CR4: Semi-solo, semi-naked, spontaneous run 🌞... - Couch to 5K

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CR4: Semi-solo, semi-naked, spontaneous run 🌞☀️🔆🦌🦌🦌

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningGraduate
24 Replies

I could not resist. How could I not run on such a glorious day? Tomorrow is the scheduled run slot, but today’s bright sunshine and my work pattern made a voice in my head go ‘do it! do it!’

This meant testing how my body would react to just a single rest day (two is preferable) and it meant breaking the news to M, who has too much stuff on and wants to run tomorrow (he was totally cool). So, after a morning in digital meetings, off I went at midday. This decision was all so sudden that I forgot my usual dynamic stretches and the joys of the foam roller; I only realised this during the warm-up walk. Oh, well, that’s more to add to the experiment. I’d also had a dreadful night’s sleep. But, hey, the sun was shining and I really wanted to get out there.

I decided this would be a good opportunity to try out some of the guided mindful/meditation runs on NRC app, several of which are perfect for 30-minute consolidation runs. I chose ‘Run with Headspace’, which looked to be the first in a group with Andy Puddicombe. He was in conversation with NRC’s Coach Bennet. I like the ‘naked’ mode, but, I figure, it’s also good to ‘train for’ them; get some coaching and refresh techniques. So I count this as part of the ‘naked’ experience, even though it strictly was not. (Not sure how @Imc50 would judge this!)

I enjoyed ii, immensely. I chatted to a few birds too; took in the beautiful shadow plays of leaf piles and trees; and today, I was really impressed by the wonderful verdigris bark visible on the plane trees. I chose the clockwise circuit, which is optimal in this light.

I followed the suggestions from the coaches. Especially memorable was the starting lesson in self-patience (essentially, stop worrying about the ‘toxic 10’). Throughout the emphasis was on accepting how one felt as well as any ‘distracting’ thoughts; just be with this, it’s human. The principle seemed to be that the body can just run, so let it do its thing. Nice outlook. No stress. And no stressing about ‘not being able to relax’.

Part of me knew that I was finding the run a little hard, but I found that intriguing rather that ‘difficult’. I sensed I’d started too fast. The coaches imagined setting out at 3 (on a 10-point scale), settling into 5 and then stepping down a bit at the end. I knew I was not ‘with’ this pacing, but that’s ok, I’m a learner. They kept addressing me as ‘athlete’, which felt both odd and funny - I both resisted and welcomed it.

I was also struck by the lack of ‘breathing’ in the voices; there was no crunching of footfall. Were they in a studio, I wondered? In this regard, it was quite different to Steve Hobbs’ mindful-run podcast, which is more like someone running alongside you and feels very embodied. Still, it was good - just different - and I liked having the stretches of silence.

The run was brilliant! 🌞☀️🦌🦌🦌☀️🌞 Gazelles joined in and helped carry (and carry away) any ‘difficulties’. The crows cheered us along. At the end, I felt as glorious as the sunshine that had tempted me from my desk - and still feel so now as the sun is going down. 😊 I’m just amazed that I am enjoying running so much.

30.09 duration, 4.07 km, average pace 7.24.

Splits: 7.05, 7.14, 7.28, 7.37.

Proof I was going faster at the start, as suspected, but much more than I realised. Can feel a very minor niggle in right hip flexor/ groin, but not too surprised by that, all things taken into account. And, as @Imoca observed yesterday, even post-insomniac runs can sometimes turn out to be the best.

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GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunning
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24 Replies
Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate

Lovely run for you today! I like the ‘Headspace’ runs, I’ve run to a few of them. I love the quiet spaces.

I always start off too fast and I’m careful to slow down, often going too far in the other direction; obviously this is a skill learned with practice and I’m not there yet. I do know that if I start off too fast then I don’t recover from it and the whole run is hard work, so I’d rather be too slow and leave something to build on, making the run easier and then I have something left to pull out the stops for the last km.

Some of my best runs have been after a night of very little sleep! Well done for this run 👏👏👏🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️👍

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningGraduate in reply toJools2020

So true - I thought I’d got this starting pace cracked in last weeks of c25k, but for every consolidation run I’ve unintentionally zipped off the blocks (relatively speaking, you understand!) Guess I must make this a top priority or intention for my next outing.

Perhaps we need to inaugurate an insomnia run club!! It’s happened a couple of times (fab run after bad night); makes little sense, but it happens. I’m sure I’ll sleep like a baby tonight.💤

Imoca profile image
Imoca

Another great run GailX, I love the amount of things you notice !

Our listening material is so different, I was listening to 'Why won't you date me' yesterday, comedy is my thing, seems laughing helps me along. I may have to try one of your 'listens'.

Hope the hip rights itself after a good night's sleep 🤗

Raisemeup profile image
RaisemeupGraduate in reply toImoca

Sounds like a beautiful run Gail and quite spontaneous - well done! Like you, I like to run and notice what's going on in the natural world, you only have to look and listen to hear the wind, the bird conversations as you witnessed, the busyness of a tumbling steam, etc - it's all there isn't it, thank you for reminding us.Best wishes. 🙋

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningGraduate in reply toRaisemeup

Aw, thank you! It was fantastic. I’ve really clicked with this approach. I do wish there was a tumbling stream, though! There were some clattering sounds from the building site. 😂 Still, must appreciate what I have!!

Peter44 profile image
Peter44Graduate in reply toGailXrunning

🤣🤣🤣

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningGraduate in reply toImoca

Thanks, Imoca. I don’t think it’s anything that a rest won’t resolve, but it is a reminder why I’d normally take a two-day rest.

Oh, I *definitely* get the importance of laughing and smiling on a run. Just doing this eases things and lifts the spirit. (I think there’s some science behind it too).😁😆

nowster profile image
nowsterGraduate in reply toGailXrunning

I make a nuisance of myself by smiling and greeting everyone I can.

It's a definite new take on the whole naked running GailXrunning... Perhaps maybe 👙it's your nearly naked run 🤓

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningGraduate in reply to

Just love it! Love thinking of ways to love it more. Experimenting. Such fun. Since I started this (more) ‘naked’ jag, and then tapped into the mindful/ meditative tack, things have definitely gelled. It gives a purpose to and (non-stressy) challenge each run.

Congratulations too on your new official role!👏👏👏

in reply toGailXrunning

Free of the wires and earbuds it's the only way for me GailXrunning

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningGraduate in reply to

Hhmm. 🤔 I could certainly do this, I’m confident of that. But the voice in the earphone tells me when I reach time. (That means there’s no need to look at a watch, which helps focus on the run itself.) Am I missing some (obvious) trick here?

in reply toGailXrunning

I had one run that stands out,

New to using Mr garmin along with strava off I went earbuds in, omg

The garmin started beeping, strava pinging and even speaking ( I think) the earbuds and MJ were shouting instructions the Garmin vibrated it was like nothing I'd experienced.

Now nothing beeps, the watch throws a slight vibration at each klm, I've learnt and turned off all pace beeps and everything else. If I want pace it's a quick glance, but I'm very near to that point where I'm running at a pace and I know it before I've checked 👍.

So watch is now covered by sleeves or gloves and hidden 😊

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningGraduate in reply to

😂🤣Yes, I can well imagine that fiasco!!

I’m one of those annoying people who switches everything to ‘off’ as soon as I can. This includes phones, which I prefer not to ring. I’m ping- and bleep-free. And watch-free. So I probably just need to set a vibration on my phone at 30 minutes - and hope that I notice. Hadn’t thought of that. Thanks!!

in reply toGailXrunning

Ohhh ask santa for a garmin gift, really good offers and the base models are plenty good enough if you ( and you won't 😛) don't need music!

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningGraduate in reply to

Omg - What is happening to me??? Who am I?? In one week I’ve gone from innocence to someone who talks about ‘splits’ and (in the last half hour) ‘negative splits’ and ‘Garmin’.

in reply toGailXrunning

Ah fatal those negative splits (🤫) I'll let you into a little secret.. I'm pretty pants at looking at and focusing on splits at all, I try... I've mastered liking hills, I mix them up with trail runs, but in a nutshell I just enjoy the run, however it goes.

I'd say what you're experiencing it the addiction 🥳 next step garmin shop 👍

Peter44 profile image
Peter44Graduate in reply to

Mmmm, sounds interesting 🤔, i think the apps probably tell us too much sometimes, need to just focus on enjoying the run!

Buddhagal profile image
BuddhagalGraduate

This sounds like it was such a wonderful spontaneous run, and such a glorious day to be out GailX..... I don't have the NRC app but I've heard the meditation runs are really good, fab. As usual a beautifully descriptive run...glad to hear those crows are still cheering you on😁. You really get a lot from your runs..how wonderful. A fast start but you reigned it back to a nice steady pace. And I can hear just how much you enjoyed your run....the absolutely best part. Brilliant Gail...just brilliant😁😁👍. 🦌🐌🐢🏃‍♀️🙋

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningGraduate in reply toBuddhagal

It was just brilliant, even when ‘not easy’. Brilliant: No other word for it. So glad I responded to the voice in my head; I almost didn’t. Still buzzing several hours later. 🐝🐝🐝 Wish I had more bird emojis! I’d so love a crow. They’re always guaranteed to strut their stuff. Such characters. No parakeets today. But there was a squirrel to talk to 🐿!! (Grey one. Forgot to mention.)

Bambi2020 profile image
Bambi2020Graduate

Another amazingly detailed run- you should have finished your run by jumping straight into that pile of leaves! 🍁 Looks perfect weather for a run too- and the gazelles were galloping away happily . 🦌🦌 I’ve just come back from my run and it was freezing 🥶

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningGraduate in reply toBambi2020

You are right. I could have stood there and just fallen backwards into it. 🍁🍂🍁🍂Funnily, there was another runner just off to the right; she was lying spread-eagle on the grass staring up at the sky and branches. The breeze was whipping up individual leaves from the heap, which was lovely to watch. As I left, the park keepers were on their way with tractors 🚜 and giant hoovering tubes.

Peter44 profile image
Peter44Graduate

That sounds a really good, relaxing, enjoyable run, in the sunshine 🌞, very different from my, dark, cold, after work run 🤣, i'm back on furlough for 4 weeks, over x-mas, so will be nice to do more daylight runs! 😀You sound like your really enjoying this running buisiness!!! 😀

GailXrunning profile image
GailXrunningGraduate in reply toPeter44

Really am enjoying it! 😆✨ Who’d ever have thought it? I’m yet to try running in the dark; it’s on my list of experiments for the future. I do know I like mornings (not too early) and pre-lunchtime.

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