Onto my second week postgrad. Having sought advice from the best of them I ditched my cunning plan to run 5k non stop today. I’m too far off it at my pace and recognise this is a slow process for an unfit old man.
My aims today were run 30 mins non-stop; avoid the worst of the toxic 10; keep going at the end until I have returned to my starting point.
So the plan was to go off as slowly as I could without feeling totally stupid to avoid the ragged breathing I usually get from around 5 minutes until around 12 minutes.
So I went off slowly. Or so I thought. And whilst I had a little discomfort, no really ragged breathing and no gremlins telling me to stop.
My first km was the fastest I have ever done! I can only think that my pace during the ragged breathing is so slow that it wipes out my earlier speed. Lesson: slower is faster.
Rest of the run uneventful except for seeing the first friendly male runner on the road. We passed in opposite directions on opposite sides of the road, both looked over and waved. I’d have swapped him for young Paula, but it was still nice.
Total run: 3.47k in 31:22, accompanied by Kirsty Young chatting up Matt Smith of Dr Who fame. Very relaxed at the end. Totally calm breathing. Feeling fantastic.
Final thought. I had Kate Bush, “Breathing” going through my head a lot of the run. I know she can be a bit marmite but if you wonder what a song sung from the perspective of a baby in the womb is, you could do worse.
Enjoy your next run x
Written by
Jay66UK
Graduate
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Great post Jay66! I’m starting W9 tomorrow & think I’ll listen to the David Baddiel episode although I heard on another podcast that it made them cry so maybe not! Like you, I’m very slow so concentrating on finishing rather than actually doing 5K. Enjoy the w’end.
still running like you having graduated and had 4 runs in beautiful Estonia then 5 days off before running again today . yes I managed 30 mins using 'stepping stones' but 5k seems a long way off and a 5 day gap is too long. Will just have to keep at it and enjoy it even if only managing 4k hoping I can improve and keeping motivated by signing up to a 5k dash in Aug !
Another sensible run (thinking sallenson 🤨) must be the day for them haha. Well done and I’m loving hearing about your post grad runs. I’m 5 runs off graduating and so relieved to know I won’t be the only one hanging around the nursery playground afterwards 😂
Telling you lot how it’s gone is a big bit of the motivation to get through the bad phase of each run where the gremlins try to stop me. Strangely they slept in today...I think I am getting better at avoiding waking them.
On reflection and further reassuring advice on the forum on many frequent posts came from Mentor IT and Administrator Rignold,
IT’s Mantra,and you will never know until you try something.🤔
The C25k is set up to reduce the risk for all abilities.🤔
In my terms you have to push a little.I commenced running at 74 and it is the best thing I have done in my life,I am not going to deny myself this gift with a miscalculated injury, but sensible pushing is not in that risk category.
We are all in control, we can stop, we can make sensible decisions,we can run because we can,we can have no fear and enjoy the pleasure.🌟👏👏
Aw no, I’m so sorry! Your allowed to feel sorry for yourself then. But look, I turned 58 in May and feel a damn sight fitter and healthier than I did when I was 52. Look forward sweetie, a whole new, fitter, healthier future is just around the corner 😘
Yep, that’s how I’m trying to approach it. I would never have found running if I was still in that relationship and I have a world of opportunity out there. But certain times are hard and this is one. But I ran today and still feel that deep, deep calm. It’s amazing.
Your story has inspired so many on the forum.The challenges you have overcome.👍
You deserve this gift you have found and given to yourself.Enjoy it all.👏👏
I have zero tolerance on these weak g’s.Do not give them house room, nor in your vocabulary.
Oldfloss did it for me🤔, g’s do not like to run so run my friend run.Miss Wobble🤔 says she does not believe in g’s and demons and I agree with her and the help of this programme.Dead is dead, right 🤔👍
Run Jay Run, life is like a box of chocolates💫🏃♂️💫
Thanks. It would be nice if today put the gremlins to bed permanently. I’m not naive enough to think that is true, but the mental struggle is the hardest. My breathing today was just astoundingly better and seems to be a big part in that middle third of each run.
But don’t remind me of Forrest Gump - it made me sob!
Great about your breathing.It will just get better and when you are ready trial everything on offer while you are on the road.Good to have a variety of gears.🤔
Naive is good, bit like mature ignorance is bliss.But you are only a lad yet.🙈I have never had so many light on moments since I joined this forum.🌟👏👏
Yes leave them there they are weak and just a waste of space.
No contest for a courageous runner like you.💫🏃♂️💫
If you wish and time permitting google, the TED lectures and Brene Brown.
Still amazed every time I run! I decided not to look at my time at all today and just run to the midway buzz. Couldn’t believe how far along “my road” I got and how slowly I thought I was running.
Sounds like a great run, and loved that by going slower you actually ended up going faster. This is all building that solid base that you will build on to go further
Well done. I set myself that aim of "return to the starting point" to stop myself form running on and on. My legs could go further, my lungs and heart felt like they could run forever today. I’m definitely getting fitter, and I can feel that I’m thinner than I was (although nothing like "thin")!
Well done Jay, sensible decision and you are making steady progress, which is what you want. And a big yes to Kate Bush, she’s a regular on my running playlist!
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Week 9, run 3... Completed
Week 9 run 1 and 2 – towards victory
W2R1. 
Week 1 consolidation
