A long run home, plus some loopy loops! 11 miles. - Couch to 5K

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A long run home, plus some loopy loops! 11 miles.

CaroleC profile image
CaroleCGraduate
12 Replies

After last week's disappointing 7.2 miler, where I struggled just around my usual loop a few times and found it all very hard work, I was determined to put in a better long run today. The previous Sunday I'd done a very good ten miles with a overall pace of 6.2mph which I was very happy with, so I knew I could do better, and I knew I needed to add a little more to the distance. I'm trying to get up to the full half marathon distance...and keeping an eye out for a local event to use the training!

Anyway, I was feeling a little fragile this morning, not due to a hangover you understand. I have been very good recently about not drinking any alcohol at all if I have a run of any sort the next day. I was just not feeling top notch. Had a Chinese takeaway last night and it was having a decidedly negative effect on my digestion which can be dodgy enough on anything over four miles/forty minutes long if I'm not very careful. We were going into Plymouth, the plan being for me to wear my running kit under some warmer gear then strip off the warm stuff and run home plus a few miles depending on how well my tum behaved itself.

Anyway after two loo visits all seemed well and I waved bye to the OH and started the run from the city centre. Always a little embarrassing with all the Sunday shoppers visiting the food market stalls that were set up. Dodging around shoppers isn't particularly easy either!

All well until I got to St Budeaux, where my mp3 player suddenly went quiet. Hmmm; I checked the Garmin which was just coming up to the 5k mark, so I hung on until it got to that mark, then stopped completely for several seconds to sort out the player which hadn't stopped, but had, I think maybe rubbing on my phone which was also in the back of my capris, turned its volume right down all by itself! By the time I'd stopped, detected the problem and got going again, I'd lost at least 20 seconds. Traffic was quite busy also and I had to stop several times at lights etc to make way.

It's a gradual long climb up to Saltash from Plymouth, you can see this on the Garmin stats and on the elevation readings. I was sweating like the proverbial and gasping by the time I got into Saltash but happy that my usual loops were in front of me and I always find it easier to run on more familiar roads, no nasty surprises!

Anyway, anything past 8 miles I was going to be happy with after the way my stomach had been feeling in the morning; still felt strong(ish!) at 9; at 10 miles I was down on my time from a fortnight ago but comforted myself that it is a harder run home from Plymouth with the gradient and the fact that I'd had to make several short stops on the way. The knees and thighs were starting to protest loudly as I carried on towards the 11 mile mark, but a short sprint around the edge of the local footie field brought me in at 1:49:31 or 1:48:46 if you take off the stops.

End average moving pace 6.1mph,

connect.garmin.com/activity...

I drank two pints of water on getting in and had finished the whole large sports bottle of water that I'd been carrying as well. Now enjoying a cocktail!!

CaroleC

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CaroleC profile image
CaroleC
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12 Replies
Pelephant profile image
PelephantGraduate

My my very well done to you. you did really well considering your tummy trouble. Double pats on the back for even attempting it!!

Oldgirl profile image
OldgirlGraduate

OMG Carol you burned nearlly 1200 calories thats amazing, well done you.

doggymum profile image
doggymumGraduate

Well done Carole - you definately deserve that cocktail!

Chewy profile image
Chewy

Firstly Carole I have to congratulate your success, you're really a legend in these parts (or at least that's how it feels to me). I too suffer from the dodgy digestion when running and I've learned to be careful, it's great to hear a proper runner talking about that because I thought it was just me.

CaroleC profile image
CaroleCGraduate in reply to Chewy

Chewy, if you run, you are a "proper runner". I used to suffer more than I do now, but as long as I'm careful and make sure I've "been" (I know, TMI, but these things have to be talked about or we think it's just us!!) I'm ok. It was touch and go for a wee while there this morning, but glad I got the run completed eventually!

Knees are feeling the extra distance now; I have a gym session tomorrow after work. Everything but the treadmill then!

CaroleC

shelleymcb profile image
shelleymcbGraduate

carole, when will you slow down!!! you are putting the rest of us (well, me anyway) to shame.

well done on the mileage. you are doing great. sounds like the ankles & knees are holding up.

take care. shelley x

ps. gonna give that hill session a go tomorrow!!

Gridlet profile image
GridletGraduate

Great run Carole! Despite the Chinese takeaway!

magster profile image
magsterGraduate

Well done Carole - I know Plymouth and the area you run quite well as my daughter is at Uni there. Great run :)

CaroleC profile image
CaroleCGraduate in reply to magster

magster,

I quite like running back from Plymouth to home, mostly because I know I'm getting a good workout thanks to that gradual climb. Thankfully, it seems to be getting easier, must be the hill workouts and the intervals I've been doing recently. Next week long run will be12 miles all being well!

CaroleC

OldNed profile image
OldNedGraduate

Interesting that you are "disappointed at 7.2 miles", had previously done "a very good 10 miles" and were cross with yourself that you'd "lost at least 20 seconds". It's all a far cry from where we all start, at running for 1 minute at a time!! But it's also inspirational in that any of us can also do this if we just keep at it. Good for you, despite the Chinese takeaway!

suki_007 profile image
suki_007Graduate

Wow, I am just in awe.... amazing!

CaroleC profile image
CaroleCGraduate

Hi OldNed,

Yes, I guess everything is relative. Looking at the first nine weeks of the programme and how worried I was before, and how elated I was after finishing W5R3, then finishing the C25K and then the B210K and on, and on. There are some far distant plans towards running the Loch Ness Marathon in Sep/Oct 2014 with Grammadog. Two years to go then!

CaroleC

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