Garmin Scales

Grumpy_chap

Well, following an excellent start and first half of the month, I seem to have dropped back a bit - last 5k was 1 minute off my PB, my strength seems less and I am more tired.  I blame the dark mornings and dull weather, plus the fact it is too hot in the gym with the aircon broken...

Grumpy_chap

Sea_Shell said:

I see you've never run further than 5k, mainly due to time constraints?

Running folklore suggests that you also need to work on endurance to actually improve your speed over shorter distances.

So it might really help if you are able to squeeze in a bit further (at a slower pace) even just once a week.

Mrs G-C has gone out so I am going to do a 10k run tonight.
Target 50 minutes
Shoot me if more than an hour.

Sea_Shell

So what if you are.

Don't beat yourself up.

You're out there doing it, that's what counts.

Even on my slowest runs I never "fail".

Every run is a win 😇🏅

Grumpy_chap

50:58
Missed target but live to see another day.

Sea_Shell said:

Every run is a win 😇🏅

HAHA - It was my first ever 10k so I was guaranteed a PB

Grumpy_chap

Another month down and no amazing successes or failures, very little running but managed to keep up resistance training.
Next month is a weekend away in a spa hotel followed by my Wife and then my Great Niece both having birthday parties.  Allowing for all that relaxation, fine dining and cake, I'll be happy if I can keep my weight to double my current weight

Grumpy_chap

Well, I got through the month of birthday parties and wedding anniversaries and my weight this morning is the same as a month ago, so that is a good thing.

I've hardly done any running in the month but I feel successful resistance training - I can barbell back squat 1.5 times body weight, so that is a fairly good milestone to have achieved.

Grumpy_chap

Managed to get back to do a run (treadmill) and did a 'feels good' 5k.  Potentially a PB, but I pressed the wrong button so lost the time 🥺

Grumpy_chap

Made it through the December party season with steady maintenance of resistance training, especially squats, and then the TWIXMAS period I managed to trim a good chunk off my PB for treadmill 5k so very pleased with that.  Here's going into 2023 with a positive mindset for success - I might even be brave enough to join a Park Run at some point.

Grumpy_chap

Everyone at work does running so last year, when we bought a new sofa just before Christmas, they classed that as the start of my couch-2-5k. 
As we broke up for Christmas, they challenged me to do and prove a 5k before the first team meeting which will be Monday coming.
This morning, cold and drizzly, I found myself in the local park and have completed ParkRun.  It is an odd sense of achievement.  Unbeknownst to me, one of my school-time friends is a regular and his time was 7 seconds faster than mine so I feel I have to go back to try again and be 7 seconds ahead of him...

EDIT: 
I just realised that my outdoor PB today was 1 min 20 sec better than my previous outdoor PB (July 2022). 
That, in turn, was 2 min 36 sec better than I achieved before that (Nov 2020).
I really thought that turning through age milestones I would be seeing slower rather than faster times.

Grumpy_chap

I think the New Year has started well with good results for the first month.

I did my first ever Park Run, only because I was being encouraged to by colleagues at work.  I found it oddly enjoyable, so returned every week since.  I am getting better, improved technique (breathing controlled) has allowed me to improve the time by a minute from the first run, so I am pleased with that.

As I am doing 5k runs "for real", I have mixed up my treadmill work to "fastest possible 2k" on Tuesday and "comfortable 10k" on Thursday.

I am finding it harder to fit in quality resistance training though, only really one session per week which is inadequate.  Maybe, as the mornings are starting to get lighter (and warmer!) I may find this motivation returns.