Letting a friend down Week 6 Run 1

Where do you go you read Irish Johns post about his friend who also can no longer run due to a health issue and you go out and you run for your friend and for yourself . It may feel harsh but yesterday while at work I was taking to a colleague about how I rejoice in the fact I have my health but you never know what is round the corner. Chin up and run for your friend.

First off take this hug {}

Second off be kind to yourself. The circumstances have taken more of a toll on you than you realise. You want to do this because your friend can't but you still also need to do this for you - and sometimes it just doesn't happen as we would wish.

Third off (is that a thing?) you picked a b**ch of a week. Wk6r1 is notoriously difficult. You've seen the posts.

Please do be kind to yourself. I know it's not easy but sometimes starting with ourselves is the best way to help others.

As to where do you go from here - you brush yourself off and carry on - we can't do much but we are here for you.

And as MichaelH070862 says Irish John has words of wisdom in his post.

I'm so sorry to hear about your friend. Try not to feel like you let him down, W6R1 is hard for some reason and hot n hungover probably didn't help. Put this out of your mind, take a day to rest, then you can smash W6 for him.

Awww...don't feel like that...like you said, you've had a heavy week so not the best for running....Im sure your friend doesn't feel let down....have a rest for a coupla days then you'll be back to your fabulous running self & you'll crack it!!!

So sorry to hear but, as others have said, you must be kind to yourself- good grief, you are on week six, that's a terrific achievement. Tomorrow, or the day after, is another day. And there is no way you have let anyone down. Take care.

You go out in a day or two and try again😊..

Sorry to hear about your friends health problems, I imagine this is weighing more heavily on you than you think...

Hug ()

Last run you did 20 mins (the hill that kills twice! ) and if you were tired and a bit dehydrated it was always going to be a slog..

Put it behind you, you ran for a little bit? but you were not attacking it in your normal frame of mind.. so it was a practise run and the next one will be fine.

Looking forward to a nice photo (not posted sideways) of you after completing W6R1...hopefully a nice shade of pink. Don't beat youself up. x

So sorry to hear your news. That's tough.

Week 6 gets a lot of people anyway never mind people who have had a week like yours. You haven't let anyone down.

People are right to recommend Irish John's post about his friend. When you are ready, go out and run because you can.

Meanwhile all our thoughts are with you.

You must shake yourself down, rejoice in your ability and get back out there and run for your friend

So sorry to read about your friend - that is so hard for you all. I totally understand you wanting to nail this run for him but as others have said, emotional upset affects us in unpredictable ways. Also, W6 R1 was the hardest run of the programme for me (still remember it two years later!) something about the return to intervals after 20 mins solid running, really messed with my head! Take your rest days and go out and do it again, without the pressure of a 'perfect' run. Just run. Good luck and take care.

You've had a hard week Jancanrun, but as your name says, you CAN run. You have already proved it. It's been a hard upsetting week for you, but that will only serve to make you more determined. Like others say, have a rest and go again. When I meet you for that glass of red we will both be graduates and proper runners to boot

If you are healthy and happy, you will be better with your friend. Plan a time and place to go out and run so you WILL be healthy and happy. Then enjoy the time you have with your friend. If your friend can still walk, or even just be outside, he may enjoy getting out, as well, so it would be good for both of you although you are on different paths in life. Go for it!

Be kind to yourself - I know others have said this, but it bears repeating. Take him with you on other runs, you have plenty left.

Maybe do a fundraising 5k after you've graduated?

Much to be taken from this lovely, supportive thread Jancanrun and you obviously care deeply for your friend. You mustn't beat yourself up about stuff like not completing a run because your heart is in the right place and that's what really matters. You'll get there. I say it often on here, but YOU GO, GIRL! X

Oh Jancanrun you have been on this bloody amazing forum long enough to know that you didn't fail, you had a practice run! To have failed would to have sat around, feeling (justifiably) sad with a glass of wine. You didn't do that - you went out for a run. Do you think your friend never had bad runs? Of course he did. The greatest way to honour him is not to let this get you down but to brush off those stinky running shoes (it's not just me, right? Everyone's trainers stink don't they?) and get right back on it.

Hope you're feeling a bit better this morning? Sorry to hear about your friend. I wanted to say that if I'm flagging at the end of a run, I think of my mum running with me - usually giggling & making funny comments about passers by (she died in January) & it spurs me on. I'm also running 100k May -Oct for Alzheimer's research which keeps me motivated & doing something positive. Maybe you can do something similar when the time is right to honour your friend? In the meantime, keep smiling & running. Tanti abbracci!

Non c'è di che! Italian is my 3rd foreign language so I do tend to make up quite a bit - so many rules but as long as I can order coffee & wine!! Good luck for the next run & enjoy the sunshine cos it's cool & wet here - feels like early autumn.

Oh Jan, I've only just seen this post but pleased to see that your mindset has changed somewhat since your original post.

I hope tomorrow's run allows you to burn off any frustrations you still have about not running for your friend yesterday. It is still honouring them, even if it is not quite when or how you planned it. I have the view that it really is the thought that counts and in simple terms, I find it much nicer if someone sends me a belated birthday card than not one at all. Does that make sense?

Let us know how you get on tomorrow - good or bad - and I think you should post a sideways pic anyway just for the fun

Don't be hard on yourself. You are still digesting all this and you had a hard week. You give so much of yourself to others always encouraging, congratulating and just be there. Rest, relax and take time to breathe and when you next run do it for yourself and your friend. We are all here for you xx

Well ff it got done and I am sitting in an airport wearing my trainers ready for London runs this week. Spark back to normal I hope....