A long time ago in a Galaxy far, far away, battle rage across the temples of a fat man, his desire to run and get fit fought endless running battles with the forces of evil, chocolate and procrastination.
Our heavy warrior was triumphant in one small battle that is leading the rebellion closer and closer to all out victory....
As usual I was awake before the alarm sounded but I waited and let it ring once, as usual, before turning it off. I am a creature of habit with mild OCD at times, silly little things like I can't stand the volume being on an odd number, it has to be even for some reason.
Anyway, I digress, downstairs, threw on the running gear and headed for the conservatory and the treadmill.
Set off on my last 28 minute run, I still can't believe I'm putting run (jog really) when 4 weeks ago I was still waddling, I'm digressing again, sorry. I fired up Laura and set off on my warm up walk, I cleared my head of the usual multiple threads of thoughts and actually managed to silence about 90% of them, this is unusual as this normally happens in the first 5 minutes of running.
I decided I wanted to test myself even more with it being my last run of Week 8, so I set off at the usual pace but with a 4% incline, 10 minutes in I dropped it to 3%, 20 minutes I dropped it to 2% and headed for the finish line, still at the same pace, no slowing allowed today, I need to make sure I'm up for the 2 30 minute runs next week. 5 minutes left to go I dropped the incline to 1% and then it happened, the gremlins hit! I had to slow a little, about .3kph, I was disappointed and questioning if I could actually run for 30 minutes or if I had topped out at 28, so what seemed a few seconds later, Laura is telling me I have 60 seconds left, the incline went back to 2%, not a lot I know, and the speed rose, I was finishing this run on a high!, 60 seconds later Laura tells me I'm done and my reply can't be put on here I'm afraid but I wasn't having anyone tell me I was done just yet, so I carried on, same incline and speed.
30:30 total time running, covering 4KM, I was really tempted to press on and do the extra KM and hit 5KM for the first time in my life BUT I'm supposed to be a good boy and I've tried not to cut corners, etc to ensure I get the most I possibly can from this great program, so that can wait until next weekend when I plan to do W9R3.
So, I broke my own rule today and ran for 30 minutes, I'm justifying this by saying W6R3 did this first and I'm only copying that.
Now that leaves me with 3 runs left to compete, all of a time I know I can complete, they'll still be a challenge and ones I'll love doing, I'm not going to say I've run for 30 minutes I've completed the program, this program still has it's uses for me post graduation as it'll help me increase my speed.
To Oldfloss I partly broke the Slow and Steady rule today, sorry boss, as per my W5R3 post, 'I just gotta know', I'll try to stick to the Slow and Steady for the next 3 runs.
To everyone one here, thank you once again, just knowing you are all there really does help.
I'm still struggling with the fact that I'm at the end of Week 8, with 3 runs left to do, I'm reaching the end of runs, tired but not puffing and panting like I was doing at the end of running up stairs 9 weeks ago, the difference is amazing.
People are beginning to comment on my weight loss and in one recent conversation with a friend at work who thinks nothing to cycling 100KM, I was shocked to find him in awe of me for running for 28 minutes!
I was in 44 inch waist jeans about 5 months ago, I was walking around in a pair of 40's yesterday, I had gone up to a 21" collar due to the size of my belly, I'm pretty certain my old 19" ones would fit me know.
One downside to this program, Mrs LeeU is insisting we go shopping to replace the clothes that now hang off of me; I don't mind spending the money but I HATE shopping!
Sorry for the long rambling post, live long and run longer.
Week 9 - Run 3 - Graduate
W5R3 and 3 personal bests!
Intervals were fun - what a difference it makes! 
