The dreaded 20! Week 5 run 3

[Jigglemooce]

Well here we go! After last Saturdays week 5 run 2 yet again I've had no chance to put in any more runs because of parents' evenings, governing body meetings etc, so today was run 3. Up til now I've managed to run slowly on the treadmill reading my kindle. But, today I decided that I needed to try running without a distraction. So it was just me,Laura and the treadmill. After the first 5 minutes the gremlins appeared and started telling me how much my legs hurt, how silly my running looked, how breathless I was etc so I decided to visualise an image to beat them. At the 10 minute mark I wanted to stop but by then in my head was an army of little green stick men with fluorescent hard hats hammering away at my muscles on every in breath! But, on every out breath they were tumbled out and onto the floor in front of me waving their hammers and screaming a slow death. I pushed on and by the end of 20 minutes there was a huge pile of silly little stick men withering away on the floor. I'd done it!! And I felt so happy. I know this sounds bonkers but it got me through it. Half term this week so no stopping me from getting in the runs for week 6. Am reaching my goal slowly...5k before my 53rd birthday. 😘🏃🏻‍♀️❤️🏃🏻‍♀️😀

[spinrek Graduate]

Yay! I love hearing of how people are battling forward and sticking with it! You're little men sound fun too!

I find the first 8 minutes hard and then it's as if my body relaxes - so I have to tell myself "after 8 minutes it'll be ok!!" 😁

When is your birthday?

[Jigglemooce Graduate in reply to spinrek]

Week 9 is my birthday week so I'm likely to be 53 before my first 5k but I'm pushing on just in case I manage it.

[spinrek Graduate in reply to Jigglemooce]

Ooh that's exciting! What a great birthday present to yourself!!

I have a feeling you have the determination to do it!!!!

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to Jigglemooce]

If you make 5k, great 🙂If you don't just remember this - you are running literally 100 percent more than you were on your last birthday ! ☺

[gilliwood Graduate in reply to Jigglemooce]

I'm also aiming to end week 9 just before my 51st birthday, it's great to have a target to aim for which provide the motivation and not to be tempted to redo a week.

[Cuig1975]

Well done , it's a tough one I'm just in from park I thought the last 5 mins were tough was willing Laura to say stop !!!! But boy it feels good I couldn't believe that 20 mins took me full lap of park when 5 weeks ago to get to next lamp post seemed impossible ..... Go us xx

[Jigglemooce Graduate in reply to Cuig1975]

Well done. It's probably harder on solid ground than running on a treadmill but the hardest part for me is in my head I think as my legs felt like they could do a bit more at the end. Can't believe I'm getting there at last!

[Hidden in reply to Jigglemooce]

I used to think running outside was more challenging than the treadmill, and it does take a bit of time getting used to it, but it is so much better! The fresh air, being outside, the change of scenery, other runners who say hello... it really is worth it. Not sure if you have a park nearby but give it a try. At least in the park you don't have to worry about cars and you can run on the soft verge (in case you are worried about the impact of running on concrete).

[Lee337 Graduate]

Absolutely brilliant Jigglemooce !

Well done on fighting those gremlins. I know exactly how tough it must have been, but you did it and you should rightly feel very proud of yourself.

Please make sure you don't do what I did on my w6r1 by starting off too quickly thinking it was going to be easy, because it isn't and it may just catch you out (as it has done with many other people so far). I did (just about) scrape through to complete the run but in the end I found it more of a challenge than w5r3, I really did.

Keep on running!

[Jigglemooce Graduate]

Thanks for the advice. I've read others saying that week 5 run three was the hardest of all but to take week 6 steady so I'm going to start slowly... and build up at the end if I can. A few weeks ago I'd never have believed I could run for 30 minutes but I've done it. Yay! Thanks for support.

[Irish-John Graduate]

I have so much admiration for the tenacity and dedication of the treadmill runners! Your Post confirms that! ☺

[Jigglemooce Graduate in reply to Irish-John]

Thank you. I'd prefer to run outside but an eye issue last year has meant I struggle on uneven paths because I've lost my 3D vision. It's boring but needs must. And I need and must run!! I'm determined to run a 5k park run!! So thanks again.

[Raven2016 Graduate]

Well done you! I love your gremlin squishing, too, you're doing great work destroying the little pests!

[Pc59 Graduate]

Well done you!! I love the idea of the little green stick men😂😂😂they are a right pain!!!! You will easy do that 5k before your birthday!!! That's my aim too on the flat can get to 3.77k nearly there but that last wee bit seems far away!!!!! I reckon il have to be running at least 45mins to do it I think it'll be a miracle to get 5k in 30 mins but I've till July my 60th!!!!!! To get there!!! O might you free bus pass then will that be better than running🏃😂😂😂😂x keep on going you are so close to that graduation 😊🏃🏃🏃🏃😊🎓x

[achievingit Graduate]

Well done you! I love how you defeat your gremlins! I think I need to be a little more inventive for getting rid of mine. When my legs start to feel tired, I tell myself to keep going because it'll pass, and it always does. When I hear the gremlins, I shout at them to shut up, but I'll try a more violent thought next run!

[Monty89 Graduate]

Jigglemooce, I’m just about to do wk5 run 3 tomorrow and I’m not going to lie, I’m dreading it. Seems like such a leap from an 8 minute to full 20! Out of interest what speed did you go at for this run on the treadmill compared to your other runs!