Sgt Major Will Power to the rescue - W5R3

[LoungeLizaard]

All the usual gang were in attendance today, all protesting at my foolhardiness at "wanting" to do a run.

As some of you will know, if you have read/commented my posts (thank you so much!) - I was struck down with probably the worst cold I've had in my 46 yrs. I was just about to do W5R3 but my virus had other ideas. I lost 9 days, being unable to run and just about able to walk upstairs. Last week I decided to redo R1 & R2 - R1 was ok and I posted about on R1 (Wed). I did R2 on Friday (successfully) but it was hard work. I couldn't seem to get enough air.

Sunday we hosted my sons end of season bbq at our house and I was desparately trying to get out to do R3 before we started at 3pm, I was on my feet from 7am to midnight (approximately 2 minutes sitting down in that time). I went to bed with sore feet, knees & back.

Monday morning (today) up at 7am as the inflatable guy was coming back to pick up his kit and the tidy up started. Every step I took I was in pain. The soles of my feet felt bruised and my knees still ached.

I was crest fallen - what was I going to do? I'd already had 2 days off, I couldn't take a 3rd.......

A runner friend of mine told me a few weeks ago "You will get days you just don't want to go, for whatever reason. But what I do, is go and put all my stuff on and get ready to go out, if you still don't want to go after that, then you should probably stay home.

After two hours, aches / pains still in attendance, but no worse, feet dully aching reminding me I'm not 26 anymore - I went and put on my gear, headphones and arm strap.

"what are you doing" the wife says "you are hobbling about like Gollum, you can't be serious?" But serious I was...… kit on, out I went.

New apple workout mix playlist - 2nd song "Florence & the machine - you got the love" time to start running. My feet, who were so eager to go again on R1, were now actively screaming that I was an idiot and who did I think I was??

3rd song (of all things!!!) Sugababes About a girl - Tells me I'm strong and no one has this but me. (Yes this is an apple workout playlist, but I believe them!!)

I'm lost in a haze, just putting one foot in front of the other - Feet have stopped complaining now and have resigned themselves to making me pay later - like some kind of evil genius.

Laura pops up - You are 1/2 way well done, you've just run for 10 minutes.

Then my legs wake up - "What are you doing, just stop you bloody idiot!" This is where the battle began, as then my feet, now with added support from the legs also started not wanting to go any further. I struggled through the next 5 minutes and Laura appears to tell me "just 5 more minutes"

Feet, legs & knees - Not if we have anything to do with it. I am filled with determination not to get this far and let my own body let me down. I'm starting to swerve across the path while Black Eyed Peas tell me they have a feeling... whoooo hoooo. Laura is back - 2 minutes to go...… I can see the point where I started my own personal war.

Chase & Status with Liam Bailey - Blind Faith - I know I can do it, I've done 18 minutes. Lungs are now complaining and somewhere I have 2 stitches...…

Laura - "Well done, you've just run for 20 minutes. Did you think you would ever be running for 20 minutes non stop - you've come so far" Well Laura - I didn't think I could actually do it when I started 25 minutes ago.

I didn't post my R2 as it was hard, and I am sorry for posting this self serving diatribe on here lol, but on one hand I want newbies to week 5 need to know that every run is a personal battle and its not all plain sailing. People will hit a wall. hard week, illness, or just plain "can't be arsed" and all of that is OK, it really is. Its what you do next that counts....

The one over riding factor is its your journey, no one can do it for you. Everyone here will help, "will" you on, have a bit of banter and help guide you through troubled times.

I can honestly say I don't know if I'd have got through the last 2 weeks without the support network on here.

So from me to you - THANK YOU! from the very bottom of my heart. I'll see you at the finish line.

[Hidden]

Brilliant! Well done for getting through it. I loved W5R3 but like you said - we all hit a wall and I think mine was yesterday when I did W7R1. Really struggled & nearly gave up but these forum guys were all shouting in my head willing me on. Good advice from your friend as well - there's something about putting on running gear that really motivates you. I know it's psychological but yesterday I really wasn't feeling it & had to force myself up & out but just putting on my gear immediately made me feel fitter & slimmer (I'm not) well maybe a bit fitter since starting this but def no slimmer! Good luck with the rest of your running & again - well done for getting through it.

[LoungeLizaard Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Witch 🧙‍♀️❤️

[Eiralas Graduate]

Well done! That sounds pretty tough after that awful cold and busy day, but you did it I have similar conversations with Laura too, but she doesn't listen and keeps on encouraging me. Good luck

[LoungeLizaard Graduate in reply to Eiralas]

Thanks Eiralas - it’s almost like she doesn’t care! But I know she does deep down lol

[AnnieW55]

👏 Well done. You've got this.

[LoungeLizaard Graduate in reply to AnnieW55]

Thanks Annie

[Irish-John Graduate]

That's the C25k Spirit right there!

Well done Sir! Well done indeed ☺

[LoungeLizaard Graduate in reply to Irish-John]

Thanks John 👍

[amya86]

I needed to read this today so Thankyou and well done! X

[LoungeLizaard Graduate in reply to amya86]

You got this nailed Amy! GL on next run 🏃‍♂️💪💪💪

[mountaindreamer Graduate]

Well done! 🎉🎉 And thanks for posting.❤️ I tackle the sudden jump to 8mins in W5R2 tomorrow morning, then hope to survive the scary jump to 20mins a couple of days later. Am expecting it to be tough, so may need to re-read your post for inspiration before setting off...

[LoungeLizaard Graduate in reply to mountaindreamer]

Now you’ve run 5 minutes, 8 actually isn’t that bad (almost one more song worth).

Just remember to stay hydrated in the current weather!

Good luck - a lot of people don’t struggle with R3 and surprise themselves. For me it was just bad timing with everything else going on! Lol.

[_SimonT_ Graduate]

Oh LL! Really feel for you! What an epic battle and you won!

You have been so good in getting through your illness going back to re do runs and having to carry on despite days which you should be fully entitled to have a rest after.

Well done and watch out for W6R1. I hear it’s a bugger!

[LoungeLizaard Graduate in reply to _SimonT_]

Cheers! Rest day tomorrow, no running and no cleaning up! Lol (maybe a sneaky Star Wars film!)

[_SimonT_ Graduate in reply to LoungeLizaard]

The more I watched rogue one the more I enjoyed it but without giving away spoilers that is quite serious. Solo is pure Friday night pop corn fun but it still managed to raise my excitement levels. It also leaves loose ends if they want a sequel!

[sallenson Graduate]

Fantastic job tiger!! Grit and what seems like the most bizarre playlist in the history of Western Civilisation came through for you and made u....A WINNER!!

Watch out for W6. It's a biter!!!

[LoungeLizaard Graduate in reply to sallenson]

I’m hearing this a lot about W6 lol. I was hoping the interval would go in my favour in next days.... I will dutifully report back on progress on Wednesday & Friday 💪

[Forestgrump Graduate]

Superb well done!. I’ve just done wk5r3 today and totally related to what you wrote. As in your playlist.....well it’s all to do with what Melts your butter on the run . I personally don’t listen to hip hop but since doing this I listen to bonkers by disee rascal , renegades of funk by rage against the machine and this weird one that samples the mission control communication from the Apollo missions 🤔. I don’t know what it’s called but hearing pre flight Go! ignition Go!, trajectory Go! Ect ect somehow makes my legs go into over drive!.

Some git at work got on my computer and slipped pink floyd comfortably numb on my Spotify run playlist and it almost killed me 😳

[_SimonT_ Graduate in reply to Forestgrump]

Shine on you crazy diamond!

[LoungeLizaard Graduate in reply to Forestgrump]

Ha ha! That’s hilarious re PF! I used to try and plan playlists but now i just use the Apple workout/running.

Like Sallenson, I actually agree about the strangeness, especially of sugababes, I wasn’t expecting it!

On my R1 post someone recommended a new app called “Rock my run” it has every conceivable type of workout / running at various BPMs - going to try it out in W6!

I’ll keep my eyes peeled for your progress as we’re at exactly the same place!! 👍👍🏋️‍♀️

[Rua8 Graduate]

Well done! Some runs are horrendous, and things like injury and illness can really put a crimp in your running schedule. But you did it, woohoo! 🎊

[LoungeLizaard Graduate in reply to Rua8]

Can’t wait for W6 now (not) judging by some of the comments! Thanks Rua

[Rua8 Graduate in reply to LoungeLizaard]

Dont worry, wk 6 is doable, and I was exhilarated by run 3 of wk 6. You can absolutely do it. Just don’t get discouraged by reading what is ahead and thinking you can’t! Positivity is key