Finished my last run of Week 8, but still wondering if it ever gets any easier.

[Shadowmichael]

It has been a grueling week for me and here in California it had gotten into the 30Cs so the first two runs were hard enough. Oddly the first run I did and felt pretty good with. The second run felt like rubbish, and today's had me thinking at a point or two that I was just going to walk. Luckily I didn't. I think I found a second wind or something but I had sincerely hoped after the struggle on the last run that this one would go easier. I will say though that I did it. I never stopped and I chastised myself for even thinking of walking (did that while I was running actually) because I had already done this twice before.

I'm on to Week 9 on Monday but slightly nervous because of the last two runs

[VictoriaPlumb]

Im in exactly the same boat! Wondered bout maybe repeatin wk 8?

[Shadowmichael Graduate in reply to VictoriaPlumb]

Victoria I will make you a deal. We both make our first run of week 9 and see how it goes. Both of us post about it and then see where we go from there. I'm feeling pigheaded and stubborn that I want to do week 9 no matter what (as long as I can actually do it) and we are so close to graduating! I bet we both can do it Deal?

[greenofthesouth]

I posted yesterday about heat and I seriously don't know how you warm weather runners do it! I'm used to running in the cold and wet evenings (Rossendale, UK) but yesterday had to fit my run in at 11.15am with the sun beating down, stripped down to vest top and cropped pants and I baked. So much harder in the heat. I wish you lots of luck with W9, I think you'll be fine, just take it easy and drink lots of water while you're running.

[Shadowmichael Graduate in reply to greenofthesouth]

Thank you Luckily our weather has cooled off again here slightly (the SF Bay Area of California has soooo many micro-climates it's unreal) so it's not so brutal for the coming week. I think the worst of it is only going to be 28C which to me is nothing. (I grew up in Texas where it reached into the 30's regularly). Taken to drinking Coconut water post run (maybe before this week) to boost the electrolites. And as a friend here told me, "Running in heat is a great way to sweat out all those toxins" haha. Good luck with your runs! My only suggestion for running in heat is slow your pace so you can go the distance.

[misswobble Graduate]

Now you're this far you can complete your next few runs to get you to graduation. Having gone through the programme, you're prepared and ready. Go for it!

[Shadowmichael Graduate in reply to misswobble]

Thank you I know it's more mental than anything else. I mean, it's ONLY 2 more minutes and I thought that I wouldn't make the 3 minute jump but I did. Starting to feel more confident already, and I am ready to graduate!

[agedsnailspace Graduate]

Go for it! You are exactly where you should be in the program. Your body is certainly capable of it - look at the increment between week 8 and week 9 - it's tiny!! You had a bigger step up in physical activity between weeks 1 and 2. The challenge now is much more mental - I overcoming that voice in your head that says you can't. You did it in week 8. You will do it again in week 9. Graduation is only 3 runs away.

[Shadowmichael Graduate in reply to agedsnailspace]

Thank you I think it's been a lot of mental issues just over this past week and stress from work that have been bogging me down. I know I can do 2 more minutes! I may not run the fastest but I am going to get out there and run these last three and then celebrate!

[Shadowmichael Graduate]

Thank you everyone. I think a lot of it was that the week had been rubbish in general for me. Made it hard to "get my head in the game" and tune out the negative stuff. I'm extremely pigheaded and stubborn so I am determined to at the very least make my first run of week 9 on Monday after work. Still trying to figure out how I want to celebrate graduating the program

[VictoriaPlumb]

Sorry. Just seen this. Id like to say ur on but I think I may repeat wk 8 Not sure y exactly just fear of wk 9 lol. U done a wk 9 run yet?!

[Shadowmichael Graduate in reply to VictoriaPlumb]

Not yet. Have my first run on Monday.

[Hidden]

Go for it! You have nothing to lose... I had a "blip" in Week 9 and it really got me down but then I had 2 amazing runs... Stick with it! It's not meant to be easy, but it is achievable! I look forward to reading your graduation post soon... but just go with what feels right for you... it's a mental thing now!

[VictoriaPlumb]

I went and did week 8 again. Feel pleased that I went. Will continue wk 8 this wk & then do wk 9 next wk. Feeling a bit more positive about it all. Hope ur run went well xx

[Shadowmichael Graduate in reply to VictoriaPlumb]

It did actually. It's still not "easy" by any stretch, but today I ran the first run of week 9 and actually made it to the end I was surprised because the final song just seemed to kick start me for some reason. I didn't run a full 5K, but I did manage the whole run. I KNOW you can do it! And I'm proud of you that you're sticking with it! It seems that no matter how we get there, we're going to graduate (cause depending on the next run it might be next week that I finish as well haha ). I'll see you at the finish line xx