What d’ya mean “only another 60 seconds”?!?!

[PetrinaB]

Apologies- long post alert!

W9R1

So, there’s this dedicated cycle/walk path about 30 mins drive from home that I’ve been saving for W9. Gorgeously golden and red this time of year thanks to the numerous beeches, no cars (yay!), more or less flat, and practically deserted by the time I got there, although still daylight, which is unusual for me!

End of warmup brings me to a magnificent granite bridge overhead- “an excellent start/finish!” methinks “run 15, turn, aim to get back here on 30. Here we go!”

I really struggle to get to 15 without walking some. “Steady rhythm after 5 mins”? My arse! Seems I’m one whose muscles are slow learners.. Anyway, the return leg feels better. All too soon Sanjiv’s saying “5 more minutes”. Then an age seems to pass. I’m plodding on but no sign of the bridge. “Christ, where is it? I’m running out of time!” Finally it looms in to view.

“COME ON!” I shout to no one in particular. I *really* push my stride out. I am running. Hard. My lungs are bursting. “Gotta get to the bridge in 30!!!”

10 metres before the bridge, Sanjiv says “you’re doing sooo well!”

“I’ve done it!” Says I.

“Only another 60 seconds to go!” replies SK.

“WHAT??? NNNOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! YOU BASTARD!!”

The next sixty seconds were The. Longest. Ever.

But I did it.

30 minutes.

BOOM!

To Old Floss, Tim, and everyone else with common sense: I know, should’ve kept a steady pace. Shouldn’t have obsessed over the distance. The irony is that I dunno how far I ran because the internet here tonight is making like my last minute of running (snail-like). MapMyRide is not loading.

Karma, they call it.

[SaskAlliecat Graduate]

BOOM 💥! You did it! 30 minutes nonstop, whoohoo! It doesn't matter how far you ran! YOU RAN 30 MINUTES NONSTOP 💪👊 😁.

[Richard7 Graduate]

I found a great calendar “month” that said - if you think a minute goes by fast you’ve never done a plank - I think it works here too!

Well done though only 2 to go. Is that as bad as saying only 60 seconds!!

[Hidden]

Love your post and only 2 more runs to go. You can do it.

[PetrinaB Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thank you! The end, like the bridge, is in sight!

[ruralfrance Graduate]

Well done, Petrina, you did it! I know what you mean about the last 60 seconds. Laura has a nasty habit of going out for a coffee during the last minute and forgetting about me running out there in the cold. Somebody should tell her it's just not good enough.

I'm a week behind you. Let us know how you get on with the last bit. Good luck.

[PetrinaB Graduate in reply to ruralfrance]

I will. Good luck to you too!

[Millsie-J Graduate]

Great run, well done soon to be graduate 🏃🏻👏🏼

[Elfe5 Graduate]

Great post PetrinaB, well done for all that determination and seeing it through. 😀

I ran the same run yesterday- although without any burst of speed- just a bit of stride lengthening! We're nearly at that podium - see you there!

[PetrinaB Graduate in reply to Elfe5]

I look forward to it!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Old railway lines in Devon are rarely level...........so did you run uphill for the first hard 15 minutes, then downhill for the easier return leg?

Well done, whatever your distance.

Closing in on that finish line now.

Take it easy.

[PetrinaB Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

I think it was a bit uphill out- rather that than t’other way round!