W8 here I come...

[pinkhat]

In celebration of reaching this point, thought I'd try something different other than simply rolling out of bed and into my running shoes. I had a small snack of a couple of oatcakes and avocado and a cup of green tea about an hour and a half ago, I've got my thermals on, done a few warm exercises to fire up my glutes and quads and I'm not taking the dog today to avoid having to double back/run backwards when he decides to take a different route through the woods. I'm also going to use SportsTracker on my phone to try and get an accurate idea of how much ground I'm covering (I'm planning to take part in my first Parkrun a week tomorrow) and I've made up my own playlist (sorry Laura, love your encouragement but can't take your music any more). Wish me luck!

[123456789 Graduate]

Avocado......now that is brave.....yck.

Hope you have a good one.

Dale

[pinkhat Graduate in reply to 123456789]

Ha, ha - you either love it or hate it! I was trying to come up with something for energy but low in volume and avocado hits the spot.

[runningwild Graduate]

Hope you enjoyed it, I did mine yesterday. Have you found everything is getting so much easier? I'm not gasping for air like a fish out of water anymore! You do realise you're missing out on the famous 'Me and Julie,' song?!

Good luck pinkhat,

[pinkhat Graduate in reply to runningwild]

Yes, I did enjoy it - even the occasional muddy/slushy stretch and hailstones couldn't spoil it - and while I didn't necessarily feel I could go on and on, I wasn't knackered at the end either. And yes, I am amazed at how I seem to be able to control my breathing now. I like to push myself at the end and that's when I feel I still don't have the stamina to sustain that pace for more than a minute or two. Hmm, I've heard mention of the 'Me and Julie' song - in fact, I think I listened to a snatch of it when someone posted a link - will maybe give Laura a go on Sunday! However, I've enjoyed making up a playlist - I even downloaded an app that allows you to work out the bpm of a song and I've gone all geeky choosing music to keep a slow and steady rhythm until the last couple of tracks, finishing with a quick upbeat 2-minute song (Paulo Nutini's Pencil Full of Lead, if you're interested!).

Anyhoo, just more geeky stats for the record - I did 4.2km in 38 minutes, including the 5 minute walk at the start and end. My average pace was 9.10/km, average speed was 6.5kmh and my max speed was a blistering 10.4kmh, which was the spurt at the end and seemed fast to me but then I realise that's the pace I'd need to keep up if I wanted to do 5k in 30 minutes - yikes! However, having gone from zero running to here, I no longer think that it is unachievable.

[pinkhat Graduate]

Should have explained that my interest in my running stats was to get an idea of much further 5k would be and try and reassure myself that they're not going to have to send out the search party for me at my first Parkrun!