Does this count??

[unlikelyrunner]

Hi all. I'm on the Isle of Wight for a few days and am having to contend with hills for the first time. This morning's w8r2 ended up being 10m run (gentle up) 5 min walk (steep up) 5 min run (level). 10 min walk (v steep up) 15 min run (gentle up, then down down down). Plus 5 min warm up and cool down walks that were both uphill too.

I'm not sure whether to count it or not...

It was totally gorgeous (Tennyson Down for anyone who knows it) so I actually don't mind whether it counts or not. It was also harder work than normal because of the steep walks. The long run down was amazing - I could have done that all day!

Practice or tick?

[Martin_Rose Graduate]

If you have gone uphill, it definitely counts. Well done. 😁

[davelinks Graduate]

No, supposed to run 28mins continuosly no walking...

[Nibor5 Graduate]

Do the next 28 minute run and see how you feel afterwards. If you feel ready, move on to week 9. If you're not sure just do another 28 minute run first. There's no hurry, just move on when you feel ready.

[GoogleMe Graduate]

At this stage as davelinks says it is all about the mental discipline of maintaining the run (and plenty of us struggle with that even without gradient issues... I recall a particular disagreeable towpath run at about this point myself) so whether you feel that you actually put in at least or as much effort as running continuously for 28 minutes (and I am sure you did) is not the point. Alas. Although you are *so* right to focus on the quality of the experience too... how much better to complete the programme having done an extra run which was lovely and interesting than to have ground it out in minimum outings in the same dull 'safe' spot the whole time I'd say.

The business of taking smaller steps is a particularly useful one for tackling steep hills.

[unlikelyrunner Graduate in reply to GoogleMe]

Yes I agree - see reply to Whatsapp too. I'm going to do fun/different runs while I'm here and go back to the programme when I'm home.

[GoogleMe Graduate in reply to unlikelyrunner]

I think you have absolutely and utterly 'got' that this is about acquiring a tool to take forward into the rest of your life *and* the sense of togetherness and achievement from successfully completing the programme. Bravo!

[aliboo70 in reply to unlikelyrunner]

Well done on tackling that , its a big hill!! 😆Parkrun over here (IOW) is at Appley park in Ryde at the mo, it's mostly flat except the last km! We had 370 there last week , a new record! For a flat course the cycle track Newport to Sandown or Newport to Cowes is flat ir seafront Shanklin to Sandown is nice!

I love it up Tennyson Down we do a race there in December called Chilly Hilly😊🏃🏃🏃

[unlikelyrunner Graduate in reply to aliboo70]

Thanks Aliboo - you're so lucky to have the beautiful IoW as your base. It's also great to read your story from C25k to mega runner! We're on the west (Freshwater Bay last 2 nights, just outside Yarmouth for the next 4) and I like running from the door so thought I'd try the cycle track from Yarmouth to Freshwater tomorrow. Any other Yarmouth based suggestions?

[aliboo70 in reply to unlikelyrunner]

Yes that's a lovely route😊 "end of the line" cafe at freshwater too is recommended! 😆

There are short flat stretches on seafront heading out of yarmouth (towards cranmore) and in other direction towards Fort Victoria (bit longer and another cafe at the end!!)

Have fun! Yes we are lucky to be here 😊

[Hidden]

Try the next one without the hilly bits, and if you do it relatively easily then I would move on. The point is that the running should be continuous at this stage, but if hills haven't been part of your training so far, it's particularly hard to incorporate them at this point. I'm with Nibor on this. We don't have C25K police on here, the main thing is in your own heart you feel you have done the plan. It is only one run, and in a couple of weeks and months you will be so much further in your running life. Happy running anyway, you're so close to the podium now.

[unlikelyrunner Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Yes it did occur to me that it's a strange question to ask since no one is actually monitoring anything! Having already got so much out of this programme I find myself wanting to do it 'right'.

[Hidden in reply to unlikelyrunner]

That's the difficult thing... I asked the same question when I had a mini stopette in a continuous run, I stopped for about 20 seconds, and I actually asked everybody here if that counted as a stop or not, so I know exactly what you mean. You don't want to cheat yourself...

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to unlikelyrunner]

Go you... and who knows... I may hide behind shrubs x

[Whatsapp Graduate]

The fact you are asking tells me you don't feel it counts. However, looking at the broader picture, you got out there and ran, even on a break.

So what if you don't class this as W8R2? Just get out and do what you can, you can resume the C25k programme when you get home, nothing will be lost. And if it takes a little longer to get to graduation... Unless you are planning on completing this programme and never running again, it doesn't matter.

[unlikelyrunner Graduate in reply to Whatsapp]

Good point Whatsapp - it's about learning to love running in different environments. I worried about my route this morning because I didn't want the hills to mean I would 'fail' (I know that word is banned) my wk8 run. However having panted my way up a big hill (walking) I found myself in bright blue skies in a gorgeous place all alone with nature before 8am while on holiday. That's not failure by any standards!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Only you know. It is a training plan, not a tick box exercise, so if you have doubts, best to repeat it.

Well done, regardless.

[misswobble Graduate]

That was off-piste and extra curricular 🙂 Bloody good work though😃

I was there two weeks back but ran the opposite downs 🏃‍♀️

Never run such hilly terrain in my life and I live in Derbyshire!

Take care not to try and do too much too soon, including fast downhills!

It'll all come later on 🙂

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Err... not really.. make it a practice...you will sail...( run) through the real thing...

And enjoy the Isle of Wight.. you may run into our awesome forum friend aliboo70 ..she loves hills and is an amazing runner!!!

If you see her, please give her a hug from Flossx

Go you onward and ... err upward... all good practice

[aliboo70 in reply to Oldfloss]

Hello awesome floss!! Big hug back at you!!😊😆

[Slinkymalinki Graduate]

Wow! I started running in Shorewell back in Feb on the IOW and remember being blown about walking up Tennyson Down! Beautiful views though - good for the soul. I had a few breaks from the programme when I was on hols etc and I still seek out flat routes if I sense that's what I need. Maybe there are some more level paths near other parts of the coast or even on the beach at low tide? Not long till graduation now!