So after all your lovely advice and thoughts, my plan following a week of no exercise or running at all was to try the very last run I did do, wk8r3. If I couldn’t manage it I would just keep repeating until I did it! Ok so that was the determination bit sorted. I put my running gear out ready for a 6.30 start this morning, when I woke I looked at it and promptly rolled over and went back to sleep! At 7.30, hubby who had already been out and tended to the cows and sheep brought me a cup of tea, picked up my running shoes and put them neatly in the duvet next to me. There me and my shoes lay drinking tea. Eventually we decided to get up. As I dressed I was facing every gremlin telling myself every joint and every muscle felt stiffer than usual. I tucked my glasses and a digestive biscuit (for Dolly the cow) in my running belt and turned Sarah on. As I did the 5 minute warm up I have no idea why but I ate half the digestive biscuit. That first 5 minutes of running was like running through treacle. The sole of my foot ached, a twinge in my groin but I managed to tell myself to keep going. Then that hill! I slowed my pace slower than ever before I realised the only way to get through this was to be slower than slow. I had that conversation in my head that if I didn’t get all the way up I would back stitch (is that what the professionals call it) until I got to the top. When I reached the top the sound of music was playing and I threw my arms up, I honestly didn’t believe I’d make the summit. (Over exaggeration) . Now the down hill ..nice..I’m ok I’m listening to desert island disc and actually managed to listen and enjoy the programme. Before I knew it 28 minutes was up, I did it, I actually did it. Walking back to the farm I stopped and gave Dolly the other half of the digestive biscuit, she certainly questioned where the other half was. So I’ve learnt a new lesson, don’t convince yourself youcan’t do it because you have been away from running longer than you would have liked, life happens just slow down your pace even more. The second lesson was don’t eat like you are still running when you are not running! I’ve actually put on half a stone in the past fortnight, yes it’s that easy for me to gain weight. I’m a stress eater and I felt it, an extra tyre around my tummy while you run is not good. So I’m back on my diet and now I’ve repeated my last run of week 8, I might just have a go at wk9r1 in a couple of days..I can’t quite believe I’m saying week 9 here I come
Back Home and Running : So after all your lovely... - Couch to 5K
Back Home and Running
Yay! Well done you. The tiny jump for week 9 is nothing for a hill runner like you!
Welcome back 
Well done on getting back into it, and you're so close now! Good luck with week 9!
Yay I’m so happy you managed to do it! I’m off for W5R2 shortly! All on the flat though for me today 
Brilliant news !! You will smash week9 !
It’s getting so exciting, the most least sporty person getting closer to graduation
Excuse me - I’M the most unsporty person ever!!
So thrilled you made it- very well done. Why do we always doubt ourselves?
Anyway will see you on that podium very soon Hun xx
I am afraid you are both mistaken. I am the least sporty person ever. And i only got there with your support Jullaly ! With you hill expertise W9 will be a doddle...give Dolly a pat from me next time.
😂😂😂
I can't wait to tell Dolly of her new fan club. We unsporties will show exactly what we can do
Nooo!! Thats my title!
We need a new unsporty podium! we can all fight for it lol
Knew you could do it!!! Very well done!!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 X
Thank you as always, can’t believe I’m getting there albeit the scenic route!
Looks beautiful where you run but tough!!
It’s those darn hills, but where there is an up there is always a down
Looking forward to your graduation 🍾 champagne 🥂!! x
Well done!
Really well done!
Thank you and it’s all down to you lot, there have been times where in a past life I would have given up
This forum is amazing isn't it? As is this programme - it teaches us a lot more than just how to run
Thanks pianoteacher I couldn’t agree more I have learnt more about me than ever before
Welcome home OLR well done you and your hubby both - a man with intuition, hang on to him and Dolly what a discerning cow! Digestives mmm although they do import Hobnobs over here now, am quite partial. Yum yum. Week 9 beckons chickie, will be a double celebration, graduation and your birthday, 🎂 you surely could do with a party. XX
So pleased to read this 🤗 love the thought of you and your shoes having a cuppa in bed before heading out xx
Good for you! It’s often the thought that’s harder than the deed! See you here next week when you graduate!
That’s amazing! Well done! I’m not surprised you rolled over at 6.30! You are firmly back on track now. Good luck for week 9 😀
Well done you can do it - We old farm birds are tough. 🐔
😊 I absolutely knew you’d do it! So fantastic! Graduation week for you! ❤️🎓
Well done you! So nearly there. Glad you got out...I left until 9, and nearly baked! 👍👍👏
But you did it, very well done, I will catch you up soon x
Oldladyruns is back!! Well done, so close to that podium now.
Well done you! You did it! Hope week 9 goes well!
Yayy-y-y!! Slayed it!
Blinking proud of you, your determination and attitude! 😊
What a lovely motivating ang inspiring post - makes me realise it "not just me" that struggles with self doubt and stress eating.
Well done! Hope you can relax and enjoy the rest of the weekend x x
Thats me; I have all sorts of battles going on inside my head, truth be known, we probably all do.
Woohoo! Very well done! 😀
Extra salutations for flattening those gremlins! - I know how hard it is to avoid those doubts. 😄
Those gremlins have been right little monkeys but I will beat them to the graduation podium
Indeed you will. I have gradually realised that running gremlins are to be ignored & rapidly muffled at all times. 😃
I thought of you and Dolly last week when I met another surprising cow in the Scottish Highlands - she was marching along a beach (!!) mooing loudly. A little later she marched back with 4 calves in tow, ( I presume she was babysitting some of them). I didn’t have any digestives to offer & she looked such an assertive madam I wouldn’t have tried! 😃
Really well done particularly as I’ve just caught up with the challenges you’ve had recently- you’re an inspiration to many of us here and it’s great to have you back in the hills! More beautiful scenery pics please....
😊
So lovely to catch your latest post showing us all how it's done. Massive respect, esp after the last few difficult months. Can't wait to see you graduate, hopefully I'll be by your side - all going well W9R3 is planned for next weekend. Still loving those pics! Love to you and of course Dolly. 🏃♀️💨
Fabulous. Yes a week out doesn't really need to get in the way. 👍😉
I sympathise with the stress eating. I put 5lbs on in Spain that don't seem to want to shift. Food is just too yummy to properly deny myself.
Onwards and over those hills. 👍👏😁
So well done ...The podiums waiting not long now 😊😊
Very well done you.
You have slain all these gremlins.
You can leave them behind now. You are a runner and they do not like to run.
Take care of you, not far now.
Make your that lovely girl gets her digestive biscuit.👍
After all she is a paid up fan like the forum.🌟👏👏
Well done, I knew you’d do it. 👏🏃♀️
Well done and I’m sure you will smash wk9 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️💪💪💪💪💪
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