W8 Revisited: Take that, 28 mins :-) - Couch to 5K

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W8 Revisited: Take that, 28 mins :-)

sallenson profile image
sallensonGraduate
40 Replies

Blimey. "Bodyguard" eh? Did anyone else remember to breathe during the first 20mins? And David/Dave is a bit of a rum bugger. And what's with the girl with the black Range Rover? It all looks a bit "obvious" but it won't be, will it? Jez Mercurio is smarter than that....

Hang on.

Wrong forum.

This is running, right? Okay.

Yesterday's rain has cleared for a bit, so I'm off to shake my booty at W8's 28 minutes. (I've missed out W7 since it's the same as W6R3. Please don't try that at home :-) )

Brisk walk up to my start point. Couple of (dynamic) stretches. Arms up over my head so I get my hip and pelvis alignment set right, lean forward (not from my waist, doh) and fall into my run. (When you're doing it right, running feels like falling forward.)

Off we go. "In My Time of Dying" from Physical Graffiti. 11 minutes of "Pull the body from the muddy swamp" blues, with a killer central section with a fantastic half-riff. Lads on incredible form. Absolute respect for the source material but they do magic with it. Blues Rock doesn't get better than this.

"Meet me, Jesus, meet me

Ooh, meet me in the middle of the air

If my wings should fail me, Lord

Please meet me with another pair."

No-one around so I can enjoy this and sing along and play the odd bit of air guitar. Toxic 5 comes and goes. All okay so far. No huskies today and no pick ups. So far my wings ain't failing me either. No sir.

"Come on, come on, I can hear the angels singing

Oh, here they come, here they come, here they come"

I nail that first hill. Drop into "first gear". Lean into the hill from my ankles ("Don't bend from the waist you clot..."), use my arms to pump and accelerate, smaller quicker steps. Vroom. I can do hills again now. Cadence well over 160 up that. Nice work Stephen.

First flat I relax a bit. Slightly looser and rangier strides. Keep my cadence up. Breathing all fine. Up to the Green Gate at the end and a quick left to the Big Tree. Bruce and "Death to My Hometown". A bit of righteous anger and a good singalong too.

Slow it down a bit. Get my feet to match my breathing. All good so far.

"Pink Cadillac". It didn't make an official studio release, but a Springsteen cars/girls classic 12-bar. There are hidden marvels in his back catalogue. Nice little rocker. Takes me through a flat and then I drop down into first again up the next hill. I'm bloody nailing these hills today. Woof! Keep that cadence up, lean in, patter, patter patter. Running as falling. Off we go.

"Babe I'm Gonna Leave You" from LZ1. What sounds like semi-flamenco guitar into what you think is the big riff and then there's the slow build up to the real deal. Real "bang your head against that tree" stuff. But I control my headbanging. A bit anyway. Get my knees up. "Don't lead with your feet. Lead with your knees." Make sure my foot strike is under my hips, not out in front. Running as cycling, that's the ticket. I'm not getting much push off from my back foot yet. That's something to focus on another day. But I tighten my core and "run tall" and I'm away.

Nearly 24mins done now. Feels good. A Bit of tightness in my hip, but stretching my hip flexor will sort that out later. No knee niggles. Calves know they've been up and down a hill or two tho.

Nine Inch Nails "Closer". Trent Reznor doing his angry self-flagellating thing, but then turns the track into a dance floor groove. Great stuff. Keep the lyrics away from children and those of a sensitive disposition though. (Best NIN track? "Hurt" obvs. Check out Johnny Cash's cover of "Hurt" on American IV. Breathtaking. And you get his version of Depeche Mode's "Personal Jesus" as a bonus.)

Last few minutes. Down a slope then left and up that last incline. Lean in. Fast feet. Patter, patter, patter. Nailing this.

28mins. Bang. On the nail. Job done.

I blow my nose, have a wee, swagger a bit. Stretch my hip.

So. 28 mins done. Good and sweaty but my HR didn't get out of control. Only 3.7K of running, but that's just fine. Rock on, tiger. Felt good out there.

Still got my final 30mins on Weds. I'll see how that goes in terms of distance and notch it up gradually from there. Keep it steady and under control. Watch my form. Lots of stretching and lot and lots of bridges. Loads of stuff I'm still epically rubbish at. Loads to learn.

Running as falling. Running as cycling. Running's just brilliant.

“If one could run without getting tired, I don’t think one would often want to do anything else.” I'm not sure that C.S. Lewis was much of a runner tbh, but his heart was in the right place.

Have fun running about out there chaps xx

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sallenson profile image
sallenson
Graduate
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40 Replies
Jell6 profile image
Jell6Graduate

Thought your title was your week 8 playlist and you were Back For Good🤣

I should have known better.

So pleased the physio worked, and you are on form again. 🤩

sallenson profile image
sallensonGraduate in reply toJell6

I'm full of "Shine" today, hon xx

(See what I did there? lol)

Jell6 profile image
Jell6Graduate in reply tosallenson

🙂🤣

GoGo_JoJo profile image
GoGo_JoJoGraduate

🤣🤣😁👏👏

Running as falling... erm miss out the actual falling. That hurts!

Sounds great. It's all coming together. I'm trying to work on the push off and forward flexing. There's so much more to it than we realise on the way through w1 to 9!!

Keep it up! 👍😁💪

sallenson profile image
sallensonGraduate in reply toGoGo_JoJo

I'm tryin' hon xx

Equi-geek profile image
Equi-geekGraduate

I was right there with you in your write up sallenson - some super little gems in there, and not just musically, thanks 😁. I’ve also noticed I’m not pushing off my heels uphill much yet. But I have ‘found’ that knee-lift to relieve the hamstrings and calves... going faster to recover! Who knew?... (Apparently my ex-marathon running OH did, but he thought I was already going as fast as I could all the time 😳 but he was in his 20’s when a motorbike accident curtailed his running hobby and probably never had to cope with aches and pains 🙄)...

Happy graduation run on Wednesday 🤗

sallenson profile image
sallensonGraduate in reply toEqui-geek

There's some ancient training tip that says "When you're tired, go faster". No idea if it works and frankly feels a long way from where I am. But I'm finding various bits of "folk wisdom" about knees and arms and "pelvic alignment" (ooh err) are starting to fall back into place. Still all a bit ragged, but right now it's 30mins that's the prize xx

Equi-geek profile image
Equi-geekGraduate in reply tosallenson

Keeping a healthy posture is really hard work for me too, still. But it’s a relief that I can find myself zoned out on runs now, for a bit. Then my hip does a twang, and it reminds me to pay attention to what I’m doing 🤣

sallenson profile image
sallensonGraduate in reply toEqui-geek

I'm not sure I'll ever really get that "Pilates" thing that your pelvis is a "bucket" thing. But having a good stretch upwards (like I'm reaching up to a high shelf with my finger tips) to "set" those old bones properly seems to help :-)

Sybilw profile image
SybilwGraduate

Love your enthusiasm to be back. Happy days.

sallenson profile image
sallensonGraduate in reply toSybilw

It's grrreeeat to be back. Even in my slightly shambolic way :-)

Myrar profile image
MyrarGraduate

Your just doing it Steven ...Inspiration to us all ..Keep doing what your doing ..But be careful 😊

sallenson profile image
sallensonGraduate in reply toMyrar

Will do, hon. Promise xx

I hope you didn't have a wee in the street!

sallenson profile image
sallensonGraduate in reply to

I was in the middle of a big, kick-ass forest!! Even the squirrels were having a lie-in :-)

in reply tosallenson

🤣🤣 Watch our for the bears! 🐻🐻

sallenson profile image
sallensonGraduate in reply to

And lions and tigers. Oh my... :-)

LoungeLizaard profile image
LoungeLizaardGraduate

Welcome back son, bring that doggy home! Woof! ❤️🐌🏃‍♂️

sallenson profile image
sallensonGraduate in reply toLoungeLizaard

Tryin' Mitch, tryin' xx

Bandit14 profile image
Bandit14Graduate

Brilliant stuff - well done😁

Don't forget to enjoy the saveloy x

sallenson profile image
sallensonGraduate in reply toBandit14

All 10ins :-)

Dee_N profile image
Dee_NGraduate

🙌🏽snap! Time for a bag of chips now!? You can have the saveloy I’m veggie 😆xx

sallenson profile image
sallensonGraduate in reply toDee_N

Yay!! Well done. I've got a chocolate roulade for us to share on Wednesday okay?

Dee_N profile image
Dee_NGraduate in reply tosallenson

Now you’re talking my language!! 😍😍😍

mountaindreamer profile image
mountaindreamerGraduate

Well done, Stephen! Another good run and great post! 😃🏃‍♂️😎❤️

sallenson profile image
sallensonGraduate in reply tomountaindreamer

That podium's coming around again in double-quick time :-)

Schofield profile image
SchofieldGraduate

Well done, I’m a newbie to running, just getting ready to start wk7 r1.... it’s the music that keeps me going sometimes. Need to stay focused and complete the next 9 runs and boom done

sallenson profile image
sallensonGraduate in reply toSchofield

You'll be fine. I can't run without music. I know I should listen to my feet or to the braying squirrels, but... :-)

amanda2463 profile image
amanda2463

Well done you 😀 (said with out the sarcastic tone my ex mother in-law would use when saying this).

My run wasn’t so great today will just put it behind me.

So glad are your parts are holding up well 😘😘

sallenson profile image
sallensonGraduate in reply toamanda2463

And even better, so are my pants :-)

Just one more to go and I get roulade :-)

amanda2463 profile image
amanda2463 in reply tosallenson

Such a show off 😀

👙unfortunately there isn’t a stand alone pants emoji so you will just have to have the matching set!

please don’t wear these running you will end up famous for all the wrong reasons 😘

sallenson profile image
sallensonGraduate in reply toamanda2463

It's defo an option for a HM/M tho.... :-)

HillsEverywhere profile image
HillsEverywhereGraduate

Great post ! I really like what you wrote about form, lots of things to ponder for me.

sallenson profile image
sallensonGraduate in reply toHillsEverywhere

Glad it might be helpful. There's nothing magic here. But no-one ever really get taught how to run properly. No idea why....

Saartjie profile image
SaartjieGraduate

Great run Stephen...back in the game. Am also embracing hills having listened to Dame Kelly Holmes about hill repeats. Up on the toes, lean in and drive the arms and knees forward - hill takes care of itself (kinda). Having said that am still choosing flatter routes for the longer runs! See you back on Bridge in a couple of weeks then x

sallenson profile image
sallensonGraduate in reply toSaartjie

Just tomorrow's W9 run to do. Then I'll see what the distance looks like and take it gently from there. It's been pretty much a (miserable) month since my assorted glute/hip/knee stuff exploded, but fingers crossed all looking better now.

These things just gradually tighten up over time and then "Bang". Feel okay atm tho xx

Saartjie profile image
SaartjieGraduate in reply tosallenson

Yes better taking it slowly. I have noticed as soon as I passed 6k things start twinging and groaning, so definitely worth making sure your body is strong before pushing the distance. X

AngryFlower profile image
AngryFlowerGraduate

Just about to set off myself, very amusing post, put me in a good mood, until I hit the pavement at least. Interesting music choice too.

sallenson profile image
sallensonGraduate in reply toAngryFlower

"Interesting" :-)

Hope you had fun out there!!

AngryFlower profile image
AngryFlowerGraduate in reply tosallenson

Yep all good. Interesting is good in my book

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