W5R3 ..... Only gone and slothed 20 minutes..!! 🤗

[HeadInTheClouds]

..... I'd had a long day yesterday, driving and on my feet a lot, so today I wasn't that enamoured by the 'dreaded' 20 minute finale run of week 5 😱

However, I have the 'rents staying at the moment - mum with failing body, dad with failing mind and their dog ..... who is deaf 🙉 By 5.30pm my nerve endings were feeling a little tattered and a 20 minute run was gaining more and more appeal by the minute..!!

I battled my way into the appropriate under-scaffolding and compression garments, did some stretching and waited for hubby to come home from work (I figured he'd relish the opportunity to hear me whinging about the events of my day during my 5 minute walks) 😉 ..... Mmmm, he foiled my cunning plan - because he was late home... very late. The light was failing, I had to go it alone 😳 Left message with mother to tell him where I was going and to bring the dogs on (what seriously could have been) a search and rescue mission..!! 🙈

I ventured to the park - one I wouldn't normally go to (bad area), but I fancied a change and I knew hubby would be along shortly..... or so I thought 😔

Warm up walk done. No husband. First five minutes run. No husband. Ten minutes run. No husband. Calf muscles cramping. Getting dark. Packs of teenage vampires start to emerge from the undergrowth and gather around the park. I tell myself I will NOT be deterred (as I trip over a mole hill then stumble into a hole). Over half way, must run through the cramp, must run past the vampires..... I think of you all there with me, by my side (well, 100 yards ahead of me 😂) and it lifts my spirits. 15 minutes in, cramp gone, vampires now all hanging upside down from climbing frame in children's play area. But STILL no husband.

Then everything seemed to go numb... my legs, my arms, my mind and I seemed to go onto auto-pilot. I was aware of Sarah telling me I had just 2 minutes to go and I thought "bloody hell, I'm REALLY going to do this"..!!

Then, as Sarah congratulated me and gave me permission to slow down to a walk (along with some lame advice about having some water and a piece of fruit 🙄), I saw a figure in the distance... hubby, at last... and then my dog came racing over, as pleased to see me as I was to see her.

As for the husband... well, he got a bollocking for being late and not being there to protect me from the vampires...!!! 😂

But, hey, I did it - sloth pace with the occasional stumble - but I did it... and I feel beyond amazing...!!! 5 weeks ago I was ready to keel over after 60 seconds of running and now I've done 20 bloody minutes.....!!!!!

Without this community, the support, encouragement, advice and inspiration, I would not have the desire or the will to be doing this. You are ALL amazing..!!

Thank you 😘

[Polly2810 Graduate]

Amazing!! Glad it all came together in the end. Made me chuckle re the vampires 🦇

[HeadInTheClouds Graduate in reply to Polly2810]

Thank you Polly2810 , chuffed to have got that one done (and avoided the vampires) 🙈

[cathsykes]

Just Brilliant!!

Keep going

[HeadInTheClouds Graduate in reply to cathsykes]

Thank you cathsykes , looking forward to starting W6 tomorrow 🤗

[DebJogsOn Graduate]

Brilliant! Loved your description of the run. Sounds like there's no stopping you now! Not even Vampires will get in your way.

[HeadInTheClouds Graduate in reply to DebJogsOn]

Haha, well I hope nothing's going to stop me now 😂 On with W6 tomorrow.

[Sadie-runs Graduate]

Ha ha ha! Good work! You are intrepid and not to be defeated. This 20 min run is proper breakthrough territory and you should be dead proud of yourself.

You faced the vampires, maybe now time to try the Zombies, Run app...Bit seriously, do be careful about where you run after dark. Had me worried when you mentioned 'bad area'. Take care!

👏👏😘

[HeadInTheClouds Graduate in reply to Sadie-runs]

Aww, thank you Sadie-runs , I am feeling pretty chuffed (even though my right knee is 'feeling' it today) 🙄

I had a look at the Zombies run app - it looks good.

I will, thank you. Hopefully I'll have my running buddy back within the next couple of weeks. Meanwhile I'll stick to the light or take guard husband with me 😊 xx

[Sadie-runs Graduate in reply to HeadInTheClouds]

My knees "twinged" a bit after the longer runs, so I am now doing some knee strengthening exercises. At work. Much to the amusement of my colleagues. Well, a gal has to fit these things in when she can, right?

I wish I had a run buddie. Although I quite like running in the dark in the morning when it's so quiet and still, I often get spooked!

[HeadInTheClouds Graduate in reply to Sadie-runs]

Thank you, I'll have a go with the knee strengthening exercises (and, having seen them, I'll be doing them at home) 😂

It is a comfort to have someone running with you.

For some reason my body doesn't cope with any form of morning exercise - it never has been able to, and I have tried many times 🙄 But that's fine, my social calendar is never that busy to stop me running in the evening. You meet the vampires as they're going to bed, I meet them as they wake 😂

[Kimchoc08 Graduate]

Well done 👍🏼 I love it when a run all comes together 😊

[HeadInTheClouds Graduate in reply to Kimchoc08]

Thank you Kimchoc08 , I'm so glad this one did ... I had been dreading it 😱

[Slowry12]

What a great post, it actually made me chuckle and brought a tear to my eye, well done you for keeping going, I'm on week 4 so keep posting to inspire me 😂😂

[HeadInTheClouds Graduate in reply to Slowry12]

Thank you Slowry12 😊

I will certainly keep posting (you're the only people who will listen to me) 😂

Good luck with week 4, I hope you're enjoying it 🤗

[aliboo70]

What a great post! 😊you did it!! Congratulations on reaching that milestone! Brilliant! 😆

[HeadInTheClouds Graduate in reply to aliboo70]

Thank you aliboo70 , I'm feeling pretty pleased. Onward to week 6 🤗

[mcgurranhouse Graduate]

Brilliant report - gave me a giggle - and very well done for going it alone!

[HeadInTheClouds Graduate in reply to mcgurranhouse]

Haha, thank you mcgurranhouse . Hopefully I'll have my running buddy back soon, then we can battle the vampires together 😂

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Great run, great post.

Okay, you showed the level five vampires who was boss, so now you can move on through the levels knowing you are untouchable.

Keep running, keep smiling.

[HeadInTheClouds Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thank you IannodaTruffe 😊

Glad to have defeated the level five vampires.... untouchable..?? 🤔 Maybe.... unless level 6 involves giant spiders 😳

[vlmiller1225 Graduate]

Woohoooo!!! You go!!! Wonderful Job! What an interesting week 5 run!

[HeadInTheClouds Graduate in reply to vlmiller1225]

Thank you vlmiller1225 . Certainly was interesting 😂 Let's hope we can begin week 6 with a bit of calm 😊

[Fishypieface Graduate]

Hooray!! Well done you, that's a biggie put back in its box. I work in a secondary school, it's all about confidence with teenage vampires, you need to be all 'gerrrrorffff my manor' with them and front them out.... they'll soon shrivel up. Says the woman who would shrivel up if she jogged past them!! Either that or take to wearing a string of garlic around your neck! Would the dog jog round with you on a lead? Is it a rottweiler?!! Could you ride it in an emergency?!! Keep safe, keep on doing amazingly!

[HeadInTheClouds Graduate in reply to Fishypieface]

Thank you Fishypieface , I'm so glad to have got that one out of the way (a calmer environment would have been better) 🙄

Isn't it funny what goes through our heads when we're presented with things under different circumstances..?? Normally it wouldn't bother me (but 'normally' I'm not a breathless, sweaty, knackered, disheveled wreck) 😳

I've often thought about taking the dog, but she likes to stop and sniff EVERY lamp post, fence, bush, passer-by 🤦🏼‍♀️ She's nearly 12 and, although still very fit, she's getting crankier with age and can be a bit temperamental when she meets other dogs 😔 She's about the size of a border collie and quite skinny - would undoubtedly buckle (at best) if I sat on her 🤔 But a rottie... now there's an idea 💡... that would keep the vampires at bay AND I could ride it home 🤗

Thank you lovely, you too 😊

[Getfitok Graduate]

Brilliant! well done you

[HeadInTheClouds Graduate in reply to Getfitok]

Thank you Getfitok 😊