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