Blessing and Cussing!

[Irish-John]

W2/D2

The blessing is that I am able to do C210K from scratch again. It also being able to actually run it stress-free I've done this before so no real surprises and no unreal expectations good or bad

And, this may be helpful to newbies, one of my biggest regrets last time was I graduated too quickly.

There were some runs I barely made it - but having made it I ticked off the box. I put so much pressure on myself to graduate anything like 'on time' I rushed through it all, should have taken my time and repeated any 'completed' segments I did not feel quite happy with.

Because what we are really doing is laying a foundation - 'excel' comes later : ) I realised within a few weeks of doing the 5K graduation that I was not where I could have been to tackle the ten. So - this time it should be a smooth transition from five to ten Forget 'quick' transition

This is actually reviving my ambition to be able to do a full marathon in two years LOL :

The cussing was A) flipping irresponsible dog owners with extendable leashes should be flogged repeatedly every Sunday with said leashes. B) Idiot in car who was texting and did not halt while I was on our version of a Zebra Crossing, and C) When I had to stop for this days run LOL.

And one query that completely escaped me last time - after the 'walk' segment after the last run THEN the five minute 'cool down' walk begins. I did the whole seven minutes as a cool down walk last time so again doing the programme from scratch is an interesting experience : )

But - I do miss racking up the miles and being able to run the Compound route and even the BIG HILLS route. On the other hand, it will be very interesting to see how they go when I do get back to that level : )

Happy running everyone - I had a BLAST out there this morning

[Lorna9339]

I love the image of the dog walkers being flogged with their leashes every Sunday lol! 🤣🤣🤣

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to Lorna9339]

In my more intemperate days it would have been slow strangulation LOL 😄

[Richard7 Graduate]

Good to see that you are back out there. Not sure I would go that far with the leashes... Maybe wrap it around their legs a few times!! I have one for my dog but rarely use it .. I also have a horse training lead that I use with my dog for the very reason that I find the extending leashes a menace.

Otherwise really interesting to get a different perspective on things that we have looked at before.

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to Richard7]

I worked on a horse ranch for a year, at least horses don't leap at you when you run past - kick or rear at you but mostly then it's your preventable fault

It really is interesting doing the programme again, and that urge to run "faster' is still hard to contain! LOL 😂

[Richard7 Graduate in reply to Irish-John]

I think you need to go and have a word with OldFloss she will keep you on the straight and narrow... Slow and steady Irish John ... Slow and Steady 😉

[McFitty Graduate]

First time round, we were so desperate to get our shiny badges though 😉

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to McFitty]

Weren't we just! 😂😂😂

[rolysmate Graduate]

Building Strength John, well done

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to rolysmate]

So far so good roll

[rolysmate Graduate in reply to Irish-John]

slowly slowly catchee monkey

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to rolysmate]

I did once - catch a monkey. There was a band of them crapping all over the yard and clothes line where I lived once, AND they would throw poo at us.

One of them overreached one afternoon and fell down in front of me - I caught it quickly. Maybe not catching it slowly was my error..

Those wee baskets bite and scratch like you cannot believe! The monkeys were allowed the yard after that... and monkey poo washed off better than blood and monkey spit...

[Hidden]

Great to see you back again and I love the idea of a smooth transition, that seems so much more sensible than 'lumpy' running. Good luck with your new smooth running

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thank you JCR 😊

[ancientrunner Graduate]

Wise words!!

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to ancientrunner]

Thank you AR, learned it all from those who came before me and happy I can pass it on

[Fishypieface Graduate]

Very true, especially the bit about rushing it and laying the foundations. I wish I'd 'double done' some parts. Human nature though, we can't believe that we are actually doing it and just want to get better and better right now!

Most dog walkers are very polite but today I seemed to have a fair few who made no effort to allow me to share the pavement with them, they wanted it all!! I ended up in the road or in the mud! Grrrr.

Glad it's going well for you and that you are enjoying your running fix!!

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to Fishypieface]

Dog walkers are usually civil and responsible. It's the horrible swine owners who think they and their dog owe no manners to anyone else that give me the pip... : (

[RunaroundSue]

Ha, I knew it wouldn't be long until you posted about dogs! I have been lucky not to meet any problem ones on my runs.

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to RunaroundSue]

Aaargh! Irresponsible dog owners, bane of my mundane life! 😂😂😂