Morning C25K Team!
Having braved my knees and re-conquered the mountain that is W1 on Monday, I'm back and at it with W2 in the frame this morning. Under strict instructions from my physio (henceforward The Blessed Andrew) to take it easy, not to run fast or far, but to get my cadence up to 160. (Cadence is just the number of steps you take in a minute.) So lots of smaller steps for me.
Alarm goes off. I leave my long-suffering OH making stentorian "Escaped Train" noises and wander downstairs for a quick cuppa. I've even left my running clobber out in readiness.
There's a Sharpie (minus its cap) on my desk. And a Post-It stuck to my iPod.
"Daddy nasti podrunna no"
A tell-tale cellophane crinkle suggests that the Emergency Jelly Babies are as little enamoured of Podrunner Podcasts as I am. But by some act of serendipity Outofpuff just posted about a 160-170 BPM playlist. That sent me back to my music collection and a suitable playlist has emerged.
I'm back on the lane outside the house. Flattish. But very boring to run up and down. No matter. I'll manage. It's quiet. So I faff with technology and Happy Laura welcomes me back to Week 2.
Cue "Sick Again". (I can't resist the irony.) One of the over-looked tracks on LedZep's Physical Graffiti that always languishes at the bottom of the "100 Best LedZep Songs" lists. No idea why. It's like one of those louche blues numbers that the Stones used to do so well (think "Stray Cat Blues", preferably live on "Get Yer Ya Yas Out) but with added oomph. And another cracking riff from Mr Page. Keeps me walking very happily. And playing a bit of early morning air guitar. Until a passing van tries to take me out with its wing mirror. But I am a born-again runner and fear nothing.
Nothing to disturb me apart from blinding sunshine, more potholes than are strictly necessary and assorted green recycling bins that are still ready to jump out and possibly eat me.
I think about the first time I did this Week. How a happy little group of us all piled through the programme together, laughing, crying, running the breathless gamut of emotions from A to B.
Lots of them have now passed into Strava legend, now running long and fast and strong. Kudos babes, but a special shout out to _SimonT_ , the best of all possible running buddies.
Others have struggled with niggles and IC, but we're all in this together and we'll get it sorted. Big shout out to Chrisj31 who's now nursing a broken ankle and on the IC for 8 weeks or so. And all you lot who are on here with your Graduate Badge earned many moons ago who are getting back into your running. We're together, we're great and we're all winners.
And those who came and ran and made our lives happier and have disappeared or just gone a bit quiet. DeeRunning , DaveB46 and the gorgeous Hidden . We miss you babes!!
They were happy, brilliant, fun times. And I'm suddenly reminded of how much I love doing this stuff and how much I miss almost too many people to mention. They were and are, fantastic, lovely people.
Paint it Black cues up. I can run for a bit now. Easy does it.
Laura passes on her advice about breathing to a count of 4 steps. Now that seemed frankly impossible the first time around. The concensus was "Just breathe normally, don't count." Just as well. But I'm fitter now. Well, a bit. And I've learned things. So I'm not going to adjust my breathing to match my feet. I adjust my footfall to match my breathing. And it's suddenly easier at 160BPM.
Laura pipes up to tell me (I assume) that I'm halfway through my 90 second run. But I've done 90 seconds without really noticing. Up an slight incline that a few months ago caused me a fair amount of effort.
Gosh. This is good. And my legs work. No knee gripes. Just the normal getting-into- my-stride "grizzling" that we normally call the "Toxic 10" while our lungs and heart get used to pumping blood and oxygen around. Only mine was a "Toxic 90 Seconds". Not that toxic really. No worries.
I think about the people who are just doing this Week for the first time. And feeling breathless and sweaty and a bit knackered. Been there. Done that. Got the tee shirt. It takes a while to learn to slow down. Slow and Steady. Embrace the Inner Snail. I learned how to do all of that. And you will too. I promise.
Kashmir cues up. Is it the best LedZep track? Maybe not, but defo Top 3. I get to do some improvised John Paul Jones keyboard playing a bit. Those lyrics make absolutely no sense at all tho. But you dig into the hypnotic thing and time stands still.
Oh, I'm loving being out and trotting along.
I walk and run and walk and run and walk and run. A passing cyclist says "Hello". On his way to the station probably. And alerting me from behind so we didn't collide in some titanium/air guitar wailing heap. But he seems not to be of the "EPO-fuelled Druggie" cycling brigade and off he goes. Chapeau, buddy.
Leaving me to Rihanna for my last 90 seconds.
How bout a round of applause?
Standin' ovation
But you put on quite a show
Not sure about standing ovations or it being a good show, but it feels absolutely bloody marvellous to be in my trainers again.
Batman Returns maybe.
My EJBS have been crooning along to some top tunes, Laura tells me well done and Badger (the youngest and less malevolent of our two cats) is waiting for me at home, sprawled out across the lane like a furry finishing line.
I was worried about this run. Neo-hypochrondria perhaps. But being very careful and gentle. And it paid off. Feels good. Better than good. And feeling supported by running buddies past, present and future.
Onwards and upwards. A W3 run on Sunday. Need a different route tho. And hopefully I'll be back up to Bedgebury next week. Running feels like home.
Have a cracking day all!! See you Sunday xx
Week 4
Week 3, Run 1
W2-R2: Laura's timings and racing a mobility scooter
Consolidation Run 4 - happy happy memories 
W2 R1 and flat feet
