45 minutes and feeling great 🌞

[BonniesRest]

I headed out with my husband this morning, up on to a nearby hill on the eastern fringe of Bodmin Moor, just as the sun was rising 🌞

🐑 🐄 Sheep and cows gently grazing - blissful. Wish I’d taken a photo to share with you all! 😶

First time on this route and I was nervous. I have recently run for 41 minutes, but set my mind today on running for 45 minutes - longest time to date.

I have asthma and it was a bit chilly, and used my preventer and ventolin before I started. Really helps!

As I started I noticed my breathing was hard and it took a good 13mins to feel like I was taking in and breathing out enough air. On reflection I think my nervousness was exacerbating the asthma, because as I settled in to the run and began to relax, taking in the incredible views of fields and various hues of green as far as the eye could see, my breathing slowed and some sort of internal engine was kicking in. I listened to Andy Puddicombe and Coach Bennett from the Nike Run Club app. Some lovely coaching helping me along and reminding me that so much of running is about what’s happening between mind and body.

So this morning I managed to run 5.17k in 45 minutes. Longest and farthest run so far. I’m not very competitive at all, so less bothered by speed, and more motivated by the endurance aspect at the moment. Every run recently feels momentous, and I’m discovering how running is so much more than running. Anyone else feeling that?

In the last few minutes of the run I did push myself a little faster but I’m thinking on the longer runs maybe I don’t need to do that, and just enjoy the fact I’ve kept going! I felt tearful and overjoyed by the end. I never thought I could do this, but with support and encouragement through this forum and from my husband (and Coach Bennett 😆!) I’m discovering a new me - or maybe an old me I had forgotten was there.

Happy weekend everyone and happy running! 👏 🎉 🌞

[UnfitNoMore Graduate10]

Love the headspace series of guided runs, not ran one for too long but will be checking in with Andy and Coach as soon as my current plan is done.

Running is definitely more than running, it’s changed my whole life, I can do so much more than i could during my couch days (ok, decades)

Great run in the hills... sounds amazing but also tough... well done getting through those first minutes.

[BonniesRest in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Thankyou!

[Jools2020 Graduate10]

Lovely post! And an enjoyable run for you. That’s thoughtful - ‘running is so more than just running’. And it is - as anyone with depression and anxiety will agree. Running helps to clear your head when you run alone, or give you companionship if you run with someone. You can enjoy nature. And it can be quite emotional, too!

Running slowly and for longer gives you the space to feel all of those things and many more, I’m sure.

Keep enjoying running. seems like you’re doing just great 👏👏👏👍

[BonniesRest in reply to Jools2020]

Thankyou Jools!

[Roxdog Graduate10]

Sounds like a great run, despite the toxic ten! I love Bodmin Moor, how lucky you are to be able to run there!

[BonniesRest in reply to Roxdog]

It really was - and yes I’d forgotten about the toxic 10! We feel really lucky to be here and running here feels so freeing!

[Couchphoenix Graduate10]

Great post 👍 I feel running is much more than just running, I have to rein my enthusiasm in sometimes as I’m conscious of boring people who aren’t really into it. I still get a kick out of discovering what my body is capable of now, the novelty never wears off. Plus I feel so much calmer and content. I use the Nike Run club runs, it’s like looking at a menu and choosing what run you fancy. I’ll have a look at the one you did, it sounds interesting 🤔 🏃‍♂️

[BonniesRest in reply to Couchphoenix]

I really hear you re not wanting to bore people 😬 and it’s great to have this forum and share with people who are loving it. 👍

[Grannyhugs Graduate10]

Brilliant run, sounds like you’ve learnt a lot about yourself and running. You have the ventolin for a reason, use it then trust in it and your body. It’s amazing how confidence grow the more you run and the more you can learn to believe in your own abilities. Well done. Happy running 🤗

[BonniesRest in reply to Grannyhugs]

Thankyou!