How did that happen? You know those magic runs where everything just comes together and you feel like a superhero? That was this morning for me.
I’m following the NRC HM plan and it’s 8 weeks to go. That means the long run is 15km. The app always undercounts the distance so I gear up for blasting through the 10 mile/16km barrier. I plan out a route, eat some extra toast with breakfast and set out. Conditions: excellent. Sunny but fresh and breezy. This could be a pleasant run.
The first 5k is a standard run I do a lot. The familiarly is helpful at the start of such a long run. I focus on warming up, keeping is easy and being patient. The first 3k feels tough. Then the groove comes. 2k of gliding along and I’m feeling like this is going to be a really good one. 5k comes up and then it’s a long 2k climb through a tree tunnel and past some fields with buzzards circling. This is my favourite hill to run up. It’s a challenge but you get periodic respite and the views at the top are super. Coach Bennett tells me to hit cruise control and that’s exactly how it feels. Everything is just flying along. I check my watch and I realise this is pretty quick but it feels so good and I’m not out of breath so I just go with it.
The top of the hill comes up and there’s a sign-“slow down”! I take that as a sign from the universe and back off a little as I start the best part of the run. The reward for the climb is a slow downhill through trees. Beautiful. I check my watch again and although my effort has dropped, I’m still running fast for me. Maybe all this training is actually paying off?
10k comes up quickly and it’s a steep downhill to the village. This is tricky! At the bottom I spot I’ve got 3k to go and I’m too close to the end point cafe. I decide to loop to pass a beautiful lake. It’s hot with no shade and all of a sudden, my legs feel tired and I realise it’s still a way to go. Just keep going. This loop takes a sharp turn uphill and I wonder if it was a mistake to come this way, but then Coach Bennett is telling me to start planning my celebration and before I know it, it’s over! Ten miles!!!
I walk to meet my husband at a local cafe and stretch outside. Coffee inside-of course!! Looking at the stats, I realise what an amazing run this has ended up being. I’ve smashed both my 10km and 5km personal bests. I knew it felt good but I can’t believe just how good it ended up being. Going to be smiling for the rest of the day!
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MissUnderstanding
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That's what husband's are for 😂 I'm sure he's very proud of you though.
No change here unfortunately, feels exactly the same as the day I went to see the physio in the first place about 5 weeks ago now, which is somewhat frustrating. Beginning to wonder if I should get a second opinion. But went for a lovely cycle ride yesterday and discovered an excellent new running route that I am determined to try one day!
Very well done! It must be a week for great runs!! Sounds so lovely where you run. I really need to find some new routes, I feel there isn't really many places to go here, will have to investigate. X
Aw, thanks! We are lucky. During lockdown we did a lot of exploring locally and discovered all sorts of new places that we hadn’t found before. The only problem now (and it’s a nice problem to have!) is that the runs are getting so long that’s it’s harder to figure out how to get all of the distance in. I don’t know how people training for actual full marathons manage it. Hope you can find some nice places too.
Thanks, that’s lovely to read! One of the things I love most about this forum is reading other people’s posts and taking inspiration or remembering my own journey.
Oh well done you 🥳 - 10 miles is a very special milestone - enjoy the moment 🤗. I sense that your HM is beckoning - have fun with the rest of the plan 👏
It’s a local cafe we know well so they’re used to seeing me sweaty having a treat coffee and breakfast. They really know how to poach their eggs in there and it’s nice to support them. Everything tastes extra good at the end of a good run!
Congratulations for the PBs and the 10miles badge MissUnderstanding . This was such a good read, you took us along with you on that lovely run!I am with you on how people find longer routes!
Thanks! It was a really great run and it’s so nice to have the opportunity to talk about it with people who like to hear! Today will just be a quiet (and short!) recovery run so a bit less interesting!!
Oh oh oh!! fantastic, I felt so happy reading that and a huge well done, I’m over a week behind you and can’t run 5 times in 7 days so it’ll be a while before I do that run but reading your post I’m so looking forward to it now
Thanks! I’ve been doing similar up to now and stretching out the weeks but I’ve caught up with real life and it’s actually 7 weeks to go next week. It’s a shame to move on without finishing all the runs (5 is tricky for me too) but at least I’ll have some to come back to after the event in October. It’s been such a brilliant programme. Definitely the best thing for my running since c25k.Really good luck to you with the rest of it!
It feels like a proper distance! I put the odometer on in the car today for ten miles and couldn’t believe I’d run all that way!!! Massive change in 8 months when I started c25k and running for a whole minute felt like a long time.
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Do all recovery runs give 3 new PBs 🤣🤣
8 mile...a running shoe send off
New 10 mile PB, felt pretty good out there today. 
8 miles and now a problem
10 miles in sight 🤞
