Week 1 done ✅

[SueAppleRun]

For the first time for 8 weeks I slept really well last night. 😀 Woke feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the last run of week 1 if the NRC HM plan. I ummed and ahhed and ummed and ahhed, where to go. I'd rather walk out the door and run but the pavements really are dire round here and the roads aren't much better so I decided to go to the park where we ran all of C25k. It's more than a 5 minute warm up walk away so to my shame I got in the car.

This is the One hard two easy run.

5 minute warm up, start with a walk ease into a slow jog, round the cycle track, the wind is blowing, the trees waving, the sky is blue and I run gently and softly, one minute at 5k pace, 7 to 8 effort. Back to recovery pace for 2 minutes. I quickly get bored going round and round so duck under the trees and onto the tracks that once were a golf course. This feels so good, feeling the sun on my face and shoulders. Breathing deeply and heading towards the sea.

Interestingly my recovery runs get slower with each one and the fartlek runs stay about the same as the run goes in. Just under half an hour, just under 3k so I run on in recovery mode to get ,3k and done ✅

I did enjoy that although possibly more so because I slept well.

That's week 1 done, it's taken longer than a week but who cares? I don't.

I'm really surprised and pleased with the fox gloves in my garden at the moment.

Run happy or rest well and enjoy every day.

[Instructor57 Graduate10]

Well done , and yes a good nights sleep makes all the difference 👍

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Instructor57]

I've not been sleeping well for a while so it was good to know I still can

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

That's a lovely photo of the fox gloves in your garden Sola, it just shows you how a good sleep can improve the quality of your running, you are doing very well on your Quest to run a Half Marathon with the NRC. HM Plan, it's been beautiful weather over the last few days in the UK and Ireland and the weather forecasters say its to stay that way for a bit longer

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to AlMorr]

I love this weather Al

[Sulley101 Graduate10]

lovely foxgloves! Slugs have eaten all mine 😞.

Well done for completing week 1. The “ one hard two easy” run was my least favourite! Like you, I slowed down more and more at each Recovery run section - it was hard! You’ve probably already looked ahead and seen there are two intervals runs in week 2 😁😁.

Enjoy the rest of your day!

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Sulley101]

Thanks, it's the hill repeats that worry me but I think I've realised I don't have to find the steepest hill for miles around this time 😀I like the intervals and overall I've got a bit faster

[Sulley101 Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

😂 I’m with you on that one! I’ll be looking for a very gentle incline!

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Sulley101]

Last time I went high on the downs and it was really exhausting

[Readandrun Graduate10]

Glad you had a good night's sleep and a good run. By coincidence I have just got in from the same run, very similar distance, not as bad as I feared. Foxgloves look lovely.

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Readandrun]

Thanks, I felt after that I could have done the whole thing a bit faster and that's a good way to end a run. It's a good run

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Readandrun]

It must be the week for it-I did it yesterday!

[Readandrun Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

The better weather is encouraging us all to get on with the training plans!

[Roxdog Graduate10]

Thank goodness you had a good night's sleep. And a wonderful run. The summer is here to lift our spirits!

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Roxdog]

It is, how are you today?

[Roxdog Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

My leg hurts, but is less swollen. I wonder if I've bruised the bone. I think it's going to take a while. I'll sit in the garden today. Thank you. Have a good rest of the day.

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Roxdog]

Sounds nasty, sitting in the sun is the best medicine,

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10]

Absolutely super run. I really enjoyed reading your experience of it after I did mine yesterday. You did a brilliant job. Those recovery sections are tough, aren’t they!

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to MissUnderstanding]

I wondered if I'd feel recovered enough to run faster again but I did, mind you, my recovery was really slow, it's taken me 12 days to get week 1 done, it should have been finished Sunday, I'm looking forward to week 2 and have more energy than I did at the beginning.Have fun with your week 2

[Doris8 Graduate10]

well done on your run, I wish I could get a good nights sleep , too hot and then blackbirds chirping at 3.30am outside window. The purple is lovely on foxgloves

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Doris8]

I've been struggling with sleep so it was a bonus

[Irishprincess Graduate10]

It’s so satisfying to tick off each run and then each week ✅

I stick a paper plan to my kitchen wall and just love doing those ticks 😂

Well done Sola x

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Irishprincess]

I'm thinking of putting up the plan on the wall, Really n 1 week 2 this morning done too

Thank you IP x

[Irishprincess Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

👍💪

[Cassie_7]

Beautiful photo and well done for completing week 1!

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Cassie_7]

Thank you

[Folkylass Graduate10]

Just read your post now Sola.Well done on completing W1 of your HM plan. Whow I’m in awe of you as I don’t think I could do a HM. It’s good to see you back out there.❤️x

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Folkylass]

Well so far 5k is the longest run on the plan😂 but 6.4k this week, I got up to 10k last time I did this but it was just taking too long around work, now of course I don't have that

[Folkylass Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

You’ll get there!🥰

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Folkylass]

I'm so tempted to just go out and do a long slow run but am enjoying the discipline of a plan 😃

[Folkylass Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

I quite enjoy a plan too🥰