The one that didn’t go to plan

[Tasha99]

I’ve been inspired by a few people’s long runs recently. Having lost the love for runs over 10-11 miles, and focussing on my zone 3 runs of a lower distance for a few months now (but upping the mileage overall), I decided I’d go for a long run before going back to work in a couple of weeks.

Planned a 14 mile route with the option to cut it down to 10 if needed. HATED the first 8 miles (which are all gradually uphill) but then I found my pace. I kept adding on as was in the zone. 17th mile my legs started to get quite tired so I stopped at 18 miles. No stops at all either! This is a first for me. Marathon training last year was brutal and I only just got through it. This run is another massive piece of evidence that low heart rate training rules!

[Hidden]

Wooooooooooooooooooooooow 🎽

Love this 💙 you did it!! I'm so chuffed reading this. 18 miles is an incredible distance. Well done you. I really hope this gives you the confidence to believe in yourself. No stops too on a distance like this is fantastic. You are inspiring me to do 18 for my next long run. Rest up today now and be so proud of yourself. Epic 🥇

[Tasha99 Marathon in reply to Hidden]

Thanks GTFC! I couldn’t believe it myself. The power of easy runs 😊

[Tasha99 Marathon in reply to Hidden]

This was however a zone 3 fail. HR was having none of it after 10k 🥴🤣

[Hidden in reply to Tasha99]

😂😂😂😂

My last biggie was too , but I'll keep most of my runs this way so that when I step up the miles I can run them with confidence. Hey, well done again!

[Tasha99 Marathon in reply to Hidden]

That’s what I thought too.

Mind the 6.5 mile trail yesterday won’t have helped 😶🤣

[Hidden in reply to Tasha99]

🙈🙈🙈🙈🙈🙈

Taper alert

🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️

[Tasha99 Marathon in reply to Hidden]

🤣

Today wasn’t planned!

[BaddieThePirate]

Wow, that is a distance I can only try and imagine. Well done you, amazing!

[Wimborne Half Marathon]

Oh wow.. that’s incredible running Tasha. Just Fabulous ...

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon]

An interesting urban route Tasha! You look as though you are about to give someone a piece of your mind 😂 Well done on running 18 miles👏👏👏

[Tasha99 Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

It’s my, “Well that was unexpected” look 🤣

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon]

Needs practice 🙂

[Tasha99 Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

🤣

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

Wow, that's an amazing distance! You look super cool too! The low heart rate training really, really has worked for you 👍💪

[Tasha99 Marathon in reply to linda9389]

It really has! It’s easy too. I’d definitely recommend it 🤣

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Tasha99]

one day ....

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

I love the look on your face! Was that before or after? Fab sounding run 💪

[Tasha99 Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

After - it’s my shocked at myself face 🤣

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Tasha99]

😂😂

[roseabi Ultramarathon]

Awesome run, and great pic!!

[Run46 Half Marathon]

Wow Tasha, that's some run, brilliant! 👏🎉

Your face I assume is set in a 'how the heck did that happen!' look 😂

[Tasha99 Marathon in reply to Run46]

Absolutely!

[Run46 Half Marathon in reply to Tasha99]

I'm interested in heart rate training so think I may have a go after I've finished my HM plan.

I've set my heart rate max on Garmin to make it more accurate (which I believe you advised someone to do on a previous post) and generally I seem to run in zone 4 so would need to slow things right down which I'm sure would be challenging initially.

[Tasha99 Marathon in reply to Run46]

It is hard in the first couple of weeks and it takes a bit of patience 🤣 But it allows you to increase mileage as you take barely any recovery. It develops your aerobic base which is what has seen me improve so much.

[Dodgylungs Half Marathon]

Where can I read more about low heart rate training? Is that the basis of the C25K and 10K programmes?

[Tasha99 Marathon in reply to Dodgylungs]

No not at all. It’s just a method of improving your aerobic base. Lots of very slow running which in turn makes your fast pace faster and your endurance to do long distance much better. Google ‘slow down to speed up’ running.

[Dodgylungs Half Marathon in reply to Tasha99]

Thank you

[Dodgylungs Half Marathon in reply to Tasha99]

Everybody on C25K says slow down. Having read it there are similarities. You only need to spend a relatively small amount of time in zone 3 (8%) a bit more in zone 2 (21%) but most of it in zone 1 low intensity (71%). So by that rationale the low intensity running I’m currently doing will eventually help me run faster...

[Tasha99 Marathon in reply to Dodgylungs]

I don’t know anyone why can run in zone 1 🤔 zone 2 is hard to stay in. Have you got your max set accurately?

[Dodgylungs Half Marathon in reply to Tasha99]

My maximum heart rate according to the calculation of 220 minus my age is 163 - so far the maximum heart rate I have running is 156. According to my FitBit on Thursday I did 3hours and 28mins of activity - of which 22mins were peak, 29mins cardio and the rest fat burn.