This is a proud shout out for my son who completed W1R1 today, with me.
After much cajoling (for which read a near on blazing row) I finally convinced him to come out to Taekwondo with me again last night. We did it together several years ago when he was still a whelp until an unfortunate incident with a couple of broken ribs put paid to my training.
Fast forward about 8 years and I have started C25K and enjoying it so much that I have been spurred into taking charge of different areas of my life, including re-starting TKD.
Needless to say last night he went from I don't want to go, can't we go just on Saturday to Wow! that was great, absolutely loved it, can't believe that so & so is still there, and they're a black belt now.... etc. and even foolishly suggested he would like to start the running programme with me.
Many a word spoken in jest.
He was awoken from his pit this morning with 'get your kit on and give me your phone, we're going running!'
I uploaded the lovely Laura and the podcasts onto his phone and we both left the house. It was funny doing synchronised podcast starts on our respective phones so we were together.
We started off up the hill to the top of the road with the obligatory brisk walk - Whoa there lad, too fast! I am taller than him and still had to increase my stride length to keep up.
'She said a brisk walk, this is a brisk walk', says child 1.
'That's as maybe but you won't keep that pace up, grasshopper', I warned in my most sage like, beard stroking style. I explained that you should have enough puff to be able to hold a conversation but not be able to sing.
5 minute walk is up and the first run begins. Honestly, it was like the hare and the tortoise except I thought I was going to be the hare. SLOW DOWN matey. He slowed. 10 more paces and he was pulling ahead again. SLOW DOWN.
UUUrggh. Is the reply.
By run 3 he started to realise why going slowly initially is the only way to go. As I went on, you may be OK this week going a little quick but as the run lengths progress you will have to pace yourself.
By run 5 it was, how many have we done now? (Starting to look how I used to look at this point)
Five.
Really? Uuurgh.
Yep, nearly done. Over half-way. Keep it up, you're doing really well.
To his credit, it was not a one-sided conversation, though I had to make him run behind me so that we could maintain a sensible pace. He kept speeding up and slowing down. I had forgotten how hard it was to find my pace. I remember reading how others had got into their groove and thinking, 'it is never going to happen for me - I am just too ungainly'.
Running behind me really helped him. He asked if at the end of run 8 we could just stop? I said absolutely not. Keeping the legs moving was vitally important to stop the build up of acid and reduce the post run soreness. He was great and finished run 8 and we warmed down. By the time we got home he was quite chipper.
We have TKD tomorrow morning and I wonder how much incentive it is going to take to winkle him out for R2 on Sunday.
What this will mean for the rest of my training is yet to be seen. My next due run is W7 R3 but between TKD and (if I can get himself bitten by the bug, which for lots of reasons I sincerely hope so) re-running the beginning of the programme with the boy, it may have to be slower progress than I intended.
It is funny, when I first started out, I wanted to get to the end of the programme either in the 9 weeks or even before if possible. Now, what the heck. I will do it and I'm really enjoying it and it will be what it will be.
I really hope the chap goes on here himself and posts and gets as much encouragement as I do.
(Ha-ha, just seen the tags. 
'BEARD' )
Week 6 Run 1 🏃♀️😊 
Week 5...run 1...in the bag...again!!!
Week 1, Run 1 - or Trying to Get Started
Week 6 run 1 in the bag!😄
