I find that the second run of the week is always the easiest, and this week was no exception. I'm so proud of myself for sticking to the program, even when life tries to get in the way. I had to postpone a run on Saturday, but I'm happy to say I'm back on track as of this morning (haha running puns).
I'll just keep plodding along until I have finally achieved my goal of running a 5k. This time, I'm going to make it past week 6 and finally finish C25K!
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Episode 1: healthunlocked.com/couchto5......
Episode 2: healthunlocked.com/couchto5...
And now for the third installment... 
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Episode 3:
"This is insane. I must be dreaming."
The young man standing beside Jem pinched the sensitive skin of his forearm and winced. His eyes were wild as he began slapping the sides of his face with increasing ferocity until his cheeks were covered in raised, hand-shaped welts.
"Stop it." Jem said, struggling to grab his arms. Abruptly, as if all the fight had left him, he collapsed into the sand. Jem noticed his hands shake where they were clenched into fists at his knees.
Suddenly, the hair on the back of her neck stood on end. It was as if something was breathing down her spine. She glanced over her shoulder. The UFO hadn't moved, only continued to shoot the strange beam of light into the ocean and maintain the barrier which trapped them on the beach. She sighed a breath of relief. She didn't know how much more she could take.
"What do you think they want?" The young man asked, his head bowed. Jem sank to her knees and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.
She didn't know the answer to his question, but felt that their confinement behind the blue force field wasn't a good sign.
"They probably want better Wi-Fi." said Jem. The stranger raised his head and glared.
"Are you insane?"
"Just trying to distract you. You looked like you were having a panic attack. What's your name?"
"Nicholas."
"I'm Jem." She offered a smile, which Nicholas attempted to mirror. The corners of his mouth twitched, then returned to the thin line of a scowl.
"How are you so calm?"
"I think I'm in shock." said Jem. Her chest bubbled with nervous energy and she had to bite her lip to keep hysterical giggles inside. "I wasn't expecting an alien invasion on my run this morning."
“I thought zombie apocalypse was more likely.” Nicholas said.
Before Jem could respond with a well-crafted, sarcastic remark, the UFO released an ear-splitting screech. Jem and Nicholas covered their ears, their shoulders scrunched towards their necks at the painful, high-pitched tone. It sounded like a flat-lining heart monitor, but at a volume which was at least fifty times normal.
The pair were paralysed by a combination of fear and pain. As quickly as it began, the UFO went silent. Jem collapsed against Nicholas, her body weak and shaking. She could hear her heart thumping in her ears. Nicholas shoved her lightly, and they rolled side-by-side into the sand.
“What the Hell was that?” Nicholas said, his eyes turned to the sky. His chest rose and fell rapidly as he attempted to catch his breath.
Jem ground her teeth and pushed herself into a sitting position, her arms wrapped tightly around her knees. It didn’t take long for her to see the answer to Nicholas’s question.
“See for yourself.”
Nicholas groaned as he sat upright, then froze. Jem blinked repeatedly, not trusting her eyes as she looked out over the ocean; an ocean which had turned to ice, despite all laws of physics.
The solid surface gave off a light smoke, leaving the impression of fog. It reflected a rainbow of colours under the intensity of the morning sun. Waves were frozen in motion, mid crash. It was a beautiful, impossible sight.
Jem had no idea what it meant. All she knew was that it terrified her.
Are you a new runner nervous about being seen outside? 
Follow up: Seen the Physio. Not Landing Well. Rest From Running?!!
You lot shamed me into it!!!!
W3R2 - Should I be stretching?
