W8R3 in the bag, but still finding my feet.

[Alanist]

The last 2 runs in week 8 were absolutely the best I've had. So just 1 more to go and then was on to week 9. This morning's w8r3 was not quite up there with the previous 2 runs, with several "I wonder ifs?" Running through my mind.

Were the first 2 runs better as I had changed to an evening run for these. Was it that I was better hydrated in the evenings? Was it just that my body hadn't woken up enough this morning?

I'll be honest the 1st 5 minutes were an absolute disaster, with me almost talking myself into stopping, having an extra rest day and attacking it again tomorrow evening, I just couldn't settle and the legs felt heavy and clumsey. It was then that all the wonderful advise on this forum flowed into my head.

Firstly SLOW DOWN, which I did to probably the slowest I'd ever run since starting this.

Next was something I read yesterday which said "If you're physically exhausted STOP. If you are in pain, STOP. Otherwise keep going you have no excuses. So thats exactly what i did and even managed to get to the end only about 20 mtrs short of where I finished on Friday night.

All in all, I'm one happy bunny and looking forward to week 9.

[Tortoiseintrainers Graduate]

Well done, you did it!

We must have been running at the same time and we are at the same stage. Bad runs seem to pop up when you least expect them but I agree with you, some of us run better in the morning and others in evening ( larks and owls!). Heat must also be a big factor. Hope you can now enjoy a well earned Enjoy restful Sunday.

[Alanist Graduate in reply to Tortoiseintrainers]

Thank you, I hope it's all going well with you and we storm through week 9.

I don't think it helped that the grass was so Dewey this morning and after I'd run for about 1 minute my trainers and socks were soaked.

As I rule I had gotten used to the early mornings and found them easier. Up until week 7 that was, then all 3 runs were a struggle. Then I went back to trying evenings last week and absolutely loved them. Think I'll just continue mixing them up for a while and see how I get on.