Week 6 is a-go.

[lyricsarepoetry]

I wake up, groggily and my first thought is what's the time? It can't be too early because my Mum and Nan are awake - I can ehar them downstairs moving around - and yet it can't be too late because my Nan's carers haven't been. I reach for my laptop that's under my bed because it's the only thing with the time on and pull it open.

8.37.

I have too choices, and both run through my head. Go back to sleep - that's a nice thought, I could get another couple of hours even - or get up and go - less nice thought when first waking up. Somehow I feel up for going with the latter. If 'get up and go' means sit in bed checking emails for 15.

Still, I get up, dress, make a cup of tea, drink it and eat a frube yoghurt and suddenly it's 9:15am and I have my water bottle and inhalar in hand, iPod strapped to my wrist and I am ready to go. I went for a cycle ride the night before, the first time on my bike in over a year which was great. I cycled 5K so I tell myself I am going to do a similar route to what I did on my bike. It will be 5K and it will find me in a park rather that just going along house.

I leave my house and walk up my street, I'm 3/4 of the way down the next street when Laura announces that it is time to start running. I awkwardly side-step past an old lady in a blue-coat and her small white dog in order to run along an alleyway and I am into the first 5 minute run.

My breathing is okay. I find generally my breathing is all right at this point in the run, but the backs of my legs begin to hurt quite early on. I remember the 20 minute run and how I wanted to give up on it in the first few minutes and how I still made it. If I can run 20 minutes on Saturday I can run 5 on Monday. And I do.

"Slow to a walk, you've got a 3 minute recovery walk"

Thank you, Laura. And I walk again, taking a swig of my water as I go. Around 2 minutes in my legs hurt less and my three minutes I feel like I am ready to run again, which is great because it was just time to. By this point of my run, I feel it important to add, I am running along a main road which leads in and out of my city (I am on the path don't worry!) and passing two supermarkets.

I add this simply because I cross a road I am around 30 seconds into the 8 minute run. One foot steadily moving in front of the other, slight faster than they had for the 5 minute run. And I hear:

BEEP. BEEP.

I make the mistake of turning towards it and see a green and black sports car stopped at the traffic lights and a guy in his 20s smirking out of it in my direction. I roll my eyes and curse at him under my breath. Yes, I am a female in running clothes running. Get over it.

I keep going and find myself at a junction. I have a choice again. Keep going the way I normally go or go the way that leads to the park. I barely think about it, the park would be a nicer route, but the usual way is safe and I know it better. I go for the usual route.

There's a slight incline down, past a cute little cafe which I keep telling myself that one day I will go in but who knows when that will be. Over some gravel that's on the path and someone really needs to sort out, I jump over it.

Come on, Laura, tell me it's almost over.

"Four minutes left, you're half way through"

Damn. I keep going, slowing down somewhat. I turn and start the route back. Meaning there's a slight incline up this time, but finally Laura says there's one minute left and I know I can get there. Go go go.

"Slow down to a walk."

Yes, Ma'am. The three minutes seem to fly by and at least no one is beeping their horn this time. Laura them tells me that it's time that it's time for the final run and I do not feel ready. She tells me that it should be relatively easy and I panic, I don;t feel like it will be easy.

But off I go. Running slowly and I'm certain I could walk faster but at least I'm moving. I saw an elderly lady with a walker and her granddaughter in a 'Exeter Gynastics' t-shirt and have to go on the grass to pass them. I also go faster because somehow I want to prove to these strangers that don't care that I can actually run at some speed.

It's around this time that Laura tells me there's 2.5 minutes left. I suddenly feel okay. Not okay enough to go faster, but okay enough to keep going for another 150 seconds. I cross the road that leads up to my road, but I can't go that way. It would take less than a minute and I have 7.5 to kill. I go straight.

I pass the local doctor's surgey as she says '60 seconds', cross a small road that I often forget is a road. And then it's over. 5 minutes of walking becomes just under 10 minutes because of how far away I am. But I get there, and I've done it.

Run 2, see you on Wednesday

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Well done on starting week 6. Sounds like it was a good run and that you enjoyed it. Keep it steady and you will win through to the end of this week. Good luck and best wishes.

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Well done. I did mine today too and it was ok, bring it on!!