Week 7 Run 2 ☀️🥵

[Jools2020]

I knew it was going to be a warm one this morning! Sleeveless tee shirt and shorts. Stretches done and tech synced. Tea drunk and a glass of water for good measure. Sports glasses and sun visor on, quick glance in the mirror (yes, still gorgeous) and off I go!

I leave the house slightly later than planned as the sun is already up, but the air is still cool and fresh against my skin and it’s a feeling that I love. I decide to try and run in shade where I can so it will be a ‘there and back’ route this morning. I need to take it steady as I suffer in the heat and my heart rate rockets when I get too warm!

My unnamed coach starts to speak and talks about the 3rd run of the week. I must have pressed the wrong button in the app! I’m not going to faff about with it now. I’m already listening to Mr, Blue Sky 🤣. I’m annoyed, though. The runs are the same in Week 7, all 3 are simply 25 minute runs so it doesn’t make any difference, but I must have mild OCD - doing the runs out of order is bad!

So I press my watch to time the run and start walking a bit faster before gliding into a slow jog. All is well. Breathing under control and slow pace. Because I’m running in the shade of trees, the pace is showing 10:30, but I know it’s not accurate. I’m forced to run by feel, which doesn’t hurt at all. As I keep telling people, pace isn’t important anyway.

Halfway through the second km I start to feel really hot! My heart rate is already in Zone 4 so I pull back a bit. I’m not going to be able to speed up during the third km, so I accept that and keep running at a slow pace. The most important thing is to keep going! I have roads to cross, but because it’s early, there is no traffic. I’m in the zone and suddenly I’m approaching the end of the wooded area - I’d missed the turning to run round the large pond! It’s time to turn back anyway. That halfway bell is so useful.

I’m a sweaty mess by the end of the run. Surprisingly. I covered very slightly more distance than the last run. Strava thought I’d achieved negative splits but Garmin didn’t! Never mind. Whether I did it or not, it was a successful run. I’m out of breath though as I make my way home for stretches and coffee.

Take care out there, fellow runners, it’s hot! ☀️🥵🏃‍♀️☕️

[Annieapple Graduate]

yes! Still Gorgeous & a fabulous run!😊. I so resonate with you with that feeling of cool crisp air on the skin..one of the reasons I love running in the early morning! Great run .. good to listen to your own body & to overcome the little challenges that are always there in every run! Well done!

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to Annieapple]

Thank you! When I was going through tough times, I was told to look at myself in the mirror and tell myself I was gorgeous. It stuck 🤣! It’s good to adapt plans according to the conditions.

[Annieapple Graduate in reply to Jools2020]

😂🤗😊

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Very well done you... getting out there before the heat!!!

[Kat1234_]

Wonderful to see your progress. Very impressive running in warm weather! I’m a bit behind, just finished week 5 yesterday. Knee is holding up really well, so fingers crossed! Take care and hydrate!

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to Kat1234_]

It was certainly warm! You’re only a few runs behind, here’s hoping your knee holds up 🤞🤞🤞

[Runninggirl59 Graduate]

Well done Jools, a good run and what a way to start a hot Saturday morning!

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to Runninggirl59]

it’s so warm! I’m sitting outside having a coffee. Beautiful out here if you’re not running 🤣. Only managed it by keeping in the shade.

[Roxdog Graduate]

Well done for getting out early before it gets too hot! You could have taken a dip in that pond I suppose. Maybe not a porridge morning!

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to Roxdog]

Maybe it’s just as well I missed the turning 🤣. I think I’ll still have porridge. My house is quite cool.

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

Best time to be out, well done

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to SueAppleRun]

yes, it is! And now it’s lovely in my tiny garden while I have coffee 😊

[SueAppleRun Graduate in reply to Jools2020]

I just turned the alarm off and went back to sleep 😔

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to SueAppleRun]

Good for you !!! You must need a little post wake-up nap 😊

[SueAppleRun Graduate in reply to Jools2020]

That's what it was 😁, now just to decide where to go.. ha ha 😂

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to SueAppleRun]

🤣

[CBDB Ambassador]

Well done! Ran yesterday am, just before it got hot.

Yes, I’m definitely not a hot runner, I rather like cool and shady trails!

And, I’ll join your “gorgeous runners club!”

Brilliant!!!

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to CBDB]

Oh yes, of course you should join!

I’m not usually a trail runner. Given the choice, I’ll run on hard paths through a park, but for some reason I like running on rural roads. Actually on the road itself. Weird, I know. I think it’s because it reminds me of running in the Fens.

[CBDB Ambassador in reply to Jools2020]

lol… yes, we are all so different, aren’t we. My hubby walks daily now, but only on roads or paved paths. And I spend hours with my maps just to avoid even a few meters of paved sections. (But then the reason he walks on roads is that he doesn’t want to spend hours perusing maps 🤣🤣🤣)

Where are you now, if you’re not in the Fens anymore? I did actually miss the regular routes you used to post from. Hope you found some great routes in your non-Fens surroundings!

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to CBDB]

I’m with your husband on this one! I just want to go out of the door and run!

I’m in Berkshire. I had to move back to the area to be near my family after my former husband left. I miss those routes, too! I even debated staying in the area, but it wouldn’t have worked - I was too far away from my family and desperately lonely.

I haven’t found any great routes - not yet, anyway. They are here, but a car ride away. I’m fairly close to Swinley Forest (check it out) it’s huge and I would definitely need a map! Probably the ghosts of people who got lost haunt the place at night …..

[CBDB Ambassador in reply to Jools2020]

oh that Swinley Forest looks great! Yes, I would probably spend more time perusing the map than exploring the forest! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Swinley Forest

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to CBDB]

I was there checking it out last week! I was hoping for some marked trails, so maybe didn’t look hard enough. You have to pay for parking though. It’s a cycling place, too and has Go Ape and Segways for hire. It’s gorgeous there.

[Gthants]

I've seen the sleeveless vest tops in store but have resisted. It's tough enough inflicting my legs on the world!

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to Gthants]

I don’t care! 🤣 Feels really nice in the warmer weather.

But people don’t really give you a second look. You should just wear what you want. Resistance is futile 😊

[Gthants in reply to Jools2020]

"Resistance is futile" ? Do you have a regeneration port at home? 😳

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to Gthants]

Just call me Seven.

[Gthants in reply to Jools2020]

😬

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to Gthants]

Plus I don’t want tan lines on my arms from a tee shirt 🤣

[Gthants in reply to Jools2020]

I have never worn that type of top - it's a runner's thing, a woman's thing, a man with a large beer belly thing. I'm happy in my short sleeve tops - and actually, all joking aside, in the shorts too. I shopped around, got a pair I was happy with and it's great: much comfier once I get started and warm up.

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to Gthants]

As long as you’re happy and comfortable, that’s the main thing ! 😊

[Birdlady64 Graduate]

Well done on that run Jools. You knew from experience to listen to your body and when to ease back. Whether it was negative splits or not, it was a good run for you.

And well done on getting out early. At 7am I turned over and went back to sleep! 😴

Nice top. I'm looking for a sleevless t- shirt cum tank for summer. I have a couple of vests but they're racer backs and I want something with a bit more protection from the sun

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to Birdlady64]

Thanks, Diane. I love this top! Got it from M&S. it’s not quite racer back but slightly cut away. Very comfortable!

[MissUnderstanding Administrator]

This weather is such a challenge, isn’t it! Great run for you. Anything that ends with coffee is usually a good run in my book!

[nowster Graduate]

I agree. It's definitely getting hot out there now the wind's dropped.

I've hardly been out recently, and certainly not in the middle of the day, and I've been told I'm getting a tan.

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to nowster]

I definitely caught the sun a bit this morning and I was back home before 7!

[Bontobpat Graduate]

Good run Jools. How hot is it over there?

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to Bontobpat]

Hi and thanks! I think it was about 28-29 degrees yesterday.

[Bontobpat Graduate in reply to Jools2020]

‘Winter’ here and forecast for tomorrow is 17-27 degrees, lol! Though I just watched the news and it was reporting how hot it was in London and showing the musicians passing out from the heat at the event with the royal guards.

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to Bontobpat]

Oh yes, I saw that! I’m only about an hour from London. After my run, I had a coffee outside, then it really started to heat up so I stayed at home. Temperatures where you are seem crazy, too . Similar temperatures here today, with a likelihood of storms later.

[backintime Graduate]

well done - and of course you're gorgeous!

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to backintime]

Thank you on both counts! 😊

[PeggySusi Graduate]

Gorgeous, and fit, and cool in the photo even if not after your run. I might adopt that daily practice in the mirror.. a good tip, thank you 😊

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to PeggySusi]

haha, thank you! The daily mirror practice actuality works! Yes, photo was a couple of minutes after my run, when I’d caught my breath! I felt a lot hotter than I looked. I did have to wipe my glasses before taking the selfie and they started to steam up again straight away 😊

[Run46 Graduate]

Love that glance in the mirror comment, made me smile...when I was struggling through something years ago I used to force a smile at myself in the mirror in a "fake it until you make it" sort of way. Now I always give myself a friendly smile in the mirror, I think I should steal yours to go with it 😊

Great run, well done, it's such a struggle in the heat! I was up at 7.15 and out around 7.45, heart rate was still crackers & though I walked to reduce it on some of the hills I was daftly trying to keep my speed up to get home quicker! 🤦‍♀️ I like you, was also swapping back & forth across roads to chase the shade 😆

It was still too hot, think it would have been much more pleasant at around 5.30 but I can't bring myself to get up that early on a day off work. If I remember rightly your early morning runs are earlier than mine?!🕕

[Jools2020 Graduate]

Yes, exactly - fake it until you make it lol!

Yes my early runs are usually at about 6. Yesterday’s run may have been a tad later, but it was really hot! I don’t usually have any trouble getting up early 😊