Week 8 My first outdoor run

[clarys]

Just such a lovely morning, there was no excuse! I felt so anxious before I went out, this is a whole new thing for me, but there's a coastal road to a local beauty spot so I thought I would go for it. Got a lovely pair of shoes donated by a friend who bought them but they didn't fit her, and to be honest they felt wonderful. What wasn't so wonderful was my ear buds couldn't work as I couldn't get any phone signal, and the bright sunshine meant I couldn't see my fitbit at all, which to be honest is no big deal, and the sound of redshank and early skylark is the best music. Anyway, I managed to get there and back, breathing wasn't great, had to really slow down at some points to get my breath back, and fitbit now says my heart rate was 174 max and completely dropped at one point to 70?? before whizzing back up to 170 so I should really be dead. Anyway, I'm done, my first 28 minute run is complete, I've ventured out and run just over 2.5 miles, but I feel pretty knackered now.

[Yoganut Graduate]

Fantastic, clarys! Your run sounds beautiful and, despite the technical issues, I bet listening to nature was wonderful!! 😊 Unless you're wearing a chest monitor, I've heard that heart rate readings can be notoriously off, so I would ignore it. You're evidently not dead but slowing off to catch your breath sounds like a very good plan... 👌

[Instructor57 Graduate]

Excellent!Glad you enjoyed your first outside run 😁

I wouldn't stress too much about HR.

This FAQ post might help .

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

[Bluefly Graduate]

Well done for getting out there! I have been on the treadmill so far (W4) but must admit the sunshine is starting to tempt me to brave the outdoors.

[clarys Graduate in reply to Bluefly]

Hi Bluefly - only my personal experience, but I definitely found it much harder being outside, so it might be better to get out sooner rather than later - I was on a flat road but struggled to manage my breathing and today I have some muscle aches so my legs must have noticed the difference!

[Cmoi Graduate]

Hi clarys , well done on getting outside, sounds like you have lovely surroundings for your run.

I'd ignore what your Fitbit says about heart rate, it's unlikely to be accurate, certainly if it's giving you figures like that. If my Garmin is to be believed I've died several times, which I don't think is the case.

As for the breathing, you should really be running slowly enough to be able to speak full sentences, not going so fast that you have to slow down to get your breath back.

Happy outdoor running!

[clarys Graduate in reply to Cmoi]

Thanks Cmoi - I'm just not sure how I could go any slower without going backwards! Maybe I just felt like I was going really slowly after being on a treadmill for 7 weeks, I'm definitely feeling it today, muscles are achy where legs join hips, those usually hurt when I have been walking up fells! Yes I'm definitely ignoring the fitbit, it's useful for some things but active heart rate isn't one of them.

[tmbtrain Graduate]

Well done on getting outside! You made me laugh with your fit bit comment 🤣 you'll get used running outside, it keeps things interesting!

[clarys Graduate in reply to tmbtrain]

Thanks ha ha fitbit hate me, I've complained so many times about the silly thing and how useless it is! It's going to take me a bit of time to get used to running outside, it was a bit of a shock to the system 😮

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

Flipping well done, sounds great and ignore fitbit heart rate, check in and go by how you feel

[clarys Graduate in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thanks - I'm really feeling it today, didn't think it would be quite such a difference being outdoors!

[SueAppleRun Graduate in reply to clarys]

If you need to slow down then do, look around you and enjoy being outside, don’t forget the vitamin D you get from being outside too

[Roxdog Graduate]

It does feel slower outside, after a period on the treadmill. I moved outside around week 4 so remember it feeling a bit tougher at first.

[clarys Graduate in reply to Roxdog]

I wish I had done it sooner rather than on the longer runs - it felt like quite a harsh transition, back to the treadmill tomorrow as I'm working from home, then hopefully will venture back into the outside world on friday

[Roxdog Graduate in reply to clarys]

You will get used to it quickly. The sensation of pace is very different, so it might be tempting to go too hard outdoors.