The sun is out, the sky is blue...

[EverTheOptimist]

There's not a cloud to spoil the view..

Thanks to everyone for their amazing positive comments to my last post. Buoyed up by them, I decided to tackle the great outdoors, and give my shiny new running shoes a proper baptism. I'd set myself the goal of completing the whole programme in the gym before trying to run outside, but I had the house to myself, nothing planned, and it seemed such a good idea to try and do a 'proper' run!

Well, whaddya know? I did it! W7R1, 25 minutes without the bodily rebellion I've come to expect from my sessions on the treadmill. Yes, my knees complained, my calves tightened and my shins protested, but by adjusting my speed and footfall, I was able to work around all of these, something I seriously hadn't managed to do in the gym. Plus, I managed to cover just shy of 3.4 km in 25 minutes, which I reckon is about 8kmh, which is faster than I was doing in the gym!

I even managed a sprint finish Mo Farrah would have been proud of (if he was an unfit, overweight, mid-40s white bloke with wooden knees and a dodgy back)!

8 more runs till I graduate...

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

You did well outdoors, but you don't say whether you enjoyed it. Good luck.

[EverTheOptimist Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Hmm, did I enjoy it? I enjoyed getting through the run, and finding it easier to cope with than I thought it would be. I'm not sure I'm running for pleasure yet, as I'm still suffering with horrendously tight calf muscles. So saying, I won't be able to run until Wednesday morning, and I'm kind of missing it...

[Fitfor60 Graduate]

I ve only ever run outside so not in position to compare to treadmill but find outside so therapeutic Love seeing how surroundings change in the different light and weather and dog walkers and other runners say hello Not long till you can claim your graduation badge

[ju-ju- Graduate]

Fantastic..I bet that felt amazing to be out, I cannot understand why anyone would want to use a treadmill...Good luck with the 8 more....

[P1glet1 Graduate]

So glad that you gave it a go outdoors! I found that it just adds a new dimension and makes everything more interesting and the runs go more easily. I hope that you enjoyed it

[Tinyrun Graduate in reply to P1glet1]

The nights are getting lighter too. Congratulations on the sprint finish!

[EverTheOptimist Graduate in reply to Tinyrun]

Thanks! It really wasn't much of a sprint - kind of a slightly faster shuffle!