Week One - The dreaded bridleway

[justjulie57]

Hello,

I have just taken up running again having lost my confidence in my running ability over the last twelve months. Although I am quite active I have gained weight and I want to be able to run/jog freely again.

I need to combine my running sessions with exercising my two border collies so the first part of any training session needs to be a walk with the dogs on leads.

Once I can release the dogs (which are very well behaved) I can begin training BUT this necessitates me 'running' up a bridleway which zigzags up a steady incline to the top of a hill. It's beautiful, it's shady but it is tough. I have managed to complete the three training sessions of the first week but I have sweated buckets and I am quite anxious about 'upping my game' in week 2. - I am not sure whether the fear of running up the bridleway is worse than the physical act of running up it. I have regularly walked up this bridleway for 10 years. I really need to 'conquer' it.

Please wish me luck next week!!!!

[agedsnailspace Graduate]

Good luck! Hill sprints are THE best way of building strength, so you will be giving yourself a turbo boost for the rest of your running.

[justjulie57 Graduate in reply to agedsnailspace]

Thank you-I will try to remember that

[mfamilias Graduate]

Go for it. It's all a head game - "Fear kills more dreams than failure ever will". I look at my feet when I run up hills, then I can persuade myself that it's flat. Short steps, positive attitude, go get it.

[justjulie57 Graduate in reply to mfamilias]

Thank you-I like your style

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate]

Have a little read of Irish-John's post about hills...he seems to have got a handle on it.

[justjulie57 Graduate in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

Thank you -I will

[JaySeeSkinny Graduate]

Totally off topic, but I love your dogs! My sister has 2 border collies and they are the most intelligent dogs ever. Even I can walk them off-lead and they anticipate my every command. Love them🐶

[justjulie57 Graduate in reply to JaySeeSkinny]

Thank you. They are very special boys - and very intelligent. Zak - the elder! seems to worry about me if I run and so never goes very far away from me. Shep just likes to roll down the hills.

[MarkyD Graduate]

Beautiful scenery. If you don't mind me asking, where is it?

[justjulie57 Graduate in reply to MarkyD]

The Malvern Hills in Worcestershire

[MarkyD Graduate in reply to justjulie57]

I'll add it to my list of places to run (on a sunny, clear day!)

[justjulie57 Graduate in reply to MarkyD]

Yes - you can see 17 counties from the top of the Worcestershire Beacon on a clear day!!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to justjulie57]

I was going to ask, is that The Malverns?

A wonderful place to run with totally unique scenery.

Hills are good for you and collies.

[justjulie57 Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Yes -it's great for both running and walking