™s a window this afternoon before the rugby starts. Then I can feel good about sitting down with beer and snacks at 5pm ๐Ÿ˜„

I felt so motivated after a great run on Tuesday, had the itch on Wednesday, already excited for Thursday. Itโ€™s a shame life gets in the way but Iโ€™ll just have to get used to it ๐Ÿ™‚

Pnegirl profile image
PnegirlGraduateโ€ข in reply toacountrycabbage

Oh absolutely, things just get in the way sometimes but there's always another day. I know what you mean about the itch on rest days, never thought I'd get that haha! By the way, that sounds a perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon! Cheers! ๐Ÿป

acountrycabbage profile image
acountrycabbageGraduateโ€ข in reply toPnegirl

Agreed, I never felt like this when I used to run years back. Itโ€™s great ๐Ÿฅฐ

I wonโ€™t enjoy the beer as much if I donโ€™t feel like Iโ€™ve earned it..! Have a great weekend, cheers!๐Ÿป

RacingintheStreet profile image
RacingintheStreetGraduate

Well done you , itโ€™s not until you break loose and try something that you wonder why you didnโ€™t do it before ๐Ÿคท๐Ÿผโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿ˜‚

Itโ€™s such a confidence boost too ๐Ÿ‘Œ I find my goals are more to do with environment, confidence and type rather than stats etc. I think I know my limitations but will strive to progress.

In terms of a personal best , mine to date is Run 8 ( still to post I am sooo behind ๐Ÿ˜‚) but it wasnโ€™t pace, distance or time it was because I went a run in the middle of the morning , in daylight ๐Ÿ˜ฑ๐Ÿ˜ฑ instead of my dark ๐Ÿง›โ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿง›โ€โ™€๏ธ runs, at a time when the edges of the village where I ran were busy with walkers, cyclists, golfers and dog walkers and I did not care a jot !

I felt I just โ€˜blended inโ€™ to the general activity ..... I was โ€˜just another joggerโ€™

Your runs are going from strength to strength too so this will now open up a freshness as you get out onto the open road so to speak . Well done ๐Ÿ‘Œ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘

I often used to think of you going around in circles on your track as I was going round loops of the village in the dark .

Weโ€™re branching out ! ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿƒ๐Ÿปโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿƒ๐Ÿปโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿƒ๐Ÿปโ€โ™€๏ธ

Pnegirl profile image
PnegirlGraduateโ€ข in reply toRacingintheStreet

We're definitely branching out! I saw on one of your posts that you'd gone for a run at a slightly different time. I'm glad you enjoyed it and didn't let the amount of people put you off. It's strange, people don't really seem to bat an eyelid. I found myself running and seeing people in cars realising that I actually felt fine and not self conscious at all which was lovely. I look forward to reading either your post about run 8 or future runs too. I'm finding I don't post as often at the minute but I like to pop in to see how everyone's doing and offer encouragement to anyone on the c25k journey if I can ๐Ÿ™‚

Couchphoenix profile image
CouchphoenixGraduate

I agree new route can make such a difference Pnegirl and it sounds like you picked a lovely one there, apart from the dreaded incline, which like you I had to contend with on my new route today....I think Iโ€™ll give night running on Halloween a miss thanks....sounds way too scary !

๐Ÿ‘ป ๐Ÿ‘€

Pnegirl profile image
PnegirlGraduateโ€ข in reply toCouchphoenix

Hahaha! Yep, I don't think ghosts and ghouls are covered by tier 3 lockdown ๐Ÿ˜‚. To be fair, I'm kinda limited on routes so I'm glad I finally tried this one and liked it. My other option is to drive and go to Morecambe prom but it can be bitter moving into winter. Might give it a try though if there's a mild afternoon one day. I hope the incline on your route didn't pose any problems. That's my target next time, to run up it and not take a breather if I can.

BradC profile image
BradCGraduate

Sounds a good run. I envy you the area you can run in๐Ÿ˜Š I find I can manage uphill much better when I have been running 20 minutes or so and have got up some steam! What works for me on steep upward slopes is to try and maintain my step rate/rhythm/tempo (cadence if you like that posh word๐Ÿ˜‰) and shorten my steps as needed.

Pnegirl profile image
PnegirlGraduateโ€ข in reply toBradC

Thanks BradC, that's really helpful. I tried to keep my step rate steady and had done a couple of smaller inclines already using that approach; that last one just got me though ๐Ÿ˜‚. You know what they say though, try, try and try again. I hope the weather hasn't stopped you getting your runs in this week ๐Ÿ™‚

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