This morning I had decided I was going to run! But - unusually for me - the ‘faffing about’ demon 😈 got me! I decided to have a cuppa. Then a banana. Then I thought I might as well have breakfast. Then I showered. I don’t usually shower before a run in this house - there, I’ve said it! I did put my running gear on after the shower. My brother had bought some coffee and milk pods early this morning for the coffee machine and they were sitting on the worktop looking at me - so it would have been a crime not to have one! (Soooo good 😊)
By this time it was past 10.00 a.m. I don’t have anything to do today, I usually pick up my youngest grandson from nursery, but the older two have a lot of Covid cases in their school and I’m not seeing them for a while. So the time didn’t really matter. Off I went!
I had decided on a 5K run and this time, I would follow the advice that I have given many times to other people and SLOW RIGHT DOWN! This way, I can control my heart rate more and the run won’t be such hard work. I am convinced that the vaccine is responsible for my elevated heart rate. I do suffer from anxiety, but today is a good day 😊.
It’s a glorious morning. A little chilly but that’s just what I like. Air quality is excellent. I remember my sun visor and to check in the mirror before I leave!
Warm up walk done, no problems with the tech - and off I go! I won’t go on about my heart rate. I ran slowly enough to control it, mostly in Zone 3 and took the brakes off at the end.
Steady away was the order of the day! This is not always easy as most of the first km is downhill and my legs are fresh and want to go! But I manage it and start the second km on a downhill stretch, too. This stretch is a footpath in between some houses. I can feel my pace increasing, so hold back as I know that the dreaded uphill part past the post office is coming! Here it is and I take smaller steps and repeat my mantra ‘hills are my friends’. I get an odd look from a dog walker. I must have said it out loud! 😀
I start the third km and I’m pretty sure that this one slopes gently uphill for the whole km. No matter, I plod on! There is a T-junction just after the beginning of the 4th km where you can turn left for a 4K run and right for a 5K run. I’ve hesitated at this point many times, but I missed it completely today. I turned right automatically (maybe I was listening to my music) and by the time I realised, I was halfway to the common 😊 and the 5K run! The decision was made without me 😬. I carry on alongside the common and start the final km, through the village and heading for home. It starts flat, then a short steep slope at the top of the road where I’m living. If I’m running faster, it’s a real killer! Today, although I’ve been really taking it slowly, I have started to ease the brakes off a little for the last kilometre, although that slope does slow me down. Once the road levels off with about half a km to go, I fly down the hill and don’t care about my heart rate! It’s not for long. I have to go out into the road to get past some dog walkers hogging the path AND the verge, but I check it’s safe first. I cross the road safely and the last bit is even more downhill. I reach 5K and end the run, very out of breath but feeling good! Mission accomplished.
Splits reflect my heart rate:
9:35, 9:25, 9:48, 9:38, 7:21
A happy 5K and a Personal Best!
First 5K race report
High Heart Rate on a 5k Run
