Jogging out of the shadows ......

[Mamma_Mia]

Having been stalking, sorry I mean jogging (!) in your shadows for several weeks now I thought it high time I said hello to you all.

This is my third attempt at completing C25K, having been dogged by Plantar Fasciitis 2 summers ago, and losing the will to run last autumn. I finally joined a gym in December and continued running (once or twice a week) on a treadmill. I reached the dizzy heights of week 7 but got marooned there, only being able to complete two 25 minute runs on the trot, never managing the third to enable me to move up a week. The crunch time came when I tried an outdoor Wk 7 run locally, and it was punctuated by 4 walks ..... arghhhhhhh! I've been happily running the Wk 6 Run 1 off and on ever since, having been struck down by various illnesses and not always getting to the gym.

I didn't have time to get to the gym today, so I strapped the MP3 player loaded with podcast to my arm, and braved an outside run for the first time since the end of April. OK, so it was still only Wk 6 Run 1, but I got up the hill (it helped that the hill occurred during the first 3 minute walk!) and managed the 8 minute run (that was mainly downhill :)!. I would like to say that I cruised past the "poop bin", but it was more like a wheeze, but I even managed to increase my speed for the final minute of the last run. Only the pre-programmed walks were taken and I was still on my feet when I got home. I have plotted my route into Mapometer, and I'm staggered to find that today I managed to run 4.4 km (or 2¾ miles if you prefer "old money"). The only damper was the deposit that some kind animal had made at the back gate of 'Casa Mia' following my departure ...... grrrrrrrrrrrr!

Anyway, enough of my waffling - I just wanted to thank you all for your unknown and unwitting support, and I'm hoping that I'll be able to beat my Wk 7 gremlins.

[AncientMum Graduate]

Hi Mamma_Mia, so glad you've finally made your presence felt. That's pretty impressive you know, 4.4k for w6r1, outside and without a gradual lead up doing weeks 1-5. Don't quite know what to advise you to do. If you slow your pace down a bit you may well be able to finish off w6 and move on to w7. Just be really careful not to go too fast and exhaust yourself so you feel depressed at not finishing. Very best of luck

[lizziebeth57 Graduate]

Hello and good to hear from you! Well done for having another go at the programme and we all know it's third time lucky Sounds like you had a good run this time and I wonder if it is just a case of taking the plunge and going in to week 7. You have been doing week 6 for a while so to be honest you are probably very well prepared and ready for it. Have a go, pick an easy route and take your time... And let us know how you get on.

[Mamma_Mia Graduate]

Thanks for your warm welcome ladies!

LizzieBeth - The route I do is the same one I've used for my previous 2 attempts .... a lot of it is "off road" so there's less likelihood of me bumping in students from the local high school where I work! I've just worked out a slightly longer, but less hilly!, route so I think I'll give that one a go next time.

Thanks for your advice AncientMum - I find that my running tends to keep the time/beat of the music (guess that's the musician in me!) and I really find it harder to take a slower pace. Will try though!

I'm still only going to run once or twice a week (and continue with my fitness classes, gym programme and swimming) and I'm hoping to stay injury free. Will keep you posted

MM

[Hidden in reply to Mamma_Mia]

Ha ! Well if you are running to the beat and you need to go slower look at jog.fm to get some ideas for tracks that will slow you down. Good luck for continued progress.

[Mamma_Mia Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for your good wishes and the website tip Henpen ... off to check it out!

MM

[paul2014 Graduate]

Hi and glad you could make it onto the forum Good luck with w7. I'm sure those gremlins won't stand a chance