Onwards and sideways with my revisit of runs from the original programme as part of my physio-enhanced niggle improvement system. (Yes, there's an acronym in there somewhere 
)
Today it's a run from Week 4. I remember Week 4 being a real toughie the first time around. I was suffering from catastrophic man flu and had to repeat at least one of the runs. And running for 5 whole minutes at a time? Madness and beyond the capability of any human being, surely? Memories of sweaty, breathless hell notwithstanding, I'm fitter now, my leg's well on the mend and I'm ready for this.
Complicated work arrangements and Dad-taxi-ing mean I need to leave for work at 6:45. Crawley will be bereft if I'm not there by 8. So my alarm goes off at 5am.
It's dark. I drink my tea hoping for a glimmer of light and sunshine. No such luck. But my legs are feeling good. So it's off to Sheepstreet Lane for me.
Tech faffing and walking. My wife told me endless times that "It's a hill you know". I think trying to make me feel better about my initial heart-popping outings. It might not be a hill, but there's definitely an incline. Even in the semi-dark. Dumbly I've put a running jacket on, more for visibility than comfort. You never know what rural cove will come thrashing down the road at daft o'clock.
Laura keeps warning me about having completed all the runs before. I feel slightly guilty. Then she tells me that this will be hard but doable.
The Boss kicks off "Darlington County" for my first runny bit. One day my rear end will be as toned as his on the cover of "Born in the USA". Delusional probably. I sing along. I'm not tired enough yet to gasp. Enjoy the singing while you can.
i walk for a bit to that evergreen favourite of 70s Dutch pop music, "Sylvia" by Focus, that kept every record-pressing factory in England busy the first time the band appeared on Top of the Pops. There is some mad falsetto vocalising in there too. I fear my nether regions will not cope with singing those bits. Maybe after the Op
I walk for a bit. Getting lighter. Leg feeling fine. A single car eases its way around me. Cue "Dancing Days" from the cheeriest of all the LZ albums. Legend has it they were so happy with the first version they recorded they ran outside and jumped up and down on the lawn. These days they'd slump in front of their PS4 or something. No jumping for me tho. I'm getting myself ready for my first 5min run for some time.
Nice and slowly, but keep those feet fastish. I'm looking at my watch a bit. Sweating a bit. Laura keep jumping out at me and giving me time checks. I'm there. Not really that bad. But difficult to believe that a few weeks ago I was taking 40 minutes in my stride. But physio rules and common sense dictate slow and steady. And I'm proud of my knee for keeping up.
Last walk. Turn around. All a bit downhill-ish from now on. Another 3 minute run. Chugging along nicely now. The studio version of "Bron-Yr-Aur Stomp" keeps me on my toes. Everyone should run to a song about a dog. I pant in sympathy. Then walk a bit more.
Last 5 mins coming up. "Gallows Pole". My perennial favourite from LZ3. All folksy acoustic guitar and mandolin until JPJ kicks in with his walking bass and then Bonzo nails it with with virtuoso drumming. In the old days by the time the Hangman had made his victim swing and the lads had started their "Ha ha, ha ha ha ha" I'd be sprinting for the finish line.
But not today. Today I was a sensible boy. 30 mins done. 3.72 K in total. 2.3K of actual running. Kept my feet light, upped my cadence and all mid- and forefoot running. Elmo's pleased for me. The EJBs have crooned themselves to sleep in my pocket.
Nice session. W5 coming up on Thursday. The epic 20 minute run. Time to dust off my original playlist. But today's good and I have Crawley to look forward to. Life doesn't get any better than that. Apart from the Crawley bit. Not so much Creepy Crawley as Feral Crawley
Week 7run2again!! By mistake😖
W5 R3 - My Nemesis 
Week 4 Struggle
Week 4 Done
