Ground control to Major Tom

[Tomstevenson63]

Well, week 6 done and dusted. And a lot more of an emotional roller coaster than I expected.

And all because I set out with 10% left on my phone and the poor battery trying to keep Spotify, map my run and my good friend Sanjeev Kohli fully juiced.

It was always going to end at some point. I just didn't know when so every message from ground control was a bonus.

That's it your warm up is almost over, said my softly spoken Scottish Indian mentor. Stay with me Sanj!

Time 7.45, distance 1 km, split time 7.45, said the machine pretending to be a woman from map my run.

Not so nice but I need you too. I'm starting to care about mins per km.

Well done. You've run for 5 minutes. Keep going. Take it steady. I will Sanjeev but I'm not sure if I can do this without the music and your soothing tones. I daren't look at the screen. Don't want to waste any power.

Time 14 minutes something. Distance 2 km. split time 6 mins 18 seconds. Hey! Not bad! And some of that up Hill too. I'll just go to the corner, bit further than normal before I turn.

Phew. Nice downhill stretch now. Sanjeev again. Well that's 10 minutes in the bag, he's about to say. Well done, you've run for 12.5 minutes. Half way. Ding a ling.

What 12.5 not 10? Oh you lovely man.

Which means I've been on the go for 17.5 mins. How long before I'm cut adrift. It must be soon.

Will it fade away or just die? 'Your circuit's dead, there's something wrong' or just phut?

Time 20 minutes. Distance 3 km. split 6.17. Well it was downhill. Don't get too excited.

You've been running for 20 minutes now. You are doing sooo well. Sanjeev, you were a good choice. You positively purr you know.

Time 28 minutes. Distance 4 km. split 6.04. Hey I'm getting faster. Wow I'm really enjoying this.

Move to the side of the road. Let the car through. Thank you runner. Thank you car. Cheery wave!

Go on now just 60 seconds to go. You can speed up a bit if you like. Blimey you've got some real faith in me now Sanj. OK just a smidge faster. Don't know what Old Floss would say.

Do you know I used to run around a rugby field for over an hour. It's still in there somewhere. Head up. Enjoy the view. Yeeeessss.

And that's it. You've only gone and done it. I knew you could. Me too Sanj. Not six weeks ago but recently, yes.

Oh no, there's a walker just ahead. Sorry but I can't stop and walk alongside. Too proud. Just round the corner. Where he can't see me. One extra minute. Two. Ok stop now.

And phut.

So this is how the app ends. Not with a bang but a whimper.

But I don't care. I've just finished week six. I'm a runner.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

You have... and you are... and Old Floss says... " If you've got it... flaunt it!" !

Well done you x

[Lottie_C Graduate]

Get in 👍 Moving on up man ✊️

[damienair Graduate]

Well done. It's all down hill from here. Just 9 more runs to the graduation finish line. I found the plan was much easier after week 6. No more interruptions to the runs. Enjoy and well done fellow runner.

[icklegui Graduate]

commencing countdown ... until the end of week 9, runner!

Been there with the battery rollercoaster. Emotional times indeed.

[RachD]

Just about to start....your post makes me feel optimistic. Well done and thank you.

[Razouski]

Well done, and with all the anxiety of your phone's imminent demise you did really well. And it's true - you are a runner.

[Hidden]

you did it despite the techy stuff, and I really dislike the mechanical map my run lady... a bit of positivity wouldn't hurt her... Brilliant you are a runner