Hello lovely C25kers,
I can see there has been lots of weekend running and I'm looking forward to reading about everyone's exploits, good, bad and downright knackering.
I'm still plodding along with B210K. The programme can really push you, and where for C25K I was launching myself out of the door every other day without fail, I've relaxed the rules and I'm now running 3 times a week and relishing the extra rest day here and there. It also means I can fit in a game of tennis or swim on a rest day without being scared of jeopardising my next run.
Anyway, despite this new found leniency I had a run firmly penciled in for Friday evening. Rather than doing my usual thing of dinner and 1.5-2 hours faffing around waiting to run I decided to eat and jump in the car to drive an hour and a half to Worcester where I was spending the weekend with my boyfriend. I text and let him know The Plan and set off. When I got there he was all kitted out in his running gear and ready for the off. This was not in The Plan, I thought to myself darkly.
He has tried, and failed to accompany me on my run before. But back in Week 4 of C25K with the shorter intervals and longer walks I felt justified in sending him on his own lanky way, now, I couldn't really use that excuse. He was fine with the timings, less fine with me insisting that Sam would very much be coming too, but after a quick route plan in case he wanted to speed off ahead we made a start. This was my second 'social' run ever. My first, C25K W9R2 was with my best friend. She's only been running for a year and I tower over her diminutive 5ft1 measuring in at a whopping 5ft3 myself. Anyway, the boyfriend is entirely another story, being nearly six foot and having recently ran a Half Marathon it's safe to say I was nervous.
But, we set off, initially I found it difficult to pace myself, distracting having someone lolloping alongside with strides twice the length of mine and found myself worrying about my heavy breathing our route and what it might bring. However, we ploughed on and I started to enjoy myself. There were lots of people around at 8 on a sunny Worcester evening and our surroundings running down to the river were beautiful and mercifully flat. We finished the first seventeen minute run and I breathlessly told the boy to go on without me which he didn't. This disobedience must stop. We restarted and I felt comfortable and happy, the boy was breaking a sweat on what was quite a warm evening and I was starting to realise he wasn't, as I always assumed, a tireless running machine. We ran by the river crossed the bridge and found our way down onto the racecourse. Onwards. The second 17 minute run was over. By this stage I was confident, despite running partly on grass which I find really tiring I knew I wouldn't be stopping now irrelevant. Off again, and the last section was uphill climbing back up off the flood plain. I had enough breath to give the boyfriend, who was looking distinctly pink updates on how much running time remained and even a small rendition of one of Sam's fine musical offerings. And we were done!
51 minutes running and a laughable 10m added to my previous distance. It didn't matter, I was delighted offering my boy a victorious high five and pat on the sweaty back. I abandoned Sam for the cool down walk and basked in the beautiful evening and the unexpected joy of sociable running. I felt fantastic knowing that for all the times I've been telling him 'I'm going on run' 'I've been on a run' 'I had a dream about my run' etc etc etc he could now see the results of my efforts. We'd covered 8.2km at an average pace of 6.3 minutes/km. This is a very usual average pace for me and I was proud to have paced myself so well in a new environment. Despite sneakily working out my boyfriend had ran the HM at around 5.1 minutes/km I didn't feel bad, I'd set a constant pace with no flagging at the end and he'd said it was fine and that I'd looked steady and strong. Steady and strong on a 51 minute run! I was on a running high for the rest of the weekend. And the 509 calories we scattered around Worcester justified a glass of wine or three (not that I normally need a reason!)
So there's my big running boast. And the lesson; don't let The Plan boss you around. You can have a good run in your usual setting but if you try something new it might be fantastic.
Now onto Week 4 with Sam. Another minute on each interval and I feel happy about it. Who knows, one day soon i might be seeing 9 km on Monsieur Garmin.
Hope you are all well and happy,
Emily 
When exercising becomes a burden
Finding a sensible pace when running solo
W3r3 pacing mishap...
