10 miler....

[Curlygurly2]

Yesterday I did my 16 KM run. I decided to break it up into bits, run to parkrun, do parkrun, run home, tootle around locally to get to the distance....

It was 5KYourWay day at parkrun, our special day for anyone touched by cancer, sufferers, survivors, friends, family carers, it was the first meet up since lockdown and it was just lovely to see my friends in the group again, and make some new friends.

My running seems to be getting slower and slower, I'm not sure what that's about. I had hoped to do my half marathon at my pre-illness pace of 7:40 per KM, giving me a finish time of 2 hours 40 minutes or thereabouts, but with 7 weeks to go I really don't think that's going to happen...So, now I'm just focusing on getting round, and finishing, and hopefully enjoying it!

At this stage I can't imaging running another 5 KM on top of this run, but hopefully a bit more training will get me there. I haven't decided if I will do it on run/walk like the last HM, try and run it all, or a mixture of the two. I reckon on a finish time of 3:10 or so.

[Frenc Half Marathon]

Oh well done Curlygurly2! That’s brilliant, I like how you broke it up. That extra 5k will come bit by bit, but I know what you mean! Really? Another 5k, are you mad?! Well done again 😊😊😊.

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to Frenc]

Thank you Frenc, I've done 2 HMs already, a real race and a solo virtual, but still can't get my head around the distance!

[Frenc Half Marathon in reply to Curlygurly2]

Lol well done! I’ve only managed it once on my own and I’ve still no idea how I did it🤣.

[Speedy60 Half Marathon]

Well done you! An extra 5k is just a parkrun from a half marathon. 😉

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to Speedy60]

I know people say that, but what a long way a parkrun is! It is for me anyway! far longer than any 5K run on my own!

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

Well done on your 10-miler Curlygurly2 ! Moving forwards, maybe slightly cooler weather will help a little with the pace? I also run slower than I used to but am always that little bit faster when the weather cools!!🙏

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to Sandraj39]

Yes, it might, thank you! Hope so anyway xx

[Katnap Marathon]

On the day you won't be the only one plodding along so just enjoy the occasion of an organised HM 👍🐱👍

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to Katnap]

Yes, I've done this one before, there were quite a few plodders, and I wasn't last by a long way!

[Madge50 Marathon]

Well done! I wouldn’t worry about the 5k, I’ve only ever taken HM prep up to 20k max, most plans don’t even take you that far.......leave a bit for the day. A parkrun mate once said to me there are 3 things to aim for:

Get to the start line in a good state

Get round safely

Cross the finish line in one piece

What happens in between will be what it will be.....it’s ok to be undecided on your strategy right up until the start hooter....go with the flow....

You’ll be great

Mx

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to Madge50]

Thank you! My plan apparently gets me to over the distance TWICE between now and then, (22.3 KM) seems like a lot to me, but I'll see how it goes x

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

16k is a long run! But mentally that's what you set out to do today, so any more is bound to look incredibly difficult today. Mentally and physically you'll find the extra 5k on the day though, your expectations will be set at 21k, the training qill all be done and the atmosphere of the day will give you the final oomph. You'll do it!

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Yes, that's true, I find if I'm doing 8 KM I start to struggle around 6K, or if I'm doing 15K I'm fine till about 12 or 13K...it's in our heads isn't it?

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Curlygurly2]

Me too! Definitely in our heads.

[sparky66 Half Marathon]

Sounds like your training is going pretty well, that's a smashing distance with still 7 weeks to go.. you will be well prepared 💥Well done, try not to focus on the HM and just keep to your plan 👍🏃‍♀️🙌

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to sparky66]

If anything the plan is a bit much really, last week had two long runs, 16K and 1.7K, and ditched the second one as being too much....I'm playing it by ear for now!!

[Dups Half Marathon]

Well done you👍 You will smash your HM. Will be doing the GNR in two weeks time. I have decided now that putting a time on is too much pressure. I think now I just want to get round it in one piece. I have been here before where times have taken over enjoyment. So I’m making sure that I just go and enjoy the experience. So wether you decide to run/walk just have fun. You are doing brilliant 😊

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to Dups]

Yes, I've pretty much abandoned the idea of making my target time, it's a shame as it's kind of a bit of unfinished business for me, like convincing myself I got over my cancer, when I know really I will never have the energy I had before. Never mind, I can still run, and I'll get round one way or another...

Good luck with yours, let us know how it goes.

[SkiMonday Ultramarathon]

I like the idea of running to ParkRun and back! Seems a good way of breaking down the run.

I've read numerous posts where people can't imagine going further than their current run. I think it's because, consciously or not, we tend to run to the target distance. It's difficult to go further because you will have exhausted most of your resources and you're not psychologically prepared for anything more. It's definitely something I experience even on shorter runs. I guess that's similar to what Linda wrote.

I'd say you're in a good position to complete your HM. One thing you could try for speed is to do intervals or fartleks on one short run each week.

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to SkiMonday]

Thank you, yes I think you're right, yesterday's 8 KM started to feel hard at 6 ish...the plan does indeed include intervals once a week, I quite enjoy them but they don't seem to do much for my long run pace.