... and make way for the Podcast of Revelation. It is the 21st century after all...
So, first post grad run today. Decided to do Stepping Stones Podcast from the C25k+ series.
So off we went, out the door with a mixture of curiosity and mild apprehension for what might be to come. I gave it everything I had on wk9 r3, but this is c25k+, the “+” had me worried...
Five minute warm up walk to get us out the estate. No problem there, I can usually manage this part.
Then suddenly we’re ready to run, or at least Laura is ready for me to run. No sign of her...
The key to this podcast seems to be an ability to count. The primary school at the start of my run was having lunch break, so I guess I could have asked the little ones for help, but turns out you only need to get to 4, and Laura helps you with that too.
Ok. so. Count, 1 2 3 4. Move feet in time, shoulders relaxed, down and back. Eyes up. Arms 90 degrees. Fingers unclenched. Don’t swing arms across body. Breathe. Lift heels. Wow, this is getting complicated. What comes after 3 again???
I must have looked like Bambi trying to run on ice while solving a particularly difficult mathematical equation.
I’m in my “normal” running rhythm, going at my “normal” pace, but when Laura gets to 4 I’m on 6 trying not to fall over my feet.
That’s when I have my epiphany.
I’ve been running too fast.
The 150 bpm the podcast starts at is slower than my “normal” pace and it turns out slowing down is quite difficult. I spend the next couple minutes looking like I’m running on the moon.
Then it clicks.
Yeah, so it feels unnatural because it’s slower than I would usually run, but it has got me wondering, how much sooner could I have graduated if I had been running at 150bpm all the time. I’ve been having to take 2 rest days between runs because my legs were too painful to run every day. I’ve been home an hour and I feel ready to run again already.
This forum really would benefit from someone who keeps popping up to remind us to run slow and steady... 🤔
Anyway, back to Laura.
Every 5 minutes she changes the track, and the music isn’t too bad. Every second track they up the bpm a little and your back to “Bambi Does Algebra, On Ice” till you get the rhythm, but overall it’s not bad.
All of a sudden, after 5 mins of 160bpm, it’s time for a cool down walk.
And this is the part that really surprised me. Laura points out at the end that you’ve just run for 30 minutes. I didn’t even realise. It didn’t hurt, I wasn’t praying for it to end. I concentrated on form, ran slower and enjoyed every minute. 🙂
Ok, so I didn’t get as far as wk9r3, I didn’t get anywhere near my strava times, no little trophies today. But, I think that might have been my problem.
Yes I got through C25K, but it was a struggle. Today I loved it. I think I’ve spent too much time comparing each run to the last to make sure I’m showing some sign of improvement, when maybe what I would have been doing all along was slow down...
Oh, and count to 4 🙂🐌
W10R2 - C25K Stepping Stone
Week 4, Run 2
C5R2 - C25K+ Stamina
Interval Running With a Side Order of Faff
