So a snafu with the forum attributed my post to DeeRunning - repost here under my name...
Oh my. I’m a runner!
This is the first "long" run I haven’t dreaded. Up until now it has always been "I’m mad, I’m never going to do this". Today was "I know I can do this, I just need to start slower".
First phase of the run rather slow and I avoided my usual failure to get my breath. I started with breath much more like the final run of a day on previous weeks.
I had a random playlist of 60s music going and never knew what was coming up next or where I was through the run. This was a better way to run for me.
Halfway came sooner than expected and I had to turn and run into the sun. Reaction lenses to the rescue! I knew at halfway that I would have no trouble reaching the end today. I kept going at a slightly faster pace than the start - I slowly overtook some pedestrians today, so perhaps I’m not as slow as I think!
Final 5 minutes and all was well. Final minute and I took up the suggestion of "sprinting". Usain Bolt wouldn’t recognise my version of that but it was much, much faster than I have been running and it felt really good. No heavy legs, no struggle for breath.
Massive high on reaching the end. The warm down was more of a float on a cloud than walking!
This week I have run in a long sleeve light top then warm leggings and a warm top now short sleeve light top in the sun. I now own too much man made fibres...
I did not believe that if could get this far thisnfast. I have gone from really hating the thought of exercise to really enjoying the reality of it. I have had a massive confidence boost doing this and I fear I will turn into an evangelistic running bore at this rate!
Whatever run you are on next, I hope it goes really well for you. Those about to do W6R3, you can do this at your pace. Enjoy it x
Written by
Jay66UK
Graduate
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And it's still awesome read second time around. You have every right to feel so proud. Great job, looking forward to reading about your final weeks. I have so much still to look forward to! Really loving this programme 😀
Hi Jay66UK I knew this was yours, congratulations Runner!
1 likeReply
Rodd
Rodd
an hour ago
Wow! Sounds like you really had it sussed this time. I am about to do my week 7 run 1 this evening with my daughter. When she is here we run together , when she goes home she is always about 1 minute a mile faster than me running on her own, so she spurs me on a bit when we run together. I’m a bit more laid back ( lazy) on my own.
When I did my week6run 3, I was lapped by a homeless guy who just randomly got up and joined in and passed me twice as I did my laps of the local park. Each lap is about 0.2 miles so I was a bit put out but carried in plodding. I was hoping to think “Yay!! I can now run for 25 minutes!” But I’m still thinking “oh hell!! 25 minutes!”
But reading your post I’m going to try your approach of slower for the first bit , then faster, then sprint at the end. I’ll let you know how I go today. But different too that we are running this evening as I usually get out of bed and go first thing so I have all day to get my bright red face and sweating back to normal.
My daughter always just seems to be a bit pink for a while and that’s it. On Wednesday she did circuits ( for fun) with the Army guys she works with and THEN worked the rest of her day, drove 50 miles to my house and THEN did her first 25 min run!!! Admittedly she was struggling to walk or move yesterday but she still did it and in a better time than me. She did say that she did it then as she knew she wouldn’t be able to the next day 🤣. But as I am twice her age I am trying not to compare too much and just enjoy running WITH her.
And as I say, she spurs me on to a bit more effort so it’s all good.
1 likeReply
Jay66UK
Jay66UKRodd
32 minutes ago
You definitely can do this. And well done for getting a homeless person to exercise! Good luck - remember to post how it went (ideally in your own name, unlike me today!!)
Well done!!! What an amazing feeling right? I ran faster in the last minute too and great to know I could without collapsing! Here we go into week 7...👊🏼x
Well done Jay66UK! Sounds like it was a breeze! Congratulations! I do know what you mean about becoming a running bore, but I am sure that you could not be. II do hope that people are really happy about your success. I have noticed that the topics of my conversations now have a new running element. All the best for week 7!
Congratulations you runner!!! What a beautiful day to do it too. Really glad to read how much you’re enjoying it...your enthusiasm is infectious. After lots of family things this morning, it’s got a bit hot for me. Run 3 of week 6 tomorrow. Have a great sunny bank holiday weekend! 👍👍👍
And yet once you get going you know you will! I really loved this run. It didn’t love me, though - lower back pain set in a few hours after and it’s made me realise how unfit I still am. Enjoy your next one.
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W6R3!!!! 🎉🤓🏃♂️
W6R3 complete!!! 🙌 
W6R3 - blinky blimey!
W6R3 interrupted by stitch!
Wow! 
