week 8 run 1 oh well, here we go.

[kungfoo-panda]

so its Saturday and run day. wk8 run 1 (the penultimate week).

weather was fine, not sunny so hoping to not get too sweaty .

Unfortunately a bit over optimistic on my part when just at the end of my 5 minute warm up I was just about to turn onto my cycle track and start running at the same time as some bloke was cutting across onto the path ahead of me.

Now I looked a head and thought well not being the fastest I will just nip around the outside of him and scoot forward 50 yards or so to get in front and then settle down to my normal pace.

Wooh that was a mistake.

Well I did overtake him with a burst of speed but then struggled to get my breath back and in fact it was probably a good 5-6 minutes before I started to catch my breath and settle down.

So lessons there to be learnt guys, don't rush it coz it just ain't worth spoiling the rest of your run.

Anyhow, once I finally got back into it the run actually went really smoothly.

I passed several courting couples and dog walkers and famiies with kids on bikes and wasn't feeling knackered in particular then all of a sudden Laura chirped in on my podcast and said well done only 5 minutes to go.

Well now I'm thinking bloody hell what happened there.

The time has absolutely whizzed by.

So another lesson to be learnt there.

The extra 3 minutes on the end of the run is not the major hurdle that you think it will be.

I have to say that I'm starting to feel a bit sad that this time in a fortnight the C25k will be over and that's it for me and Laura.

I have already looked into this and apparently Laura does not do a C210k.

Now this is a bit disturbing because going forward it would appear some american called Scot or Chad or Brad or something like that will be telling me what to do and I can't really say that it appeals to me but in fairness I don't hold anything against the americas in general (so please don't write in and complain coz it ain't personal) Its just that Laura's held my hand (metaphorically) for a few weeks and now I feel like she's just about to run off with some beginner.

So the 5k may be coming to an end but the road still goes on.

Onwards and upwards guys.

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate]

I know what you mean when you pushed a bit harder to pass someone then wished you hadn't....

its great how your body accepts that you do this now though, and relaxes into it isnt it..

Yes, the last few mins are totally doable, its pushing through 8 to 10 that is tricky.

I am doing c25k + which is still Laura on the nhs choices couch to 5k website.

You might like to try these after graduating.

Good luck .. almost there.