The longest cool down walk ever...: Well I did... - Couch to 5K

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The longest cool down walk ever...

23 Replies

Well I did week 9 run 2 today ! The run itself went fine - covered 2.4 miles in the thirty minutes so a wee bit more than last time ! Still not even 4K yet though - so impressed with anyone who can reach 5 k!! Thirty minutes seemed long , but doable !

Heading back home , walking bit of podcast finished, so reached into my pocket for my door key. Not there.... Searched again. It's a small pocket at the back of my capris trousers so fiddly at the best of times. Definitely no key.

Sighing I turned round a few yards from home and retraced my route (walking this time) peering at the ground frantically looking. Tried to ring my husband ( who had gone out for a long loch side cycle) but no signal. Back up the road, down the farm track, desperately thinking when I had taken my phone in or out the pocket. Probably in the long grass in the middle of the track i think. Looked in vain. Felt exhausted and desperate for water . Sustained myself with a couple of wild raspberries. So much easier to pick when walking by than running!!

Back to the Tarmac road, down to my lovely hay bales. No key. Back towards home. Maybe I left it in the lock and never put it in the pocket? Trudge trudge. Legs aching now. Thinking what to do as hubby could be a few hours. Realise I can get into my neighbours (whose dogs I walk occasionally) so much needed water awaits!! Refresh I think, then look again!

Finally get mobile signal. No reply though. Leave a message saying ring me I'm stuck outside in my running gear!

Back home. No key on the path or in the lock. Wander up and down the road in case I dropped it there at the start and phone rings! Lovely hubby hears my tale of woe and agrees to call off his cycle and come home. He will be an hour though.

Relief returns. Ring neighbours bell. No response just barks from the dogs. Head round the back use the hidden key and let myself in their back door. Two bouncy Labradors delighted to see me. Water.. Water... Grab a mug fill it at the sink and drain it in one. Refill it and head out to the wee garden with my canine pals. Is there a seat? Yes a wee bench sparkles in the sunlight. Sit down, sip my water pat the dogs and explain I'm too tired to walk them this this time!

Check my phone. Map my run tells me I've been out for one hour forty two minutes. Covered 6.7 miles. I did a five minute walk to start then thirty minute run so that's an hour and seven minutes cool down walk. The longest one ever. Over three miles.

Relaxed and recovered, made myself a cuppa feeling a bit guilty in someone else's home, but very much in need, drink it out side then say farewell to the dogs and head home to wait on the doorstep like a waif and stray. Luckily it's not raining !

Knight in shining armour returned. Not very amused at his abandoned cycle plans but supportive all the same. Got into the house (yay) and headed for a most welcome shower. I'd been in my running clothes nearly three hours. Cold sweat is horrible... And made me shiver !!

We only have two door keys ( it's a rented house) so need another. He googles locksmiths. Find ones in Perth and Stirling, both about half an hour away... Agree I'll head out and try and get a key cut and he will stay in but first we will walk my running route again.

This time... We find it! A welcome gleam of gold in the middle of the road!

All is well in Hilary world again.

And only one more run left. Let's hope it's a shorter cool down walk or I will have a very sore voice shouting that I have graduated !!

23 Replies
MichaelH070862 profile image
MichaelH070862Graduate

Well done on the run/walk/expedition glad you found the key that would have been a nightmare in anyone's world just one to go now and you join the club

Ellymeg profile image
EllymegGraduate

What an adventure Hilary! See, out and about,walking the graduation route, and having just done the penultimate run!! What dedication!! What stamina!! 😉 Those raspberries came in handy 🍇 (nearest pic I could find).

Glad you found the key, you were lucky the sun was shining just in the right way to make it twinkle.

Just one more to go to the sparkly shiny badge!

Well done, wow and wow again.........just as well we left the fridge fully stocked with party supplies 🍾🍸🍷waiting for you.

Ullyrunner profile image
UllyrunnerGraduate

Oh no Hilary - quite an adventure on a hot day! Glad you found the key in the end - better chain it to you next time!

in reply to Ullyrunner

It's going down my sock next time!

Vanessa291 profile image
Vanessa291Graduate

Ohh dear Hilary, alls well that ends well, as they say. Hope you washed your cup up in the neighbours house. 😉

in reply to Vanessa291

I did! And I texted to tell her I was there!

OldPossum profile image
OldPossum

Thank goodness for neighbours. Sounds horrendous but st least you can say you've covered 6k now. Just don't tell anyone how long it took 😀 Hope you are fully recovered now and preparing for your graduation run !

in reply to OldPossum

6.7 miles! A lot more than I meant ! Legs a bit achey but hopefully. Tomorrows rest day will help . Don't want to fail at the last hurdle!

OldPossum profile image
OldPossum in reply to

I misread the numbers - that's even further 😱😱 definitely need to rest those legs but you never know might actually make the next seem short and easier.

in reply to OldPossum

I like your logic !!!

Sandraj39 profile image
Sandraj39Graduate

Oh, what a nuisance! And what a walk but at least you found it in the end! Rest up well now for the big one!🙂

Irish-John profile image
Irish-JohnGraduate

Dang! that is one heck of a cool down walk for sure! Glad you got the result :)

in reply to Irish-John

So am I! And if I had the energy to walk for an hour after my run I will cope with my final run - right? My leg (the one I injured a few weeks ago) is sore and tight tonight. I'm having a bath with Epsom salts and will rest up tomorrow so hope all ok for my grad run I'm not as bad as you though your foot pain sounds awful. I guess it's a good lesson not to over do it!

boptillyoudrop49 profile image
boptillyoudrop49Graduate

Nightmare. How did it fall out of your capris? Does the pocket not zip up?

in reply to boptillyoudrop49

It zips! But it's awkward and I had taken my phone out earlier for a photo for this post so probably didn't zip it up right.

poppypug profile image
poppypugGraduate

Oh Hilary , what a mare !

I could feel myself getting stressed out for you just reading that ! :-)

I'm so glad that you had a good result in the end finding your key. I hate losing stuff, I would rather I gave it away than lose it . I think I get that from my Dad , if ever we told him that we'd lost something, he would turn the house upside down to find it . God bless him xxx

Enjoy your rest day tomorrow ( you've definitely earned that one ) and then its the BIGGIE ! :-) xxx

in reply to poppypug

Yes nice rest now. Off for a bath with Epsom salts as my previously injured leg is suffering

McFitty profile image
McFittyGraduate

Wow, a week 9 odyssey :) Only 30 mins to go Hilary!

in reply to McFitty

Yay! Make room on the podium! Hopefully join you on Monday!

McFitty profile image
McFittyGraduate in reply to

🍸🍸🍸🎈🎂🎈🎂🎈🎂🎈🍸🍸🍸we'll be there... Ellymeg 's already stocked the fridge in readiness :)

melly4012 profile image
melly4012Graduate

Thank goodness it all worked out well in the end! That's a lot of calories burnt, no doubt! Hopefully you can recover in time for your graduation run next!!! :)

skysue16 profile image
skysue16Graduate

Oh dear - I know how you were feeling because a similar thing happened to me, I couldn't find my car keys! I retraced my steps for a short way but then went back to the car and guess what - they were in the ignition!! Phew - I was relieved!

It's a horrible feeling though isn't it! Glad you found them and of course that no one had stolen the car!! Happy running'

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