Wk 8 done ...just!

[heavyhorse]

I had the bright idea today to take the dogs on a forest run today going somewhere new. The forest is on a hill and is huge but looking at the map there is a road that runs along the contours of the hill so I mistakenly thought it would be relatively level. I set off from the car park on a fairly level forest road as soon as my 5 minute warm up was up it had turned into a steady uphill climb! I ran for 5 minutes and was beginning to think the climb a bit much and the usual negativity began to kick in and I nearly stopped, but as I was passing another dog walker I managed to press on for another 3 minutes and while I was trying to convince myself I could keep going my legs took the executive decision to stop running, I was really annoyed with myself for not completing an unbroken run for the first time in the process and kept walking uphill deciding I would start again in a few minutes, the thought of not doing the run unbroken made me decide to take the even hillier road and I walked on for another 40 minutes or so nearly all uphill and then turned back and set my stop watch and then ran for a full 30 minutes, which I think restored my confidence a bit even though it feels a little bit of a cheat being mostly down hill, but I hope the 8 minute uphill run will compensate for that. Overall I enjoyed my morning and hope that everyone agrees I can count this as success even though I am still annoyed at having to stop in the first place! Have added a pic of my running companions who don't always help the confidence as they fly past me effortlessly or drop sticks in front of me, or worse batter my legs with sticks as they overtake!

[Niggit]

Well done! That doesn't sound like a cheat to me - that sounds dedicated!  I know what you mean about running with dogs, especially when you're doing what for you is a good speed and your dog's loping effortlessly along beside you looking up at you like, "So when are we going to start, boss?"

[runswithdogs Graduate in reply to Niggit]

Gosh yes.  I did the program with my dogs and they would be walking pace while I was 'running'.  They do have two extra legs though.... That must help.

[heavyhorse Graduate in reply to runswithdogs]

I actually said this to my friend during wk 3, her reply was she didn't think we'd fare better if we tried to run on all fours which was the point we realised running(by novices) and laughter are not compatible!

[runswithdogs Graduate]

Nothing wrong with a walk break when the going gets hard.  Hills are tough!!!  The more you do them the better you get so keep at it.  But don't beat yourself up.

[heavyhorse Graduate in reply to runswithdogs]

thanks, I just want to feel I've completed the programme properly, won't be so bad when I am a graduate(maybe!)