W7r1 done!

[Flyingred]

I was able to get out before 9 am this morning and it felt much cooler. My route around the field was also shaded by trees on three sides which added to the enjoyment.

I had been awake between 2 am and 5 am so was slightly anxious about the effect of a bad night's sleep on my run. However, when I set off my feet seemed to want to go faster than usual. I throttled back and held a steady pace. I'd almost completed my second lap when Sarah told me I was halfway. This was a lot quicker than I'd expected (I was doing 8-minute laps on w6r3) so I eased off again and set a goal of completing four laps within the 25 minutes. The 5 minutes to go warning came about a quarter of the way around the fourth lap. After another few hundred metres I felt I could pick up my pace from there to the finish. So I opened it up a bit and went about 100 metres past my start point by the 25-minute mark.

I worked out that I ran 3.7 km which is pretty remarkable when I think back to the effort it took to run 1 minute intervals only 6 weeks ago. This is an incredible program! I can't wait for r2 on Sunday! And I'll definitely be out early again.

[cheekychipmunks Graduate]

Wow good for you, and that’s a great distance you covered (almost a whole km further than me on the same run! 😅). You’ll have no trouble smashing W8 and W9!

Well done, and keep running! 😀👍🏻🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️😀

[Flyingred Graduate in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Thank you! After the struggles of the early weeks I've found my runs enjoyable but somehow everything really clicked into place today. Must have been one of those 'good' runs that people write about here! I'm sure you'll smash W8 and W9 too!

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Flyingred]

Thanks! It’s a lovely feeling isn’t? I’m cautiously looking forward to W8 - although I’m sure the extra 3 minutes will feel like an eternity! 😳😅🏃‍♀️

Have fun out there! 😀😀

[Flyingred Graduate in reply to cheekychipmunks]

I have great faith in the power of slowing down in order to make it to the end. I'm counting on my efforts to push on towards the end of the 25 this week will give me the stamina needed to plod on for the extra 3 minutes in W8! I'm sure you'll do fine!

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Flyingred]

Yes you’re right. I’m amazed how each week seems hard at the beginning, but when I look back on it I wonder what all the fuss was about! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[Flyingred Graduate in reply to cheekychipmunks]

And the funny thing is, the further we get into the program, we appear to be better equipped to cope with each step up we are called on to make.

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Flyingred]

Clever clever programme and clever clever us! 👍🏻😀

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

Nice distance covered. Enjoy each and every run, you deserve it, you’re kicking butt.

[Flyingred Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Thank you for your kind words and encouragement!