Week 6, you can kiss my wobblies ..... because I AM A RUNNER..!!

[HeadInTheClouds]

How kind of the rain to hold off until I was about to step out of the door for my run tonight 🙄..... but NOTHING was going to deter me from seeing the ar*e end of week 6 as I waved it goodbye..!!

I got the first 5 minutes of running under my belt but, although it went quite quickly, it was tough - I couldn't find my pace and I seemed to be thumping the tarmac path. My calf muscles started to sing loudly at me... then my bloody knees joined in with the chorus 😫

Oldfloss was in my head... "Take it slow and steady, kiss the ground lightly with your feet". I concentrated hard and it seemed to help, but I did doubt that I'd make the full 25 minutes.

The rain started to ease, but the wind decided it wanted to play rough and tried to whip my hat off several times. If the hat was going, it'd have to stay gone... there's no way I was chasing it 😕

I came out of a side street and on to the main road. The street lighting was casting 2 shadows of me against a hedge... thought someone was running up behind me... I nearly pooped myself..!! Thank goodness tonight wasn't the night I'd chosen to try the Zombie run 😱🙈💩

Sarah suddenly appeared in my ears, telling me I was half way through my run. OK, halfway, same again and it'll all be over. I tried to work out where those last 12 ish minutes would take me - hopefully timing it so I'd be close to home and my knees wouldn't get too scuffed up by the homeward crawl.

Then Green Day burst into my ears..... "I'm still breathing"..... VERY appropriate and undoubtedly THE best Green Day track ever. I'd moshed for over 2 hours to Green Day in Amsterdam in January (albeit Heineken fuelled), so if anyone was going to get me through the second half of this run it was going to be Billie Joe Armstrong..!!

Then something happened....

My pace changed, my calf muscles relaxed, my knees stopped hurting and my breathing calmed down... I was running instead of struggling... it felt AMAZING..!! I was singing (it's more than I can do to run and breath at the same time) ... and I was smiling instead of dribbling 🤤

So I ran, sang and grinned myself through the second half of my run and, when Sarah told me I could stop, I didn't want to..!! 😂

The cool down walk even felt good... no rubber legs or clown feet 🤗

I felt absolutely elated... and then Sarah told me that I'm officially a RUNNER..!! OMG, I actually felt quite emotional 😭 ... me... a bloody runner...!!! 😱

So, week 6, you sneaky thing... you give us 2 hellish runs and then you turn us into runners..!! I take back everything I said about you 😘

And to my lovely fellow runners who have inspired and encouraged me all the way... thank you for making me a runner 😘😘

I AM A RUNNER, and I have celebrated this evening with lots of brandy and a box of Maltesers 😝

Happy running everyone... and I hope those battling with week 6 can stick it out and power on through. YOU CAN DO IT..... I bloody did...!!!

Bring on week 7 🤗

[whistler22 Graduate]

ha ha fantastic...but hey, maltesers???????, i chose Michael Johnston as my coach and i can still hear him saying youre now a runner, awesome. Week 6 really is a turning point and i found as i went into weeks 7, 8 and 9 i was telling myself more and more i can do this. Week 9 is 3x 30 min runs, i only did 1, 2nd was 36 mins and 3rd 33 mins.

Great post, i hope those not yet at week 6 read and are inspired to continue........but really....maltesers

[HeadInTheClouds Graduate in reply to whistler22]

Haha, yep... I don't 'Malteser' often, but when I do..... 😂

I had REALLY struggled with W6R1&2 but tonight it just seemed to click.

If I'm feeling this great now, I fear I may explode when I graduate 🙄

I usually head into a new week with trepidation, but I'm so looking forward to the next 3 weeks.

Well done you for smashing the programme..!!

Gather you don't want to share my Maltesers then..?? 😂

[whistler22 Graduate in reply to HeadInTheClouds]

well tonight im celebrating with a beer, maltesers....dont mind if i do

[HeadInTheClouds Graduate in reply to whistler22]

Your graduation TODAY...!!!!

Bloody well done - you deserve that beer... Maltesers on their way 😊

[whistler22 Graduate in reply to HeadInTheClouds]

ha lol

[whistler22 Graduate in reply to HeadInTheClouds]

the trepidation thing is really odd, it can make you nervous but i think i learnt to ignore it, bloody mindedness and a determination to finish drove me on.

reading here how others finished the programme was so helpful

[HeadInTheClouds Graduate in reply to whistler22]

I can do bloody mindedness 😂

That's so true, this community is amazing. Without it I think I would have given up about 2 weeks ago when my running buddy chose to continue the programme on a treadmill. That's not for me I'm afraid.

[Christene Graduate]

Well done, seriously, well done. You are an inspiration to us all, and your posts are quite humorous too...

Its weird how the lights can play tricks on us, but you must be careful when out running at night.

I hope I can drop into that nice rhythm like you did, it makes it so much easier, not so much a Greenday fan though, its a coin toss between Meghan Trainor and Taylor Swift ...

Have already got my post Week 6 celebrations lined up ... GnT and a small bar of fruit and nut, well, it would be wouldn't it.

Great run, great write up. Have a rest ... week 7 beckons you ... and I'm so jealous.

[HeadInTheClouds Graduate in reply to Christene]

Thank you lovely 😊

I will, I do try to be vigilant and choose my route carefully.

You are going to ACE R3, no problem.

I have an eclectic taste in music - I love Meghan and Taylor ('shake it off' is one of my favourite EVER songs). Give me some rhythm and I'm on it 🤗

Fruit and nut... love it..!! 😂😂 But only a small bar..?? 🙄

Thank you, but don't be jealous - you'll be here with me soon 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate]

Yes...You certainly are a runner HeadInTheClouds...you were right in the zone. Feels fantastic doesn't it😎...

Plain sailing now...nice steady running..some bits to push through, some bits amazing... Remember to start slowly while your body takes on the extra oxygen you need for the exertion, this takes about 8 to 10 mins, and then you will feel more relaxed.

Onwards to Week 7😊x

[HeadInTheClouds Graduate in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

Thank you Bluebirdrunner , it did feel pretty fantastic 😊

Thank you for the advice, I'll try not to get too carried away. It's good to know it takes 8-10 minutes to settle in, and that's what I have to persevere with.

Can't wait to get stuck into week 7 🤗

[Wantorun2013 Graduate]

Great post well done you for being a 🏃‍♀️ congratulations 👏👏🏃‍♀️👍

[HeadInTheClouds Graduate in reply to Wantorun2013]

Thank you. I'm so looking forward to week 7 😊

[Sadie-runs Graduate]

Beautiful! What an amazing run! Love it when that happens. I have been known to sing like a mad fool when I have had one of those perfect runs. Lucky Star by Madonna is my fave pant, pant, sing tune.

Good on you for getting through those sneaky b*st*rd first two runs of week 6. I had quite forgotten the elation of the third run. You got grit, gurrrrrl, be proud.

You are a bloody runner and don't ever forget it! Enjoy week 7 (I know I did).

Sadie x

[HeadInTheClouds Graduate in reply to Sadie-runs]

Thank you lovely Sadie-runs 🤗

Madonna..!! I don't have any Madge on my playlist... I'm on it right away - the old (classic) tracks are perfect for a good sing and pant to 😊

Such a great feeling isn't it..?? The emotions seemed to sneak up and bite me on the ar*e 😳 Wasn't expecting to feel that good.

Woohoo, week 7... excited..!!

Happy running lovely 😊 x

[Sadie-runs Graduate in reply to HeadInTheClouds]

I have four words to say to you, HITC. Get Into The Groove.

[HeadInTheClouds Graduate in reply to Sadie-runs]

OK, then I could be 'quicker than a ray of light' 😉

[Sadie-runs Graduate in reply to HeadInTheClouds]

Oh that's a good 'un too! Prince also gets me going, for some reason.

[HeadInTheClouds Graduate in reply to Sadie-runs]

Ooh, ooh, good call..!! Off to find some Prince as well...

[Sadie-runs Graduate in reply to HeadInTheClouds]

The song, My Name is Prince, has a great running beat and it makes me guffaw out loud when I am running!

[HeadInTheClouds Graduate in reply to Sadie-runs]

Haha, yep, that gets the thumbs up... playlist tinkering time 😉 Thank you for the ideas 😊

[Sadie-runs Graduate in reply to HeadInTheClouds]

Very welcome. 😀

[GemmaRoberts]

That's awesome! Well done! You have given me an extra boost for my run today!

I've wondered about the zombie run app, although I live out in the countryside and it's foggy most of the time at the moment, I think it might be a little too scary for me! I'd be interested to hear how you get on!

I have faith that I too will pass the dribbling stage on my run today! Thanks for sharing your progress....and a massive well done again!!!

[HeadInTheClouds Graduate in reply to GemmaRoberts]

Thank you GemmaRoberts , I hope you had a great run today and managed not to dribble (too much) 😆

I'll try the Zombie app one day... in the daylight, with my dog for protection 😱

Happy running 😊

[Sadie-runs Graduate in reply to HeadInTheClouds]

It's not that scary! It's not that scary! Trust me, I'm a complete wuss.

[HeadInTheClouds Graduate in reply to Sadie-runs]

You'll have to come and hold my hand when I do the first run 😂

[Sadie-runs Graduate in reply to HeadInTheClouds]

As long as you don't mind a sweaty mitt, then sure!

[healthyjoel]

The double shadow. Lol. Congratulations.

[HeadInTheClouds Graduate in reply to healthyjoel]

Yeah..... it's funny NOW 😂

Thank you 😊

[siobhp Graduate]

Congratulations! Sounds like a brilliant run. I had that 'getting into the running zone' thing happen to me for the first time in week 7, it's an amazing feeling isn't it? Enjoy week 7, I loved it!

[HeadInTheClouds Graduate in reply to siobhp]

Thank you siobhp , I was truly shocked at how great it felt.

Really looking forward to W7R1 tomorrow 😊

[Hidden]

Im doing my W6R3 tonight about 6pm.....save me some of those bloody Maltesers*

*Other confectionery is available, but not in malty balls of chocolate!

[HeadInTheClouds Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Good luck with the run this evening..!!

Malty balls of chocolate duly saved for you 😂

[Hidden in reply to HeadInTheClouds]

Malty balls of chocolate....they are starting to side like something i shouldnt be putting in my mouth now!

[HeadInTheClouds Graduate in reply to Hidden]

😂😂

[Kimchoc08 Graduate]

Well done to you 😊 I bet you're mighty glad that Week 6 is over!! Bring on Week 7 😊😊

[HeadInTheClouds Graduate in reply to Kimchoc08]

Thank you Kimchoc08 🤗

Too bloody right, it was a 🐷

Woohoo, week 7 starts tomorrow 😊😊

[Whatsapp Graduate]

Well done to you. W6R3 was my favourite run. And the good news is its all long runs from now on. You've got this, you runner you!

[HeadInTheClouds Graduate in reply to Whatsapp]

Thank you Whatsapp , it's definitely been my favourite so far.

Looking forward to the long runs over the next few weeks 😊

[Cornet-Carolyn Graduate]

That's brilliant and a fantastic post. Bring on week 7, you are a runner👏

[HeadInTheClouds Graduate in reply to Cornet-Carolyn]

Thank you Cornet-Carolyn 😊

For once, I won't be starting a new week with dread 🤗