New Route New Challenges !

[Couchphoenix]

Still a bit fresh out there today and I nearly talked myself out of it, excuses sound best to the person who’s making them up, I heard that on a You Tube motivational video, it’s true too.

But once I’d put my kit on I felt much more enthusiastic, look the part feel the part 👍 so off I set I chose the NRC 10k Headstarts, legs felt ok, breathing nice and relaxed and energy level much better today. I reached the Odd Fellows Lodge and.....turned left !!😮 NEW ROUTE !! which I know has HILLS, but sometimes you need to go outside of your comfort zone.

I found this new route nice and varied, the hills were manageable until I saw the last one, which I thought I’d need crampons to get up 😬 BUT I kept going and finally made it 🥵Should have took a flag with me to put on the top ! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿😂.

The rest of the run went really well. I stopped to catch my breath twice but apart from that it was all solid running. Having almost reached home I’d covered 12k 😁. A few more miles towards my February Race at Your Pace challenge.

Glad I went out today, feel so much better for it.

Happy Running Everyone ! 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️🏃🏼🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

[CI578]

Well done for going out... I'm talking myself out of my evening run 🙄 best get my kit on 🤞anyway keep up the good work 👍

[Couchphoenix Graduate10 in reply to CI578]

Cheers 👍 You going out under the cover of darkness missus, good luck if you venture out....you’ll feel better for it 👍🏃‍♀️

[Jools2020 Graduate10]

Well done, CP! You got out there, ran up some hills and did 12K! You’re a ⭐️ 👏👏👏👍😊

I like the Headstarts guided runs 👍

[Couchphoenix Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

Thanks Jools2020, I didn’t find them too bad in the end and it’s nice to try a new Route, keeps things interesting 👍

[Birdlady64 Graduate10]

Way to go CP!You met the challenge of those hills head on and conquered them 💪 and did 12k too😁

A Welsh flag?...

I like those Headstars runs

[Couchphoenix Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

Thanks BL64, yes I’m Welsh, wife’s English, we’re like Gavin and Stacey but in reverse 😂

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Couchphoenix]

That's the same as me and Mr B.He's a Cardiff boy and honorary Essex Man 😂 (hope he never finds out I said that!)

[Couchphoenix Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

A Cardiff boy 👍 I’m originally from a little place called Pontywaun, wonder if Mr B has heard of it ?

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Couchphoenix]

He says no - sorry. I googled it - looks like it's part of Crosskeys?Son-in-law is from Blackwood

[Couchphoenix Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

That’s it, you’ve got it 😁Blackwood isn’t far away, my mother used to go to Blackwood shopping every week, small world isn’t it.

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Couchphoenix]

Yes it certainly is.

[Cowladyrunning Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

Oo I'm jumping on this chat sorry I saw Blackwood and my ears pricked up 😂 I'm the English part in this marriage....me from Kent hubby from Abergavenny the gateway to Wales!! My great Granny lived all her 100 years in Essex too!

[Cowladyrunning Graduate10 in reply to Cowladyrunning]

Oh just realised this is an old post that for some reason is on my first page!!

[Indielass00]

You smashed that run CP, everything going well for you 😀. I’m glad you had a good one and well done tackling the hills. It feels a great achievement to conquer them, that’s how I felt when I got to the top of one. Perfect end to the weekend 🙌🏻

[Couchphoenix Graduate10 in reply to Indielass00]

Thanks Indielass00, I’m getting back into it now, and feeling stronger each time I go out. It’s nice to try a new route, I’ve driven that way before, but didn’t remember that hill being so steep, I kept going though, so still amazed that I can actually do that these days. Hopefully you’ll be conquering more hills very soon x

[Indielass00 in reply to Couchphoenix]

That’s brilliant! Your stamina is increasing 💪🏻.

Yes I will attack those hills again at some point, when I have built my stamina again. Hoping to go out for my next run tomorrow 🤞🏻Giving myself extra rest days at the moment. Took my kids out for a walk this morning and every time a runner went past I got running envy! 😂🙃😂 x

[Tinytears60 Graduate10]

So you might need to change your name to Sir Edmund Hilary! ... or Scott ( of the Antarctic) 🤣🤣

Seriously tho- at least you didn’t have a 2 left feet moment like me! 🙈

That’s a fab distance and pace BB ..

Well done 👏👏👏😀

[Couchphoenix Graduate10 in reply to Tinytears60]

I’m off out for a run....I may be some time. 😂🧗‍♂️

Thanks Jane, getting stronger each time I go out, it was nice to try a new route today, freshen things up and I was ok with the distance. Got home and took Harvey out for a walk so still had a bit left in the tank 👍x

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Oh hills, well done sounds like you enjoyed your new route It’s well worth getting out even if it’s hard to start sometimes

[Couchphoenix Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thanks Sola, I was glad I went out, I was faffing about at first, but as soon as the kit went on I was raring to go. I still surprise myself when I find I can tackle hills, getting stronger each time 👍🏃🏼

[LottieMW Ambassador]

Well done...12km, a new route...and hills!👍

It is true...the more you do them⛰, the easier it gets 😉

[Couchphoenix Graduate10 in reply to LottieMW]

Cheers LMW, I’ve been thinking about tackling that route for a while, so I just went for it today. As you say the hills are like anything else, they get easier the more you do them. 👍🏃‍♂️

[LottieMW Ambassador in reply to Couchphoenix]

👍