W9R2 - done, and new route!

Morning my running friends!

So the first chapter of my running journey is nearly complete. I have just one run left. So to celebrate, I decided to push the boat out, get a bit of excitement into my life, and run a different route. Yes! So...

Instead of turning LEFT along the canal towpath towards Marple, I turned RIGHT towards Higher Poynton. I know I know, astounding isn't it?

I'm left wondering why the heck I didn't do this 8 weeks ago. The path is much better, no muddy puddles, less chance of landing awkwardly and messing up my knee. But no point crying over spilt knees!

The new route has one little drawback, which is that there is a rather steep humped-back bridge, which I had to be rather careful on, as my ankles aren't that used to hill running yet.

So all in all a good run. I had no problem pacing myself, even managed to go a bit faster for the final 60 seconds.

Run 3? You WILL be mine

[Neverrunbefore64 Graduate]

Well done you, graduation in sight.

[Hidden in reply to Neverrunbefore64]

I know, I can hardly believe it!! I'm really excited for Sunday. I never ever thought I'd be excited about running. What has happened to me?

[Hidden]

Brilliant stuff well done you including a hump back bridge, now it’s getting serious. It’s great to see you so close, that bling is well earned!

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Jan Get me, a hill runner now lol

And thank you for all your support and kind words along the way, it's very much appreciated x

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

You did the work Neil, from the very first day you committed. That I think impressed not only me but lots of your other C25K buddies... very well done you

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate]

Fantastic Hidden ...it’s funny when you discover a new route that you should’ve been doing yonks ago...but you have it now so that will make your graduation run fabulous & your graduation grin even bigger...there will be a huge glow over the uk when you finish so we will all know...clink clink fizz for me when you collect that badge!!

[Hidden in reply to Mummycav]

Haha! I'll do my very best to graduate on Sunday, so you're not waiting too long 🍾 Of course you could just have a drink to celebrate each run I've done, and maybe each run you've done 😂

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Lol...oooo, ok then!!!! 🙃

[lardofale Graduate]

Great work fella, almost there. Embrace hills! They are your friends, well the sort of friend who brings 3 cans of smart price budget lager to a wine tasting but friends nevertheless!

Good luck for run 3, bling awaits you!

[Hidden in reply to lardofale]

lardofale , that's hillarious! I now have this mental picture of a hill turning up to a wine tasting with 4 cans of Kestrel in a thin carrier bag lol I love hills when walking, it's an odd thing. When running though, that little bridge was a proper stinker!

[misswobble Graduate]

Well done 🙂 a new route heightens all your senses and is really good for giving you a bit of extra energy. If the Slope is acute then walk up it. You don’t want a crocked ankle at this important stage

[Hidden in reply to misswobble]

Thanks misswobble , yes I certainly enjoyed varying the route this morning, and I promise to be ver careful with it next time. Don't really want W9R3 to be the one where I need an ambulance to get home!

[misswobble Graduate]

Yep., don’t blow it now. Slowly slowly gets the job done ✅

[Hidden in reply to misswobble]

Slow and steady... I know!!

[Shelby1973 Graduate]

Another one under your belt 😀 I’ll be cheering u along on Sunday x

[Hidden in reply to Shelby1973]

Thanks Shelby! How close are you now?

[Shelby1973 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

I’ve run w9 1 today so run 2 Sunday then final run on wed . I missed a run due to been away and we hired bikes for 4 hires so gave my run a miss that day so all out of sync . But the end is in sight x

[misswobble Graduate]

Nag nag nag 😁

[Virginia60 Graduate]

Well done and good luck for Sunday. I am sure you will smash it! xx

[Hidden in reply to Virginia60]

Thanks Virginia, it's great to be encouraged by so many people

[Virginia60 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thats what this fantastic forum is for xx

[ChrisAllen1 Graduate]

Just the one to go....

[Hidden in reply to ChrisAllen1]

Scary thought actually

[Hidden]

You’re smashing it Neil 🏃💨 (that’s you running fast, nothing else!)!! Haha glad you’ve found a better route. Check you out, with only one run to go you not only complete it, you step up the pace at the end and survived a bridge! You are an inspiration my man 😊

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Hidden , I've certainly not been called an inspiration before concerning anything to do with sport or fitness! That means a lot.

[Richard7 Graduate]

Well done Neil. You foxed the Gremlins by going the other way too!! Roll on Sunday.

[Hidden in reply to Richard7]

I certainly did! I'm just hoping they don't notice my new route until after Sunday!

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate]

Lovely Neil...great plan, a new route. Who knew Higher Poynton was the better path😄..?

Look forward to hearing all about your graduation run on Sunday... squeek!

Go Neil.. go Neil 😊x

[Hidden in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

Actually thinking about it, I knew that. I'm just so used to walking the other way I never considered running in that direction. You can actually get to Lyme Park from the canal I believe, which should be handy for the Parkrun there, which I am considering trying when I'm a bit more experienced at this whole running lark.

[Sadeskin Graduate]

Well done Neil! Also on a new route, how interesting. All the best for your last run and for graduation, I look forward to reading all about it!

[Hidden in reply to Sadeskin]

Thank you Sadeskin . It's not that interesting really, but it does help to mix it up a bit I think. Your graduation run is tomorrow, isn't it? All the best, you'll smash it!

[Sadeskin Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Neil. It’ll have to be in the morning for me tomorrow and I’m not so great at that time of day. It’ll go one way or the other!! Ah well I’m a bit odd and find a change of route quite interesting! Esp with you wishing you’d changed it earlier. I’m thinking the same thing actually with my route! You’re nearly there ....

[Sandyscroll]

Haha! Sounds like a great run! New adventures keep it interesting too. Due to a lack of other options I added hills in at the start of week 6. I had to be willing to accept that my times would be a lot slower, but it's been absolutely, totally worth it! You can do this, even with a humped-back bridge to conquer! 👏👏👏

[Hidden in reply to Sandyscroll]

Thanks Sandyscroll , to be fair it's not a massive bridge, just a little one over the canal arm to a canal boat club, but it's enough to interrupt one's rhythm, and when I first approached it running it felt a bit like Everest. Silly, I know

[Sadie-runs Graduate]

Go you, Neil, and your anarchic ways! A new route hey? Very Clever. As long as there is no troll under that humped-back bridge, you should be okay.

Well done on another great run. Happy to hear that your pacing is good, too. Nice work. 😀

Just one run left - how exciting is that?! Run 3 will be a breeze. Enjoy it - cannot wait for your graduation celebrations!

Sadie-runs x

[Hidden in reply to Sadie-runs]

Oh yes, I'm such a rebel, running the wrong way!! 😂 The pacing is certainly better. I'm way slower than I was a couple of weeks ago, but there's no point completing runs and putting yourself out of action for days.

My graduation celebration - well let's just wait until I actually graduate, though I do believe Mummycav has some bubbly on ice, that's if she hasn't finished it off

Thanks for all your support over the weeks, you're a gem!

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Love it Hidden ...I’m tempted to drink it but no, I’m saving it for you x

[Elfe5 Graduate]

Fantastic- podium being polished ready for you. 😁

[Hidden in reply to Elfe5]

Thanks Elfe5 , hope you put a health-and-safety slippery floor sign up and some cones Though knowing me, I'd probably trip over them!!

[HeleneCorsa Graduate]

Brilliant! You're just a breath away from the podium (i'm standing on it right now, woohoo!). Glad you have found a good alternative path. Surely you can always just walk the bridge to avoid upsetting your knee?

It's so pleasing to find a route you enjoy.

[Hidden in reply to HeleneCorsa]

Thank you, and congratulations yourself, I just spotted you'd graduated. How do you feel?

And regarding the bridge. Yes, I _could_ technically walk it. In fact, I probably _should_ walk it, it's only about 20 yards after all. But... a run is a run, and I'm a little bit too OCD for that! I promise I'll behave after graduation Maybe...

[HeleneCorsa Graduate in reply to Hidden]

I know exactly what you mean! That's why I went over the 30 mins - I was so cross at having to pause to pass through crowds and cross roads at the beginning, and that's why I just kept on going around the Colosseum once I arrived, as I knew I wouldn't have to stop there. I think I annoyed a lot of tourists who were trying to photograph it with the amazing almost full moon. I bet Instagram today is full of photos of the Colosseum with a shadowy ninja figure streaking past.

I feel fabulous today, physically great and really euphoric, if also paradoxically a bit sad that C25k is over. We talk a lot about how well crafted the programme is in terms of developing fitness, but it is also psychologically extremely effective. Still, hopefully this forum will continue to be a great source of motivation and wisdom!

Looking forward to hearimg all about your run on Sunday! Bet you can't wait ☺

[Debbie698]

Yes Neil it will be yours - will be ready for you on the podium - shiny place next to me waiting for you🤣🤣

[Hidden in reply to Debbie698]

Thanks Debbie698 , it's all getting rather exciting now, isn't it? How's the view from up there?

[DebJogsOn Graduate]

One more run! Yay! Can't wait to see you graduate Neil!

[Hidden in reply to DebJogsOn]

Thank you! So - are me and thee going to be graduating on the same day then? I was planning a Sunday morning run.

[DebJogsOn Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Me too! 😊! Feels right to be graduating 'together'. See you on the podium 😉

[Hidden in reply to DebJogsOn]

See you there. Can't wait!!!

[Debbie698]

Really good - but putting myself under pressure to go further but not sure that I want to or need to!

[Hidden in reply to Debbie698]

Well I understand completely where you're coming from. I'm only at about 4K in 30 minutes, though I reckon if I wasn't being deliberately slow to save my knee I could probably do 4.5. But you don't need to put you self under any pressure. I think if you feel pressure to run, you might eventually just give up. I reckon it needs to be enjoyable, and something you can sustain. You take care now, right? Don't push yourself too hard and spoil the fun!

[Debbie698 in reply to Hidden]

Good advice-think we are just brought up in life to improve improve improve?! I am enjoying at the moment doing couch to 5k - it's for me and just for me!

[Fiona_B Graduate]

Well done Neil

[Hidden in reply to Fiona_B]

Thanks Fiona, I'm chuffed, but rather sore today...