Week 5 Run 3...

[vivster]

Last night I went to bed feeling nervous about this run. Of course. Every time I remembered I had to do it, my stomach would constrict.

I woke up at 7 this morning and thought I might as well get up and go out and have a go while it was quiet. And it was quiet. Barely a soul about.

The gremlins paid me a visit surprisingly early, just a couple of minutes in when I'm usually feeling nice and fresh and loose. This wasn't a good sign as I never struggle early on. But I ignored them, focused on breathing deeply and just kept going and Laura told me my first 5 minutes were up. A couple of times in the first half the temptation to stop was almost overwhelming. It was like there was the thinnest flimsiest wall or curtain between stopping and keeping going and it would be the easiest thing in the world just to push through that curtain and stop. I told myself I would only have to do the run again. I thought of all the people here who had done it. I stopped thinking about stopping, and focused on getting to the next staging post. Every time I felt I was tiring, I took some deep breaths and slowed down.

At 10 minutes I was beginning to sweat but the gremlins had been vanquished. At the next time check I knew I would only have 5 more minutes to run. I felt like I could do this.

At 15 minutes I felt like a boiling jelly in human form but I knew I only had to run for another 5 minutes; eminently doable. Also, my favourite song from Laura's dodgy playlist came on (the indie-ish one) which gave me a boost. Over the main road I went, back on to the street that would take me home. This little stretch is a bit tough as it inclines slightly, but I've run it so many times now it held no terrors. Two minutes to go; round the mini roundabout I went, onto the flat street. I picked up the pace a bit. I was expecting a 60 second time check, but it didn't come. I kept going. Then Laura told me to slow down. There was a bus stop a few metres ahead so I kept going for a few extra seconds until I'd reached it. I'd done it 😄😄😄😄

I felt briefly lightheaded when I stopped. I don't know if that was euphoria of having done it, or lack of breakfast. The feeling didn't last long. I agreed vocally with

Laura that I wouldn't have been able to do that six weeks ago and I plodded home. Definitely took me longer to recover than is has from my shorter runs.

"I did it!" I yelled as I opened the front door. Everyone was still in bed. 😶

Tips for anyone who might have this run coming up (nothing new here, but hey):

Don't look too far ahead, break the run up into sections (it can help to run a familiar route)

Lots of nice deep breaths

Slow down

Have faith in the plan: it really does work

Big thank you to this community. I feel like I couldn't have done it without you all. 💕

[Hidden]

Well done! It feels amazing doesn't it? I couldn't quite believe I ran for 20 mins that first time.

[Shivani05 Graduate]

Hahaha I love the mental image of bursting into the house euphoric while everyone else was still asleep Well done!

[jt24 Graduate]

Well done

[vivster Graduate]

Thank you. No, I can't believe I did it. There's a real disconnect.

[Patrick1942 Graduate]

Well done Vivster, it does seem a hell of an increase from W4, so glad you beat the gremlins, I start W5 tomorrow.

[wez70 Graduate]

Well done!

[OldPapaBear Graduate]

Well done BIG pat on the back....👋 I start WK5 on Monday and yep I have the same feeling of really! 20 minutes are you sure 🤔😥 so we will see what shall be... But for YOU here you go 🏅 YOU deserve it... Congrats! 👏

[Irishprincess Graduate]

Fab post! I could sense your sheer excitement at getting this biggie conquered so really well done to you. I love your term "boiling jelly". Haha! Brilliant.

[Hidden]

Congratulations. I've just finished the same run and had the same doubts. When I got in the front door after finishing I did the same thing shouting "go me". What a feeling. Now I'm convinced I can run the distance and finish the program.

Laura's dodgy music is actually kind of funny. I wish there was some way to overlay her advice and time checks over the top of my own music but what the hell, it gets you there.

[vivster Graduate in reply to Hidden]

You can do that. If you download the app, you can sync it with a playlist of your own choosing. The app can be a bit glitchy though, although I've never had any problems. I have reverted to the podcast though as I find I can't get enough of the cheese.

[vivster Graduate]

And thank you for all the lovely comments, it really means a lot 😊

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Brilliant.. go you..

Glad you kicked those gremlins in to touch!!! They are pests!

I do hope everyone appreciated your run, when you woke them up too

Onwards and upwards. slow and steady as you go !!!!

[sparky66 Graduate]

Congratulations vivster knew you could do it.. amazing feeling isn't it! Sounds like you really fought well.. graduation just up the road and round the corner for us now

[JennyH10 Graduate]

Well done vivster, I hope to be writing something similar myself next week

[hannah141 Graduate]

I have that run on Friday. When the gremlins come out to play and I myself turn into 'a boiling jelly in human form' I will think of that comment and it will make me giggle!