Saturday 2 hour Long Run 😊

[Jools2020]

Checking the weather forecast for today, it was going to be a warm one, so I got up just after 5. I do need time to prepare - mainly having breakfast and waiting for an hour or so! It was about 6:30 when I set out for my warmup. Definitely suffered from the Toxic Ten on my warmup today, so I stopped and did a few more stretches and drills before starting my run.

This 2 hour run was the one I should have done last Saturday, but I was distracted by doing a practice 10K. I had put my name down for a local event next Sunday, the Binfield 10K. I was going to be running with a member of my running club, but she has pulled out due to injury. I’m not sure if I’m going to run without her, my confidence just evaporated! It’s a challenging course with the hills in the second half and I haven’t done any hill training.

Today’s long run was a low HR one. I had written a simple workout in Garmin including the heartrate range of 120-133. This means that my HR appears on my watch in large numbers and there’s a scale that goes into the red if I stray from the zone - and my watch buzzes, too, to let me know. My pace isn’t shown on the watch screen and I usually have the auto lap feature turned off, too - as my pace for each km is not relevant for these runs.

But I had forgotten that I turned the auto lap back on for my 10K last week - so my watch notified me of my pace for the first km. Darn it! This shifts the focus and isn’t ideal. It makes me want to improve on my pace for each km! I didn’t want to mess with the watch while I was running. So I just had to put up with it.

Other than that, the run went according to plan. I incorporated a few gentle slopes into this run. I had water, Tailwind and a few jelly babies that practically melted in the heat! It was warm but I was mainly running in the shade. It was a good run and I enjoyed being out in the early morning. Well, I started in the early morning but there were more people about as it got later! One gentleman I saw 3 times. He was walking quite fast - and I was running only slightly faster, overtaking him painfully slowly at one point. The third time I saw him was out in the warm sun and we both laughed! I saw that he was sweating and I turned round to get back into the shade.

As I got towards the end of my run, I could see that I would cover about 12.5K at the end of my 2 hours so I decided to run on for a few minutes to get to 13K. I wasn’t out of breath at all and could have carried on for longer. My pace is getting faster during these low HR runs but it doesn’t happen overnight! Today’s average pace was 9:35 mins/km. much faster than when I started out with these low HR runs. I happily walked home for stretches, more water and a snack! I generally don’t like running in the heat, but putting in such little effort makes it easier.

Happy running, or rest well if you’re on the IC. 😊☀️🥰

[Instructor57]

Nice one Jools2020 !😁

Sounds like a great run 👌

Good to see you doing these long ones now again.

yes so frustrating when your watch interferes with your plan but I know what you mean. It’s hard to ignore it but even harder to change it whilst running ha ha ha

the low heart rate runs are absolutely paying off as they are with myself as we know they cannot be rushed really months and months and months of dedicated training but it’s all worthwhile when you see these benefits.

keep up the great work, my friend😁👌x

[Jools2020 Half Marathon in reply to Instructor57]

Thank you, Ian! You’re absolutely right. I didn’t doubt I would see results but it has taken a few months. It takes perseverance when you see your pace is something like 11:30!

You’re doing so well, too! Visits to the gym to keep your fitness up and even Garmin loves you! You must be fitter than you have ever been. 😊👏👏👍

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

Well done on your run Jools2020 - you were right to get out before it got really hot as I think we are still all adjusting to the warmer weather (although I think temperatures are dropping again on Monday! 🙂🤷‍♀️ Sounds like a great run and you are really building up your distance now.🙂

[Jools2020 Half Marathon in reply to Sandraj39]

Thanks Sandraj39 . I actually can’t remember when I last ran for more than 2 hours. Must be at least 3 years ago! Great to be back there again 🥰

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles]

Well Jools that run was just about perfect, I get excited reading your progress and knowing I'm a few months behind but following similar pattern. It really has got warm now hasn't it? I couldn't believe it when I went outside earlier.Long may the long runs serve to make you stronger and faster

[Jools2020 Half Marathon in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thank you SueAppleRun . It was getting warm towards the end of that run! I wasn’t too warm for at least an hour.

I checked my past runs and found that I haven’t run for more than 2 hours since January 2021. That was a 10 mile run ( my next target.) I also noticed that when I ran about a year ago, Strava gave me a fitness score of 1. It’s now 57. I’ve no idea what the algorithm is, but clearly I had no fitness a year ago! It crept up slowly at first. With the recent long runs and speed intervals it has shot up lately.

It’s fun taking this running journey together! I don’t doubt that you’ll be catching up with me very soon. For a few months it seems that nothing is happening - then all of a sudden it does!

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles in reply to Jools2020]

Cheeky Strava, a fitness score of 1 indeed, I don't know what it means but it does show huge progress.My last couple of runs just started to feel good and I love the intervals, I shall soon be out again now I'm sure .

I don't mind running in the heat, it's the cold wet and windy I'm not so keen on.

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

You made a wise decision getting up early to miss the heat. I didn’t and came back looking like a wet lobster 🦞🥵😂

Well done on the two hours 👍 that definitely deserves a cold glass of something later 🍺🍹🥂

[Jools2020 Half Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Thanks, IP! It was hot but yes, I missed the worst of it. Towards the end of the run I left the shade and was running in the full sun. Such a bad idea when I had shade close by so I turned round and changed my route! No lobster look for me 🤣 the selfie above was taken a minute or two after the run ended!

I have some cider in the house bought for a bolognese recipe. I’ve got my eye on that for later !

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon]

Tree lined runs are brilliant! Heat, rain, wind….keeps them all at bay. Another terrific run 👍👍👍👍👍

[Jools2020 Half Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

Thanks Beachcomber66 . You’re absolutely right and I’m fortunate to have that right near my house! 😊

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Jools2020]

Me too! Just 10 mins walk and the woods begin. So lucky.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

That's a great run in the heat. What a shame your friend pulled out of the 10k. I have to say i've always found someone to chat to if I've gone to a race on my own - both at the start line and during the run. So many people are on their own, and where I start and run (away from serious contenders), everyone seems to be very friendly. Walking up hills there's always someone to share a moan with 😂

[Jools2020 Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

I think it was coupled with the challenging course, but I do struggle with going to anything like this on my own. I’m sure you’re right about everyone being friendly. I’ll see how I feel - I haven’t pulled out yet!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Jools2020]

I completely understand your misgivings. At the end of the day we enter these things to have fun, and if that's not going to happen it's not worth it.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Jools2020]

If you do decide to run it, be sure to add it to the May events post healthunlocked.com/marathon... so we can all support you 🥰, and it would also count as an entry for our HU10 healthunlocked.com/marathon... (some blatant plugs there on my part 😂)