The thought was worse than the deed...

[HeadInTheClouds]

Having had a bad W3R3 last week and a knock in confidence, I re-ran W3R1&R2. Today I was sitting on the fence, undecided whether to re-run W3R3 or brave W4R1. It looked pretty daunting and I felt a bit off colour this afternoon (I'm sure I could have thought of a dozen more excuses)..!!

Then someone here 'tempted' me into the jaws of week 4 ..... and I'm so glad they did..!!

I chose a new route to make it more exciting (woohoo), cranked the volume up until Pink was borderline ear bleeding, and I got in the 'zone'. It was pretty tough, but not as tough as I'd made it out to be in my head 🙄 I slowed right down when the going got a bit much and belted out along with Pink to take my mind of my screaming calf muscles (much to the horror of my running partner, several passers by and 2 cats) 🙉

But I bloody did it..... and I felt AMAZING..!! 🤗

You were all there with me - the encouraging words, the inspirational people - rolling round and round in my head, pushing me on.

Thank you, all of you, for being so encouraging, supportive, posititive and truly inspirational.

I am so glad I found you..!! 😘

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate]

Great work, you felt amazing and got in the zone😊...and nailed W4 R1✋

Well done HeadInTheClouds😎

p.s hope you don't actually have the tags your post has generated 😊xx

[HeadInTheClouds Graduate in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

Thank you, I'm so glad I managed to move on. I'd not been able to find that elusive 'zone' before, but I think I, at least, found the periphery

Oh blimey, I can only see those tags on the PC. Where do they come from..?? Nope, I don't wish to claim responsibility for them (or is that the shape of things to come)..??

[Hidden]

Well done!! So glad you managed to push through. I think everyone has difficult runs, but you came back from that, which is amazing. You're doing great

[HeadInTheClouds Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. I was a 100% certified running virgin 4 weeks ago so anything moving at pace in a forward direction is bordering on miraculous

[Hidden in reply to HeadInTheClouds]

Yeah you're quite right! I'm certainly not fast but when I realised I've travelled over 2 miles on my own legs, I'm pretty chuffed. It does feel great doesn't it?

I'm just waiting for a break in the weather to do W5R1. I don't mind running in the rain, but if I can avoid it I will

[HeadInTheClouds Graduate in reply to Hidden]

That's a good point about legs - I should, then, be praising mine today instead of cursing them..!!

Fingers crossed for a break in the rain. Have a good run

[Hidden in reply to HeadInTheClouds]

Yes definitely, encouragement all the way I feel! Mine went well btw, I'm still alive, and still loving running

[HeadInTheClouds Graduate in reply to Hidden]

You got a break in the rain... excellent..!! I'm so glad it went well. My running partner always looks at the weeks ahead - I prefer to remain in blissful ignorance. So well done for W5R1 but I'm not even looking at how far your legs have carried you 😂

[vlmiller1225 Graduate]

Yay so proud!!!!!!! Great job!

[HeadInTheClouds Graduate in reply to vlmiller1225]

Thank you, that's nice to hear I am feeling pretty chuffed.

[vlmiller1225 Graduate in reply to HeadInTheClouds]

Does chuffed mean like.... excited? pleased?

Please enlighten this American haha! i'm slowly learning lingo!

[Hidden in reply to vlmiller1225]

Chuffed a very good British word - meaning excited, pleased, delighted....

I am from 'Up North' and we say chuffed to buckets.... no idea of the source of that particular extension though....

[vlmiller1225 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Awesome!! Thank you!

[HeadInTheClouds Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Chuffed to buckets..?? That's a new one on me. I can do chuffed to bits and, similarly, chuffed to pieces but not too sure about the buckets

[Hidden in reply to HeadInTheClouds]

See as I said it could have been a family derivative... but in Liverpool we said chuffed to buckets...

[Fishypieface Graduate in reply to HeadInTheClouds]

There's also chuffed to b*ggery but maybe that's not one for on here....

[HeadInTheClouds Graduate in reply to Fishypieface]

😂😂 I forgot that one 😂😂

[HeadInTheClouds Graduate in reply to vlmiller1225]

Haha, sorry, yes it means very pleased

[Lilybell]

Your post has inspired me to get out there and complete my final run of week 3... well done you....

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Lilybell]

Get out..enjoy

[HeadInTheClouds Graduate in reply to Lilybell]

Ah Lilybell , I am so pleased to hear that Go on, you know you can smash week 3..!! Keep us posted.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Very well done.. sometimes it can be hard getting out there when everything is saying, stay home

Slow and steady and carry on

[HeadInTheClouds Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Thanks Oldfloss Yep, EVERYTHING was saying 'stay at home' but I know that mustn't be an option. I try to hold on to that feeling I get every time I complete a run - there's nothing quite like it

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Well done.

There is nothing wrong with repeating a run for the sake of confidence, but I am a believer in having a positive attitude and continuing to face the new challenge, rather than go back. Moving forward, again only my belief, keeps the momentum going and gives an even bigger boost to self confidence.

Running is to a large extent about belief. So believe and keep moving on.

[HeadInTheClouds Graduate]

Thank you IannodaTruffe - you are, of course, quite right (but could you come and tell that to my hips this morning)..!!

I must try and find that belief - it seems to be something, in this instance, that escapes me.

I'm hanging on to the thought that 4 weeks ago I would never even have believed I could run for 5 minutes without passing out..!! And that feeling of euphoria last night when I did.... WOW..!!

I will keep moving on

[Glossy Graduate]

Well done!! So much of this running stuff is mind over matter. Onwards and upwards!!

[HeadInTheClouds Graduate in reply to Glossy]

Thank you Trying to get into the 'zone', and taking everyone's positivity with me (along with a bit of 'Pink!') really did help. Hopefully it will only get better

[Polly2810 Graduate]

Amazing well done 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[HeadInTheClouds Graduate in reply to Polly2810]

Thank you, I'm still feeling pretty pleased about it today. Crikey, I daren't imagine what I'm going to feel like 'when' I graduate - I might just explode..!!

[Fishypieface Graduate]

Well done!! Nothing like a bit of Pink to sort anyone out! I'm surprised you weren't kicking ass and karate chopping your way round! Maybe I'll give that a go! Seriously, you absolutely can do this, we've all managed it!! That means you can too x

[HeadInTheClouds Graduate in reply to Fishypieface]

Thank you lovely 😊

Ooh indeed, she can get anyone motivated. Haha, when I've mastered breathing whilst running, I'll give the ass kicking and karate chopping a go 😂

Thank you - I took your positivity with me when I ran last night, it really helped 😊

[Polly2810 Graduate in reply to HeadInTheClouds]

You can absolutely go this...we are all with you!! ☺️

[HeadInTheClouds Graduate]

Thank you Polly2810 , that really does make a difference 😊