CR2: Idle-chatter run produces PB 🚨🚨🚨🔔🔔

[GailXrunning]

I set Runkeeper as, on CR1, I’d deviated to take a photo and ran on the spot. So some new stats, I figured, could offer a baseline. ‘Twas not to be.

My notes on Runkeeper say: ‘overcast; counterclockwise; pre-lunch; knew we were going faster and pushing’. That’s shows how brief this post could be.

The stats for 30 minutes record 3.9km, average pace 7.33. The breakdown of pace for each km: 7.34. 7.46, 7.28, 7.24.

I can’t square these figures with the results for CR1 (also 30 minutes and distance of 3.9km; overall pace average 7.55; 7.55, 7.32, 8.02, 8.10). I imagine it’s all down to the time taken to fumble with the phone at beginning and end, and the aforementioned running on the spot digression which confused the GPS? I need one of the stat-experts of this forum to help here.

The interesting thing is that - assuming these figures are remotely reliable - we already knew we were going faster, and spent much of the run discussing this fact, it’s symptoms and bodily manifestations, whether we should switch down a gear (we did, but it looks like we sped up again).... We could tell that our conversation was more strained (and not down to marital factors), and that there was something a little less comfortable, a little less enjoyable, but, on the whole, it was not too bad. By the time we’d chewed this mouthful of cud, the run was over. There was still fuel in the tank. Time had flown by. M wanted to carry on; I said we should stick to consolidation plan. It ended in a compromise comprising roughy 7 seconds of extra running for M while I fought with terminating the app.

A few digressions of attention also took place:

I paid special attention to the feel of the ground, and especially to the slight sponginess of the ‘(not) orchard’ section; the deep leaf lakes on the embankment; the relative firmness of the compressed mud tracks through the grass of previous runners; the sections of shortcut (or social distancing) where I take to the grass proper (going wild); the short stretches of harder tarmac paths.

Birds: the sound of a great tit; a stalking crow; two perching parakeets shouting their support, or so I like to think.

The uneven profiles of plane trees, presumably trimmed more on their path-facing sides, but with long extended, heavy low branches on their grass-facing aspects.

Things caught in branches: The shocking-pink shiny thing across the tracks isn’t fully deflated, but looks to be a ‘2’ or even a ‘5’; something unidentifiable near the parakeets favourite spot.

The railway embankment has been pruned. The view of the trains is evermore clear and now really present from the right across the park.

Park keepers: doing their important work.

Discussion also veered into what I’d been reading about meditative and mindful running; step-counting and breath attention; the difference between ‘switching off’ and ‘switching on’; inner and outer attention. M mentally calculated the approximate time it would take us for a 5k run. We pondered the principles of consolidation phase, future options (distance, speed), how all these fit into daily life, and even entertained the distant possibility of taking part in the annual Hackney run.

Pic is from the other day (hence the sunshine).

[nowster Graduate]

Where some say "shortcut", others say "desire line". One theory of urban design is to not lay down permanent paths until wear patterns appear, showing the ways people really walk within the open space.

Well done your (plural) improvement! 👍

[GailXrunning Graduate in reply to nowster]

Thanks - I guess ‘PB’ could stand this correction (‘plural best’)!

Ah, yes, I do know about desire lines. Lovely term. In this instance, I was on my very own one (un-trampled grass where I have to watch my step) deviating from collectively formed (and generally safer) option.

But how can one run same time period and same distance and yet have such different average pace? Is it just some mathematical likelihood arising from tiny fractions of difference (all the contingencies of fumbling, on-the-spotting, etc) My preferred takeaway is that we really were faster, but I don’t understand how these figures are so different.

[Bambi2020 Graduate]

CR2 another success- going well. Lots spotted again today - I’m going to give it a try on my daytime run in the park at the weekend! It’s funny how the runs can feel so different, a little change of pace or route can make or break it. Enjoy your rest- I’ve got big food shop tonight so will head out for my run tomorrow after work.

[GailXrunning Graduate]

🦌🦌🦌🦌🦌

[Buddhagal Graduate]

Sounds like another successful run GailX, especially if you still had fuel left at the end, well done 👍👍. Gosh...it felt almost icy here this morning when I went out for walkies with my little pooch, how was it for you? Does it help you checking your stats...well I'm guessing it must? As I've said before I'm not really keen on using my Fitbit....but then if my man hadn't persuaded me to wear it, I wouldn't have had a pleasant surprise....hmmmm. Must be good to have a running partner sharing the journey, and of course you can assess your "conversational pace" a lot easier. Not quite the same talking to myself to check out how I'm doing...it does work though👍. I love the "digressions of attention".... Great description. My pavement run isn't very exciting...but I could make it more exciting by paying more attention. Glad all went well, I'm out tomorrow for another CR...just another cruise. Have a good evening. Thanks Gail, another great read. 😁😁😁🦌🐢🐌🏃‍♀️🙋

[GailXrunning Graduate]

Hope it’s another good run for you, tomorrow, Bg. It was about 7 degrees when we went out today. My gloves came off midway.

You pose some key questions, which have made me think. It’s interesting to see these stats. I’m curious, and don’t fully understand what I’m looking at. They’re not too intrusive. I’d like them to stay in their place, however; not be a general end in themselves... unless, of course, I’m specifically doing a phase where that’s the actual aim. My main priorities are to enjoy, to stay free of injury and to keep this part of my life. The stats will be part of the mix, I think: a way to see changes over time and a way to try out different things.

Running partner? Haha! Yes, I admit, it’s generally a positive thing. On most runs we’ve more or less run as if alone, with the occasional nod or exchange, just sharing the warm-up and -down sections. Now and then, the whole run is essentially a chat.

Looking forward to hearing how you get on with ‘attention’. It really has helped me and completely changed how I go about a run. I’ve enjoyed every one since I started. I sometimes worry that I’m just finding outlets for ‘monkey brain’, but then again the guidance I read advises being relaxed about the shifts of attention, ‘welcoming’ even. I think the main point is to see the attention-giving as an intention, as active, and to watch all the shifts (including the monkey brain) with a sense of compassion. And to go at the whole thing as a work that will always be in process, rather than an end.

[Buddhagal Graduate in reply to GailXrunning]

Aaah...I thought you were running together the whole run. I see lots of people checking their stats and they see them as a positive aid. Because of my disappointment when seeing my stats several weeks ago, i.e. comparing myself to others etc...I'm now very cautious about clocking them. My own negative baggage I know. This too shall pass👍. Yep I'm really liking the sound of this mindful running... whether I can wax lyrical about my runs....now that IS a whole new game 😂🤣.....that's your department honey, one which I thoroughly enjoy. 🦌🐢🐌🏃‍♀️🙋🙋🙋🙋

[Peter44 Graduate]

Well done, to start with, thought you'd changed tack, giving us all your times, speeds, etc, but then back to your very interesting descriptive stuff, chuckled at the, lack of talking, not down to marital issues! 🤣Have you done any runs, on your own, as i've noticed, while running with my girls, it felt easier, and more comfortable? 🤔

[GailXrunning Graduate in reply to Peter44]

😄Yes, I have run solo, and enjoyed it. As I mentioned to Buddhagal, a lot of the running ‘with M’ has been as if solo. I guess when talking it’s easier to lose track of time, much as in other aspects of life. Then there seems to be something else: Even if the discussion is about, say, feeling a physical discomfort in the run, the fact of speaking it makes it somehow easier, more something to observe (‘hhmm, that’s interesting’) than something to suffer (‘omg, I can’t do this’). It defangs the difficulties. It also works by talking to the birds or to myself. +Maybe there’s something soothing in just using the voice.🤔

[Peter44 Graduate in reply to GailXrunning]

Well, i'm back on my own, for sat, thinking of another 40 min/5k again 🤔