10k… wait; what?!: Ahh... Sundays, the day of... - Couch to 5K

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10k… wait; what?!

mrqwest profile image
mrqwestGraduate
19 Replies

Ahh... Sundays, the day of rest for some, but the day of a fun run for me. My weekend runs seem to be alternating recently. I've either gone for a 'long' run (which inevitably hasn't been that long) or a filthy run where I get caked in mud running trail routes.

My 'long runs' haven't been that long. Looking at my Garmin stats, the longest I've run since xmas was 7km on New Years Eve. Every long run since has been around the 6k mark. 6km is no bad thing, but it's not a long run relatively speaking.

But yesterdays run, that was good. I really didn't feel up to it and I hadn't been out in almost a week so I really had to battle myself to step out the door but glad I did. I thought I'd try and add 10% on last weeks run (6.1km) so was aiming to hit 6.75km and I wanted to do that without stopping. I chose my route which is the local 10k race route. 6.75km would mean I stop at teh top of the local park and then I could walk through the park home as I cooled down.

I set off, and almost immediately regretted wearing a short-sleeve tee as it began sleeting. But pushed on as I'd soon warm up. 5km ticked round and I was actually surprised as I seemed to have run it with relative ease. 6km came & went, my calves were starting to feel tight now but surprised I'd hit 6k without stopping and not really stressing either.

I forgot about my 6.75km target and next time I looked at my Garmin, I was on 7.5k, wowsers! I'd now beaten the farthest distance I'd run non-stop and I *still* felt like I had some energy…

Then my brain ticked into gear... if I've already run 7.5km, another 2.5km would see me at a full 10k. If I'm running 7min/km, I could hit that 10k in around 18 minutes. After running for non-stop for 50 minutes, another 18 didn't seem like too much of a hassle.

So onwards I went, 8k, 8.5k 9k. By now, I was starting to feel that tightness in my calves. But I was still going steady. 9.3km, 9.4km, 9.5km... Come on! Only another half a km to go, another 3-4 minutes running. This was the hardest bit as I was literally on my door step by this point. I could have very easily stopped but no, I was a mule, a great big stubborn mule.

My sights were on 10k and I wasn't going to stop.

Next thing I know, bam! Watch beeped to denote 10k... I was elated, ecstatic even but hang on... I was still running. Why?

Knowing full well that to limit the chance of injury, you should only increase distance by 10% week on week, and I'd increased mine by nearly 70%, I should stop. I've been lucky with injuries so far so didn't want to push my luck. So I ran to the end of the road I was on and stopped there.

10.2km later, 1hr 10mins of solid running and an average pace of 6:51min/km I was very very happy. I put it down to the constant drizzle / sleet that kept me really cool and allowed to keep going.

Phew. Think I'll have that extra rest day now.

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mrqwest
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19 Replies
greenlegs profile image
greenlegsGraduate

Well, goodness gracious, that was a jump up! Well done. So well done to the drizzle and sleet for keeping you cool. Hope you don't ache too much tomorrow! :)

mrqwest profile image
mrqwestGraduate in reply togreenlegs

Thanks! The thighs were a bit sore but other than that, I was surprisingly ok!

Lulu-fifi profile image
Lulu-fifi

Wow! Well done! So much determination. I hope your legs aren't too stiff tomorrow.

mrqwest profile image
mrqwestGraduate in reply toLulu-fifi

ha! the ice cream the day before kinda spurred me on to burn off the calories. Woops!

123456789 profile image
123456789Graduate

Good God fantastic run, that is really inspiring just when you least expected it!

Shall we call it the sleet technique?

Hope your legs are okay in the morning.

All the best

Dale

mrqwest profile image
mrqwestGraduate in reply to123456789

The Sleet Technique - I like that!

SBG356 profile image
SBG356Graduate

Mr Q that is bloody fantastic!!! Well done you :) I can't wait to achieve that goal and really feel your excitement and joy coming through!

Every time I go for my run I am really positive thinking this will be the one when I just keep running with relative ease and get there, exactly how you described it, but as yet it eludes me. I keep persevering though and know that one day I will be writing a blog just like this :D I think I too like the rain and drizzle to keep me cool so can relate to that.

Now go rest those weary legs and revel in your achievement; so much to be proud of! ;)

Sue

mrqwest profile image
mrqwestGraduate in reply toSBG356

I'm looking forward to reading your blog when you experience that run! Pretty sure it won't be long :)

Legion profile image
LegionGraduate

Wow, how fantastic! You must feel amazing after doing that. :D Definitely treat yourself to an extra rest day and make sure the next run is a recovery run (not another 10K!) I remember a day like that soon after this tortoise graduated, when I just kept on going and finally did my first 5K. It's funny how these runs seem to creep up on you when you least expect it. Big congratulations and thanks for sharing your inspiring run. :)

mrqwest profile image
mrqwestGraduate in reply toLegion

Thanks! Took your advice and and had that extra rest day. Next run is intervals tomorrow morning... unless of course, it snows overnight!

Congratulations what a fantastic achievement.

mrqwest profile image
mrqwestGraduate in reply to

Thanks Phil - been aiming for that 10k mark since graduating, so glad I got there. Now to keep it up :)

skf28 profile image
skf28Graduate

Well done I am really impressed, enjoy your well deserved rest and your next run :-)

mrqwest profile image
mrqwestGraduate in reply toskf28

thanks :)

swanscot profile image
swanscotGraduate

Ha! You're another who has joined the 'I-know-the-10%-rule-but-ignore-it-completely-when-near-10K' club. ;-) It's has affected quite a few of us here it seems!

Congratulations on your first 10kk run!

mrqwest profile image
mrqwestGraduate in reply toswanscot

YES! I'm another 'I-know-the-10%-rule-but-ignore-it-completely-when-near-10K' member. My last long run was 6.1km so planned to build that up over several weeks, 6.1km, 6.75km, 7.5km, 8.2km, 9km & 10km... but, but, it was 10k!!

Jeddahpm profile image
JeddahpmGraduate

Wonderful! I hope to join you soon if I can persuade my lungs ;) well done!

mrqwest profile image
mrqwestGraduate in reply toJeddahpm

Thanks! You'll get there soon enough, and you'll feel great when you do!

Allev8 profile image
Allev8

Amazing achievement, thanks for sharing the feeling with us...really inspired.

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