W6R1 .... It’s all true. It’s nasty!!

[cheekychipmunks]

Just finished and I’m sitting in my car the colour of a ripe tomato! 🍅

How is it possible that after skipping (not really) through the 20 minute run on W5R3, tiny little intervals of 5/8/5 minutes running, interspersed with helpful 3 minute walk breaks, can be so challenging? 😳

Yes, I did it, but I’m surprised how it felt! My dog was just about breaking into a trot next to me, so I certainly wasn’t going too fast (was I?) 🐕

Can anyone with a technical running brain explain this bogey run? And is R2 as tricky?!

Anyway, done. Now home for breakfast! Have great days/runs guys! ❤️

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Firstly it is your longest workout to date and the first increase in duration for two weeks. Brisk walking expends almost as much effort as a gentle jog.

Mainly though, I believe, it is psychological. After running once for twenty minutes we all believed we had cracked this running thing. Even repeating W5R3 would probably be a challenge, but it is a step up in duration.

It just proves how much our mental approach can affect any challenge and that one twenty minute run does not a runner make.

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Ahh yes, that all makes perfect sense. I suppose there’s an element of complacency involved, even though I’d read numerous posts saying how tough this particular run was.

Thanks for your reply. I’m curious to see how R2 goes on Tuesday! 😳🏃‍♀️😀

[Dee_N Graduate]

Well done!! X

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Dee_N]

Thanks! 🍅

[Dee_N Graduate in reply to cheekychipmunks]

🍓 more glam! Haha

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Dee_N]

Ahh yes, thanks for that tip! 🍅 🍓 😅

[calcath]

Oh no! But you did it. Keep on running ...

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to calcath]

Thanks, I will definitely keep running, absolutely no doubting that! How are you getting on? 😀🏃‍♀️❤️

[Hotheels Graduate]

You survived to tell the tale....you might be 🍅🍓🍎 but you DID it!!!

Great going!!!! You're smashing it!!

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Hotheels]

I did survive! Thanks so much for the encouragement! 😀🏃‍♀️👍🏻

[Zutter Graduate]

So weird... I had exactly the same thing. Loved the 20 mins and then almost gave up on this one, found it super hard. That said, I don't remember feeling that way about any of the runs since. Well done for getting through it

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Zutter]

Oh that’s good to hear!

It’s weird about this one, I’d read so much about it but thought ‘whatever, I ran for 20 minutes on Friday, how hard can it be?!’

Well now I know!

Happy running! 👍🏻🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️😀

[Jay66UK Graduate]

Ah. Week 6. How I’ve missed you. Not.

Well done for fighting through. Run 2 is a different challenge. Use what you learned with Run 1, take it slowly, apply your enthusiasm and you will sail through... the final run with walking bits!

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Jay66UK]

That’s starting to sound serious - ‘the final run with walking bits’ 😳

Yes, I’ll take R2 nice and slowly! Thanks for the sage advice!

Have a great Sunday, and obviously if it’s a run day, enjoy that too!

😀🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️🙌

[Jay66UK Graduate in reply to cheekychipmunks]

I did. 5k down the canal. Feeling mellow.

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Jay66UK]

Fabulous! 👍🏻 I’m looking forward to sounding so casual after doing a 5k. When I do, it’ll be all 🎉🙌🍾😀👋🏃‍♀️❤️

[Jay66UK Graduate in reply to cheekychipmunks]

It’s all there for you to do after graduating. It’s just repeating W5R3 and not stopping at 20 minutes 😉

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Jay66UK]

Eeek. Excited. 😆

[Jay66UK Graduate in reply to cheekychipmunks]

It shows!

🎉🙌🍾😀👏🏃‍♀️❤️

[Crawlhome Graduate]

I was determined not to let this run get to me after all I read. Just finished, v hot today. I found some bits easy but the end of the eight mins and the last minute were a challenge!

Also my legs aren't sure they've recovered yet from Friday evening 😄

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Crawlhome]

Well done! Glad it’s over now!

I personally found the first 5 minute run the worst. Middle 8 wasn’t too bad, but the last 5 minuter ended up being up hill (not loads, but enough!)

I’m doing R2 on Tuesday .... good luck with yours!

😀

[Crawlhome Graduate in reply to cheekychipmunks]

I feel very proud of myself, you must too?! Also running on Tues then going away in Thursday and asked my boyfriend if we can do a coastal path run together in Cornwall! Not sure what's happened to me!

Hope you're having a lovely Sunday.

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Crawlhome]

Oh definitely, very proud. Can’t believe how far we’ve all come! ❤️

I’m going away next Monday 23rd, but as my husband is competing in Munich in rowing, there’ll be a perfect 2k straight rowing lake for me snail up and down (I’ll be W7 into W8). Then to the Alps, so hopefully I can find a nice flat bit! 😳

Have a wonderful day, happy running on Tuesday and have an amazing holiday! 😀❤️👍🏻🏃‍♀️

[Fabulous450 Graduate]

Hi cheekychipmunks! I found that one disorientating somehow too. I’m really not sure why, but you did it! Absolutely brilliant! It is something that probably just needs an adjustment in the approach. I made the decision that I would go even slower than my slow on the next one. I kind of felt like I was almost walking, but it worked. I felt much more stable by doing that. Have a great day! You have done it and you can do the next one too! ❤️

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Fabulous450]

Aww thanks Fabulous! Yes I will be snailier than the slowest snail and hopefully that’ll work🤞🐌🐌🐌

Then it starts to get serious doesn’t it? 😳🏃‍♀️😀

[Fabulous450 Graduate in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Oh by the time you get to W7 you’ll be ready cheekychipmunks! Just use the same approach. It’s an increase in running time, but those previous runs and rest days do what they’re meant to do. Relax into it! You’ll be fine! ❤️

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Fabulous450]

Oooo can’t wait! ❤️🏃‍♀️❤️

[Jelon Graduate]

Well done you did it that’s the main thing... keep on keeping on and with your great attitude that’s a breeze 😊

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Jelon]

Thank you! I’m not this positive about everything, but running is infectious and look forward to each and every one! 😀🏃‍♀️

[Mashedpotato]

WELL DONE. THATS AMAZING 🎉🎉 you powered through I’m about to move onto week 6 so looking forward to this pain 😝 see you on the other side xx

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Mashedpotato]

Thanks so much. It did feel like an achievement, and even though I was ready for it mentally having read everyone else’s posts about it, it was still surprisingly tricky.

Definitely doable, though, so you’ll be totally fine! Report back!!

😀🏃‍♀️❤️🏃‍♂️👍🏻

[Jundal Graduate]

Told you it was tough, didn't I? But well done, you did it first try! It took me two goes, and I'll be doing r2 tomorrow afternoon, so I'll let you know how it goes. Think it'll be easier than r1.

He says, quietly hoping...

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Jundal]

Ahhh, good luck. Hoping you’ll report back with good news! Go get it - mine’s on Tuesday! 😀😀

[Jundal Graduate in reply to cheekychipmunks]

I'll write and have a good complain on the state of my legs after work tomorrow! 😂

[cheeseheads]

I just had to go find this post. Kinda glad I didn’t read it until now though 😁. Again great job on finishing this pesky run. I’m actually looking forward to just straight runs instead of these run walk intervals.

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to cheeseheads]

Yes, good thing! 😅

I’m looking forward to the longer runs too. Just snail along, listening to some good tunes and watching the world go by (go past me!)

🏃‍♀️🐌🏃‍♀️

[cheeseheads in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Think a turtle 🐢 ran past me today 😁

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to cheeseheads]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[Robert_IS_a_Runner Graduate]

Brilliant! It’s a roller coaster for sure but you did it!

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Robert_IS_a_Runner]

Definitely! Thanks! 😀😀🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[Beanjo Graduate]

So glad to hear you suffered too. Sorry- not really glad of course but I thought it was just me. On a high following the previous run I didn’t expect it to be so hard. Hope you find R2 easier

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Beanjo]

I don’t think we were the only ones!! I’d been reading loads of posts about that particular run so I was forewarned - but it still caught me out! I was determined not to bail though!

I think the euphoria of the 20 minuter lulls us into a false sense of security, then W6R1 comes along and gives us a reality check! 😳

But we can beat it! 👍🏻😀