C25k+ Stepping Stone - and I didn’t fall off!

[RainbowC]

It’s been a real week of busy-need, stress, and exhaustion, so I haven’t been out for a run since last Sunday when I did my 2.5k run because of the heat! Doesn’t that seem a long time ago now?!

I’ve not had the energy to go for a run all week, but managed to force myself out this evening - before going out for a meal for the third time since Wednesday! I really wasn’t in the mood for going out in the cold and damp, but knew I had to do it anyway and it’d be fine once I got going, so I checked that I’d downloaded Stepping Stone frkm the C25k+ podcasts, and set out.

As Laura was talking through the plan in the introduction, I was thinking how impossible it sounded, but decided that if I did as much as I could with the podcast properly, but went at my own bpm as & when I needed to, that would be fine, and it would give me something to work towards. Even the warm up walk was noticeably faster than I’m used to, so I was full of trepidation! Soon though it was time to run, so off I went. I think 150bpm is slightly quicker than my usual step rate, but not by much, so that was manageable. First five minutes down, breathing starting to settle in, doing ok. I felt that I could keep going for another five minutes and see how that was... Next five minutes over, still ok, time to speed up slightly to 155bpm *gulp*

Actually, that wasn’t too bad and really didn’t feel particularly noticeable! Ok, so I can keep going a while longer... Somewhere in the next ten minutes I realised I was actually running ‘comfortably’ - sort of! I mean, it was taking effort, but while it was tiring, there was something about running to the beat that took less effort and concentration to keep going than I normally do. As long as the music was going, my feet would keep going too.

And then it was time for the last five minutes. That extra five bpm suddenly felt like a lot as we went up to 160bpm! For the first time in the run I needed to change my breathing to 3 in, 3 out (instead of my usual 4 in 3 out) and I felt the need to count my breaths to keep me going. 150 breaths and it would all be over! Oh what a long five minutes it was - my legs were so very tired, but I’m stubborn and wasn’t about to give up in the last few minutes having managed everything that came before! On and on, and finally Laura said I was done.

And then it was just a very gentle walk for the cool down, basking in the glow of a run well done! Ever so pleased - I’m hoping to run more regularly this week, and that’s a great start!

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate]

Yeah! I love your post RainbowC😊..

Stepping stones is one of my favourite runs..and one I always went back to after a break..love that feet to the beat feeling, the music...Laura..its just fab!😄xx

[rollyrol Graduate]

Ooo I love the sound of this!! Will have to download it. I'm currently working on making this running thing a habit and have just been listening to week 9 and making sure I just get out there, but this sounds great for when I'm a bit more comfortable with everything. Well done you! Great post.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Great post Rainbow... you are doing wonderfully... as expected

Stepping Stones is different,not my favourite podcast.. those would be Stamina and Speed

But all three are great for the disciplines in our running : )

Well done you!!!

[RainbowC Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

I’m definitely a Long way from being ready to try Stamina again - I’m not sure I’ve ever found that one comfortable! I used to like Speed though, particularly for evenings where time was short.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to RainbowC]

I used them a lot within other runs.. still do...

[Nannalyn53 Graduate]

I felt just like you Rainbow the first time I used the Stepping Stones podcast. I now use it in a loose rotation with Laura’s Stamina and Speed podcasts, interspersed with the odd ‘I’ll just run for about 30 mins’ runs to my music choice. I’m finding this mixture very helpful and after consistently only managing around 3.7 or so kilometres, managed to do 4K which was a big plus. I’m working towards doing 5k in whatever time it takes, and I’ve entered the local Race for Life as a spur to my efforts. I’m sure the podcasts have made a difference.

[RainbowC Graduate in reply to Nannalyn53]

It definitely got me a couple of hundred metres further than usual, so I’m going to try and use it in rotation with some shorter runs and a 30 mins at whatever pace is comfortable, I think. My main focus at the moment is on keeping running - I quite often don’t manage three in a week, and seem to get to a week between runs more often than I’d like, so having a rough plan to aim at helps to keep the self-discipline...