HHM Training - Week 5 Day 6

[Dodgylungs]

Outdoors: So all my fears about not being up to running outside came to pass. I aborted this attempted 10K run at 3K - mainly through fatigue, though the groin was niggling too. This after starting extremely slowly with my fastest split time 8:14 which is slow for me. I felt I was struggling from the beginning and was hoping I would ease into it but it seems my mental strength deserted me as it so often did during the C25K - in fact that took me 19 attempts to get past the 30 minute mark and make the 5K distance. This run was on the NRC app and the time I bailed was just before the 30min mark.

So what do I deduce from this run? My mental strength deserts me at 30mins when I’m not feeling tip top. Yes, it’s harder running outside but a few weeks ago I ran 8K outside and 2 weeks ago I ran 1hr 16mins on the treadmill. I have this distance in my legs but was way off it today. I feel a bit cheated as I thought the training would have given me more energy but I was knackered. I also feel angry as I don’t have much room to spare in my training plan for rests and failures.

Once I made the decision to stop running I really enjoyed walking back to my car through the park. It is a beautiful place to run but I normally run around it. The cyclists and other runners/walkers irritated me and got in my way at times. Intolerance and bad temper are not going to get me where I need to be. This was my first aborted run but not the first time on this training plan that I’ve doubted my ability to run 21K. If I can’t run further than 30 minutes when the chips are down I’m in trouble.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

Hmm. That must be very disappointing and frustrating. It does rather sound as if you had decided you'd fail before even stepping out the door though. How about making your shorter recovery runs or your more interesting/distracted/enjoyable speed runs outdoors, and leave the long ones for the treadmill which seems to be your comfort zone. That way you aren't up against your 30 minute mental block (I'm pretty sure this will be a mental block rather than a physical one) and have a lot less time to dwell on how you feel (or imagine you feel). After several short runs outside you may gradually and naturally become more accustomed to the outdoor environment, and with a more relaxed outlook, you may then surprise yourself with an enjoyable long run.

Can you choose a different location? One that isn't already assocuated with irritations in your mind? Somewhere quieter and more calming perhaps?

[Dodgylungs Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Not sure I psyched myself out before the run, in fact I think I was up for it. What happens with me though is when I get to a part of the run that is really tricky, which is often between 3-5K my head starts telling me I’m tired. That’s the bit when I need to shut my mind up. Despite not feeling great at the beginning I never thought I wouldn’t do it today. Then the heat got on top of me a bit and this woman was walking in front of me when she had been running, cyclists went whizzing past and it all conspired to make me stop.

I like this location, not least because it’s quite flat and I know two circuits is 10K. I’ll try again on Friday but this time start an hour earlier. That extra hour makes the difference in terms of traffic and the amount of people around. Thing is I have to get used to doing the long runs outside since the HM is outdoors. I just have to keep trying again. Maybe I’m just not suited for distance running.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Dodgylungs]

Yep ypu need to find some mental strategy for that 3 to 5k mark. It's fixed in your mind and you need to chip away at that. You know you can run longer. Banking successful runs is a good way forward. Keep chipping away at it bit by bit. Good luck

[Dodgylungs Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Thank you. Maybe I just need to go back to basics and run super slow for enjoyment rather than tormenting myself with the jeopardy of failure. I think I was simply tired this morning physically and mentally.

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

Oh gosh Dodgy, that didn’t sound fun.

I’m not an expert because I simply don’t do it, but have you considered Jeffing? Walking/running intervals? People swear by it, and there are loads of recent posts on here about it. 😀 You might find it enables you to get beyond your 30 minute barrier.

Please don’t be despondent though. The weather is testing us all at the moment, and you clearly have mental aptitude as you can run for so long on a treadmill! Kudos for that!

As for getting irritated with others, I often think “really?” when others are inconsiderate or plain ignorant. I try to zone them out now and refuse to let them ruin my lovely run.

Your next run will be more fun and you absolutely CAN achieve HM. 👊

[Dodgylungs Half Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

In all honesty, the minute I stop running in my mind I’m done. In fact I did the first 5K on this plan walking/running, effing/jeffing 😂 and I was ok with that then because I was massively overweight and unfit. I’m still a bit overweight and not as fit as I was but I’m 5 weeks into my training (6 if you count the week’s rest I had) and I really thought I’d be better than this. That said, I’ll simply get back out there and try again on Friday. I better give my groin another day’s rest. I might have to drop one of the interval training days over the next two weeks to make sure I keep on track for my target of reaching my peak on September 26th.

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Dodgylungs]

Don’t put pressure on yourself. Do the best you can on any given day. Yesterday I ran such a slow 30 minute NRC guided recovery run it was a joke. But it was hot, I’d run an exhausting hot 8 miles on Sunday, and I really enjoyed just pootling around, no pressure, no goal (except to complete the run).

Just run for fun, and if you happen to go faster/longer, well that’s a bonus. Don’t give up on yourself, you’re doing so well. 👊

[Dodgylungs Half Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Very good advice!

[misswobble Marathon]

Chill out man 😁 Lose the blues 🤷‍♀️

The sun is shining, you’re out on a run. Happy days 🌞😎

Unless we live in the middle of nowhere we have to share our space. Be generous to your fellow humans, dogs and ducks You’ll feel happier 😇

[Dodgylungs Half Marathon in reply to misswobble]

Yeah, I need to get in touch with the love. Too focused on doing every little bit of the training and forgot to enjoy.

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Dodgylungs]

Listen to Coach B!🙂👍 I ran the 8 miles run today and he spoke about all the things that are worrying you Very good listen, and it kept me occupied.

Lots of peeps on the canal today - all smiling, unfailingly polite and happy 🙂

[Dodgylungs Half Marathon in reply to misswobble]

Well done on the 8 miles. I’m attempting the 10K again tomorrow. I’ve done the NRC 8 miles before and I enjoyed the commentary greatly.

[Cmoi Marathon]

Sorry you're feeling disappointed Dodgylungs . I can tell you, though, that struggling on a shorter distance definitely doesn't mean you can't run further. It just means you had a bad day! It's happened to me so many times and I just have to force myself to bash on.

Unlike many people on here, I hate having a training plan. It's removed almost all the spontaneity from my running, and I don't get the satisfaction that many do from ticking off runs when I've achieved them - it pushes me into pass-fail mode. Nor does it help that I hardly ever get any achievements on Strava these days, as I'm generally running more slowly, and rarely increasing distance beyond what I've done before.

So I've been trying to balance that by adding more silly fun to my runs - doing a mini detour onto a path just to see where it goes, actively taking in the views and scents, talking to cows, birds, and trees. Anything to reduce the sense of duty and seeming lack of progress in terms of pace and km.

I also agree with cheekychipmunks - take off as much pressure as possible. Of course you should do what you can to prepare for your event, but realise too that you don't necessarily have to be at your peak to succeed on the day. I certainly wasn't at my finest last Sunday, but I still got round a route that was undoubtedly the toughest - though not the longest - I'd ever done.

One final (possibly crazy) suggestion - if you have a mental block at 30 minutes, could you try running without time cues? If you don't know when 30 minutes is up, you can't react to it!

Wishing you more fun next run.

[Dodgylungs Half Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

Thanks for the advice. Amazing that you do all your running without a plan. I’m going to give the 10K another go tomorrow and will run it super slow and see how I go. I listen to the coaches on the guided runs so I always know exactly where I’m at in the run. I think I’ll just try again and not overthink it. I’ve had a day’s rest today for my groin so will try and run at such a slow pace I don’t feel like stopping. I might try reversing the route tomorrow and see if that does anything for the run.

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to Dodgylungs]

Ah, I can't really claim to being plan-free Dodgylungs ! I did C25K with the podcasts, then used the Magic Plan to get to 10k. That suited me perfectly as I could decide which run to do when.

After that it was advice and support from people on here that got me to run further. The good thing for me, though, was that I never did any events, so there was absolutely no pressure.

However, when I signed up for a trail marathon I felt I needed a training plan. I started one right away, giving myself several extra weeks, as my life and "run five times a week and do this on this day" are simply not compatible. I'm managing the runs, but after the first four weeks the actual scheduling went completely to pot.

I view guided runs in the same way, though I might give them a try one day, just to see if they're as annoying as I anticipate!

Hope you're running more happily by the time you see this😀

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon]

Just because you stopped doesn't mean you can't get going again! I often pause to look at a view, or take a photo, or just walk for a little bit. It doesn't have to be either all running, or a structured run/walk programme. Your run, do it your way!

[Dodgylungs Half Marathon in reply to Curlygurly2]

I struggle to get going again if I stop. I think the key for me will be to run super slow tomorrow.