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
Written by
Jools2020
Graduate
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That sounded so good. I must admit, you had me laughing with your descriptions and feelings 🤣
Good run for you today Jools2020, almost negative splits as well, I know it is awkward having to go onto the road to avoid dog walkers, nevertheless, well done 😀 🏃🏾
I typed a reply then went to check something in your post and it ran away so I will start again. Flipping heck, perfect negative splits, and who cares what the heart does as long as it feels comfortable?
I agree that your jab is probably to blame anyway
Love your faffing, I went one better, made fudge then never got out for a run, Willow had his booster this morning and we are travelling for a couple of hours for dinner with some of our kids, then it’s back to work tomorrow
I love the sound of your run Jools, all the ups and downs
Well done! It's good that you're getting out again. Who cares about the faffing about as long as you eventually get out?
My booster is not until Sat 11 Dec (exactly 6 months after my second dose) timed so that I have time to get back from parkrun, change, and get back out to the vaccine centre.
Thanks, nowster. Good planning for your booster! I had mine 6 months to the day after my second dose, but went to a walk in centre. At the time, I was eligible to book it and receive it on the same day and of course everywhere was booked up. My brother and I had an interesting outing to Slough, though! 👍😊
Sounds great! Running in the winter is so refreshing. You are brave monitoring your heart rate, just the mere thought of monitoring mine makes my heart rate go up! Hills are your friends - love it!
Oh I much prefer running in the winter. Is it winter? It’s cold enough! My heart rate appears on my watch so I can’t fail to see it! I know when it’s up, though, as it’s much harder work.
I was pushing myself until recently when I discovered slow running. I have been prone to injuries so this is ideal and its so much more enjoyable. So no, you are not the only slow coach around!
You could be my perfect running buddy! 😊 Actually, I do love slow running. I discovered it soon after graduating when I was overdoing it, trying to run 4K in 30 minutes. I was lucky not to have injured myself, but If I hadn’t changed tack at that point I probably would have given up running. Slow running was the answer for me, but I have to say that I like Jeffing as well. That’s supposed to be really good for avoiding injury, too.
I did get injured on graduation, and my pace on resuming was much slower, even into the New Year. I also did run/walk intervals. My pace on longer runs (5km-8km) was usually between 7 and 8min/km.
The one time I tried to match my 5km/30min graduation time (just after New Year), I did my right knee in, and couldn't run for a week.
I was mightily impressed by the runs you were doing back then.
My natural pace only picked up as the longer runs accumulated over the last six months or so.
(But when you're doing 9'48"/km I could probably walk alongside you. 🤪)
I remember! You’ve come back so well from those injuries. My pace eventually picked up, too, but I’ve struggled really since March/April time this year to maintain fitness and keep running, due to other things. I haven’t done a 10 mile run since the start of the year. Yes, I’m sure you could walk beside me, but for now, that pace is my ‘easy conversational pace’ and is helping my stamina 😊. I want to increase distance again, but it’s not something that can be rushed as we both know. You’ve reminded me to do some Jeffing as part of my training, I was enjoying that.
Morning Jools, I haven't tried jeffing yet, can't get my head round it. I'm currently working up to 60 mins, did about 55 mins last week, I say about as strava had a funny turn at 3k! 😀
Jeffing is easy - the idea is to take short walking breaks so you don’t get tired! I like 30;30, which means I run for 30 seconds, then walk for 30 seconds. You ‘glide’ between running and walking so the change is not sudden. Some people, like me, still like to do straight running as well, but others Jeff all the time. You can download an app to set the timings in advance on your mobile or on a watch. Well done for your 55 minutes, that’s a great achievement! 👏👏👏👍😊
Loved your run. I too run on my own but not mastered technology yet🤣 just listen to strava saying 1k.I think I may have mastered running slow by setting the treadmill , dont usually do the treadmill find it boring, but I was so out of breath so thought I would give it ago...brilliant.
Slow running is great for stamina, especially if you’re looking at eventually increasing distance. It took me to 10K and beyond. I love going on a 60 minute run and not even being out of breath, just looking around and enjoying the scenery! For those runs I don’t even care how many kilometres I’ve covered! 😊
Nice run Jools, similar to the way I approach a run and the decisions about route being made as you go. The 'faffing' you mention seems common among some of us runners, it's all part of the prep!I wish you a good day in the knowledge you can still find a 5k in you should you decide to repeat it and in good form!
Thank you 😊 I’m not used to so much faffing; I think it was due to lack of time pressure and a feeling of laziness! Hoping that my heart rate will stay down, but if it doesn’t I’ll just continue to run slowly and get those 5K runs in! Pace doesn’t matter to me right now.
Not sure I am quite there yet with they ‘are my friends’ but the hills are certainly alive with the sound of music as I curse and run up yet another incline. Inevitable I suppose if I insist on living somewhere called the High Peak😁. Well done on actually getting out of the house after that mega faffing- really impressed. 👍If I don’t get out first thing, I find it hard to get out at all.
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