Two quick 3ks

[Yesletsgo]

You know what it's like, you make resolutions to do at least one long run per week then life intervenes and you just don't have time to fit everything else in. Isn't the 3k great for times like this?

Life intervened so much over the weekend that I didn't run at all so on Monday I was very keen to get out there. I'd have liked to have done 5k but it would take me the best part of an hour by the time I warmed up and cooled down and I just didn't have the time to spare as my son was coming for lunch. Gotta feed that lad! 💙

The run started well, as always my husband sped off ahead of me, and I don't know whether he slowed down or I speeded up but suddenly I was only a little bit behind him. I decided that I'd see what happened if I kept up with his pace. I held that thought then decided to see for how long I could run at a constant speed (isn't this a tempo run?).

When I got home I looked at my stats. The first two splits were identical and the third was 24 seconds faster. Mission accomplished, the only reason I sped up at the end was because the end was in sight and I wanted my breakfast.

This morning (Wednesday, I had too much to do to post this as I wrote it lol) I had a busy day ahead again plus I was late setting off so it was another 3k. It was overcast which I quite like when I run. I settled into a comfortable pace, got my breathing under control and did my best not to let my heart rate climb too high.

There was another runner, a woman about my age, on the same route as us. She had overtaken us when we were doing our warm up walk and was quite a way ahead once we actually started the run.

After about 2km there is a choice of where to go - up on the sea wall or stay on the path beneath it. The sea wall is prettier but the lower path is easier. My husband took the sea wall and was a couple of hundred metres behind the other runner. I took the lower path which cuts a curve so I found that I was almost level with her. I probably could have overtaken her but gave myself a stern talking to. This was a run not a race. If I pushed myself that hard I'd have to slow right down quite soon, better to slow down now and enjoy the rest of the run.

When I got home I checked my stats as usual. Exactly the same pace as yesterday, with the first km the slowest and the second the fastest. These are the fastest 3ks I've managed in quite a while. Have I suddenly got fitter and faster? I don't think so. The thing that has changed is what I'm running on. The paths right now are perfect. All that winter mud really slowed me down

[Sax64 Graduate10]

Great work. All runs count however short and don't you just feel better for getting out and doing it?

[Yesletsgo Graduate10 in reply to Sax64]

Exactly 😁

[RollingPea]

Totally agree. Well done for clocking up the short runs. I'm in the same boat. I have been doing a training programme that includes long runs, interval sets, S&F work, each workout taking about an hour or more..... it has been great for motivating me through the endless cold and rainy days. But now the sun is here, all and sundry want to go out/visit/travel. It's as if a light has been turned on and I suppose it has! The sun. So I had to grab a 5 km run 2 evenings ago, though I dislike running late in the day, and I cannot see when my next opportunity for an 8 k or 10 k run will be. Still, I'm glad to have good weather as that makes everyone happier. I will follow your advice - to grab the short runs whenever we can.

[Yesletsgo Graduate10 in reply to RollingPea]

If I wasn't doing short runs I wouldn't be doing any, even 5k feels like a stretch at the moment!

I started the NRC 10k plan earlier this year (had to put that on hold) and there are several very short runs in the beginning. Made me realise that short ones are worth the effort!

[Oldfloss Administrator 60minGraduate in reply to Yesletsgo]

The short runs build up... they add up to a lot of kilometers... I am short and sweet running all over the place lately!

[Oldfloss Administrator 60minGraduate]

Well done you ! My short runs are even shorter than yours... fitting them in as and when... Your route sounded super... and, listening to your body and easing back and enjoying!

Just a run, in not wet or freezing cold is a blessing and a joy, isn't it? x

[Yesletsgo Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

Absolutely, it's just so fabulous to be out there while spring is springing so vigorously!!

[Oldfloss Administrator 60minGraduate in reply to Yesletsgo]

Abso-bloomimg-lutley! I did NRC 555 seconds this morning... plus a bit on the end... 2K just enough !!!

[Yesletsgo Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

That's a really nice little run