This post could be called either 'When you're not sure what to expect, it helps to be open-minded' or 'If at first you don't succeed.......'

I returned from my run this morning feeling as though I had been back at school. Today's run was a whole new experience, during which I did some things wrong and got lost, did other things right, and I really needed to work hard.

This was the first session following my benchmark run on one of Jeff Galloway's Garmin Coach runs. I had done my homework and dutifully watched the video clips and read the guides that come as part of the plan, but I was still unsure how the format of the session would play out in real time once I started it on my watch. I had a lot of unanswered questions running round in my head before I set off:

🤔 How long is the whole session? 30 minutes-ish? A 5k-ish?

🤔 What's the lap button they keep mentioning in the run plan? Where is it on my watch? Do I have one? When do I press it?

🤔 How do I transition through the phases of the plan? Does it just run automatically?

Some of these questions (e.g. the lap button) I had tried to answer with the help of Google before I set off, but I really wasn't any the wiser .....🙄. I was running blind and into the unknown, it felt like an adventure. 👩🏼 Oh come on! Be open-minded and just take it as it comes......

About 10 minutes into the plan all was going well. I felt good, I'd completed the warm up walk and Cadence Drills no problem, and then it happened. Somewhere around the Acceleration-Glider Drills part I started button pressing, bad idea 🥺. Suddenly things were not making sense on the watch screen any more and I realised I was completely lost. I'd been over-pressing buttons on my watch because I thought I had to press the lap button (still not sure which button that was supposed to be) in order to move on, when the words "BEHIND", or something similarly terminal-sounding, ominously appeared on my watch screen. I stopped, paused my watch (or so I thought - just more button pressing really), scrolled through the plan on my watchface to see if I could find where I was supposed to be, nope.... 😬. I realised that I was completely lost, not geographically lost, but in the world of the Garmin Coach Plan I had absolutely no idea where I was.

👩🏼 Okay, I thought. Choice to be made here DD. Option one (and the most appealing at this point) I ditch the plan, just choose to do a "normal" run for about 30 minutes and then head home, or option two (the braver one) I restart the whole thing. The fault is with me after all, not the program.....

I decided to be brave and restart the plan..... 💪🏼

........ In retrospect, and it is always easier to be wise after the event, I might not have chosen the brave option two had I realised that I would be out for a further hour and a quarter and cover a total of 8.6km on top of whatever I had achieved on my abandoned first attempt. I kept having to add loops to my route as I ran as I had no idea how much more I had to do. I did however learn to keep my button-pressing to a minimum and just let the session run its course, successfully this time 😉 ⌚️.

My lovely husband phoned me during my cool down walk - "Where are you?" he asked all worried. "Is everything okay?" I reassured him I was fine and on my way home, although I was feeling pretty shattered having added Jeff’s "Magic Mile" and 4 x 800m Race Pace Drills to my repertoire during my second run through of the plan - I have to admit that I was working hard to hold on to the "Magic" 😵 at this point.

However a cool down walk is good for both body and mind, and by the time I reached home I was feeling pretty proud of myself for being brave and sticking at it when the going got a bit tough. Typing this up from the comfort of my sofa I realised this is the furthest I have run since I did my 10k at the start of October, so that's not too shoddy. All my very sporadic runs since then have been no more than 5k. A pat on the back in the form of a "Good job" comment from Jeff on completion made it all worth while 😊. It was nice to know my effort hadn't gone unnoticed 😌.

All in all, a little bit of open-mindedness and a try and try again attitude paid off, so do stick at it if you have a tough day or things don't go as you plan. I'm still shattered though, and I don't think I'll need any rocking tonight 💤 🛌 😴 .

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Ooo that sounds a bit frustrating, well done though and I bet you’ve got a big grin on your face

[Hidden in reply to SueAppleRun]

Me --> 😁 and 😴 in equal measure!

[dijep Graduate10]

👏👏👏Well done Dellydot sounds a very positive run despite or perhaps because of the problems.

I know when I tries one of the coach programms vis my watch I had exactly the same problems , but went for your option 1 and just ran 😂🤣

[Hidden in reply to dijep]

I have learned to stop pressing buttons! It was only on the second go that I noticed my watch was indicating which button to press and when 🙃..... enough said!🤭

[Blackberrypie Graduate10]

I confess I did find the coaching thing quite confusing at first though actually I did need to press the lap button today on my programme - it seems to use the lap button before a time trial so you have a chance to get past traffic lights/passers by and find a relatively clear stretch.

[Hidden in reply to Blackberrypie]

Ah, that makes sense Blackberrypie, thank you. I’m hoping to get the hang of it eventually 😊

[Forest_Run_Beginner Graduate10]

Well done D-d on persevering with it and getting it done, absolutely brilliant.

You get an extra well done from me, although it probably has much less impact than one from the brilliant Jeff Galloway 😂😂

[Hidden in reply to Forest_Run_Beginner]

Oh FRB, each ‘well done’ is so appreciated! Thank you 😊

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate10]

Wonderful post Delly-dot, you had me chuckling at your button pushing...I would have been the same 😏 and kudos for choosing option two and restarting💪An excellent run, huge well done to you.

And yes, you will no doubt sleep well tonight and dream about button pressing!🤣🤣

Happy running.🏃‍♀️xxx

[Hidden in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

Thank you 😊. I dream really easily, so button pressing dreams could very well become a reality 🤭 !

[Roxdog Graduate10]

Haha! From a big mistake to a lovely long run! This all sounds super complicated to me and I would have thrown my watch into the canal (rather inclined to be impatient). However, you stuck with it and ran a long way!Sounds good, and a very decent pace too! Nice to hear from you too! 😊

[Hidden in reply to Roxdog]

Haha indeed. It was a complicated outing and a very close run thing between the two options. There wasn’t a canal or puddle in sight, so my watch was safe 😉🤣.

[Sybilw Graduate10]

Oh well done - I’d have been tempted by option 1! Looking to upgrade to a watch with plan but I’m sure I’ll have the button problem too!! 😆

[Hidden in reply to Sybilw]

I’m learning as I’m going along, which is why I likened today’s run to school 🏫. Hopefully today I will get the comment that I show signs of progress ✔️ . There are a range of plans available from Garmin to download to your watch. Happy shopping 🛍😀

[Sybilw Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

I’ve literally just been told that the 45s is on offer on Amazon (black Friday). So much so that I’ve ordered one! Button pressing here I come!! I hope Jeff is kind to me too. 😆

[Hidden in reply to Sybilw]

I have the 45s and love it! Happy button pressing 😀🔘⌚

[Sybilw Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

It’s very cheap today if you know anyone is looking. £110

[Hidden in reply to Sybilw]

That’s a bargain! Enjoy 😊

[Phdgranny Graduate10]

Well done DD. I too had button mania when I tried one of the training plans, try as I might I just didn’t get it. When I later saw my teccie very experienced runner son he decided my watch was broken! Sent back to Garmin, 5 days later a brand new watch arrived!! I’ve finally mastered the lap button but tend to programme my own workouts at the moment as sticking to my recovery plan.

[Hidden in reply to Phdgranny]

I definitely got confused but it was all my fault! Got there in the end! 😊

[Fionamags Graduate10]

Ha ha ha another corker of a post DD! I had exactly the same problem when I tried the plan with Jeff. It is worse for me because although I have eyes like a hawk for distance my reading vision is nearer to bat-like. So I can't read what it says on the screen. At one point I was running with my glasses in hand so that i coukd shove them on if there was a buzz.... I'm looking forward to hearing more about your adventures with Jeff! Well done for sticking with it and getting a long run in the legs!!

[Hidden in reply to Fionamags]

👓🤣⌚️. I’m blind as a bat for near vision too. I started running with my glasses on but got so fed up with steamed up glasses and the rain that I moved to contact lenses. Eureka! Sooo much better. I haven’t looked back since 😉🤣 - pun completely intended! Great to hear from you. How’s it going? 🤗

[SaskAlliecat Graduate10]

Way to stick with it Delly-dot and get it done! I'm sure there is quite a learning curve with some of the watch features. I'll look forward to seeing how you get on with the plan. I'm going to wait for better weather likely before I delve into the different types of training plans available with the watch.

[Hidden in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Thank you Sask 😃. I guess a plan is pretty hard to follow during your winter weather ❄️ when it’s so cold too 🥶. I suppose you could have a Snow PB and a No-Snow PB ! 😄

[SaskAlliecat Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

There are definitely no PB achieved in winter time but it is all good. In the past winter has been about getting more distance under my belt but this year it is just about maintaining fitness and trying running in the HR zones instead of worrying about pace. It's been enjoyable when I do get out so that is what matters.

[Hidden]

Great perseverance there Delly-dot, and a great run, you’re back on form, yay 🤸‍♀️🥳 especially well done with those Garmin buttons, what a nightmare 🤦‍♀️. I have the same watch and have had the same experience, I just abandoned it and did my own thing. I think you’re going to love Jeff’s plan. 🤗

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thank you! I’m looking forward to getting on with the plan, though I have a niggling ankle I need to keep an eye on 🙄 .... Hoping a couple of extra rest days will sort it.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Fingers crossed it’s just a niggle Dolly-dot 🤗