Week Six - Complete ...Pow!

W6R1

Fist bumps go out to Marcia-H 👊, UnfitNoMore 👊 and ArthurJG …I suspect you’re probably not a fist bumper Arthur, but you’re getting one anyway 👊

All of the above warned me that this run can catch people out after the week 5 high, so I was fully prepared for it to be crap …and it was. But I pushed on through because I knew it was a just blip, the less said about that run the better.

W6R2

Much nicer this time, two ten minute runs. I found my pace, got it the zone with my breathing and my legs carried me around the route. I had a nice feel good push at the end thanks to Imagine Dragons - Whatever it Takes:

youtu.be/gOsM-DYAEhY(Not working as expected?)

W6R3

A little bit apprehensive about this one, but legs felt good when I woke up to foghorns bellowing out from the Solent (must be pretty foggy out there this morning). Trust the plan! - I know I can do it I said to myself. Outside was like a ‘pea-souper’ as my dear old grandma would’ve called it, but a pleasant 15 degrees. My companion for today was Manal Rostom, Dubai-based marathoner, mountaineer and running coach motivating me via the Nike Guided Runs app.

Manal was brilliant, she was engaging and inspirational and made the run a breeze, willing me on through the run to the background noise of foghorns from the container ships out at sea.

I’m learning more about myself from this, sometimes I just need to switch off, let it happen and not overthink it. I can apply this in other areas of my life to to make improvements.

Anyway, I did it! My average pace was 6:08 minutes per KM and I covered 4.07KM in 25 mins which I’m chuffed with, as it felt like I kept it a nice steady pace.

Roll on week 7!

⚡️ThuderSloth⚡️out.

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

👊

Great week, keep it just like that last one. I’ve yet to run with Manal... meant to but there’s so many choices! You got this now, enjoy next week, it’s a consolidation of where you are, and then it’s two tiny steps up to the podium!

[Hidden in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Yes, lots of choice its great. Really enjoyed the Manal one this morning

...and I get to use them on all my runs now!

Cheers UNM 🍺

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to Hidden]

No worries... I really enjoy them... of course there’s two I really need to do but have to wait... running with Eliud is 60 minutes and coach Bennet has one at 90 minutes 😱

[Hidden in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Wow! It’s going to take more than coach bennet kicking my ass to get me doing 90 minutes! But then again I thought that about this...!

You’ll be there in no time when you start your hardcore Nike speed crazy train thingemyjig! 😁

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Starting consolidation on Saturday as the start of the plan, you can override any run in it by just doing a different one. So I’ll set it up tomorrow and then just do 6 30 minute runs and then it can punish me in two weeks 😂

[Hidden in reply to UnfitNoMore]

I'll definitely be watching with interest to see what you get involved in, your plan does sound really good. I recon you’re actually looking forward to the punishment! I’m not sure where I want to take this yet… six weeks consolidation sounds like a good plan, I’d like to have some fun with that and run in some interesting places. But afterwards who knows better start thinking…🤔

[Hidden in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Doh! 6 run consolidation not 6 week consolidation...

[Katnap Graduate]

Nice work Thunderstorm! And great that you made a nod to UNM and Marcia-H. I'll have to lookup ArthurJG.

You sound confident of progressing so keep doing what you're doing! 😸

[Hidden in reply to Katnap]

Cheers Katnap! Arthur is great, gave me some excellent facts and advice last week but probably would prefer a firm handshake over a fist bump I'd imagine. 🤝

[Ibot]

Oh my god you are a rock star!! Well done #mynewhero

[Hidden in reply to Ibot]

Loving that! 🤩 fanks Ibot you’re #amazeballs

[Ibot in reply to Hidden]

Omg my BFF says Amazeballs!!!

Another fav word is dicksplat

[Hidden in reply to Ibot]

😳😮🤭😂

[Hidden in reply to Ibot]

Ibot you know there are some things that you say in your head but then feel they’re not suitable for a public forum...🤔

[Ibot in reply to Hidden]

Do you know I constantly suffer with foot in mouth 😂😂

[New_Runner_KD]

Well done TS! Onwards and upwards! I am planning my 3rd run on wk 6 tomorrow. Found the 2 x 10m runs hard on the last run of wk5. Keep it up and will catch up with you next week hopefully!

[Hidden in reply to New_Runner_KD]

Thanks KD! Yes I was going to leave it an extra day but shuffled it forward as I think we’ve got pretty heavy rain here tomorrow 🌧

Ok... I’ll take the lead for now, but I’ll definitely need my virtual running buddy back next week for some support!!! All the best with your W6R3 tomorrow I think you’ll enjoy it, just do the same as last week and you’ll crack it again. Have a fab weekend KD 😁

[New_Runner_KD in reply to Hidden]

Thanks TS 😁. Did my run yesterday and managed to complete it, felt Ok afterward and I could have gone on. Demons in first few minutes, but managed a steady pace. Bit disappointed though as I log the distance with Strava and I I'd only done 2.8k in 25 mins. Planning next run for Mon or Tues and will try to go a bit faster. Have you done wk7 R1 yet? 🏃

[Hidden in reply to New_Runner_KD]

Ah! brilliant knew you’d crack it well done! So much of it is about getting your head in the right place isn’t it, making sure you don’t end up talking yourself out of doing it!!! Keep trying to find that happy pace... What you running there is great, that’s about 8:55 per km so if you carry on with that steady pace you’ll be doing 5k in around 42 minutes, then after graduation your strength will build and those new personal bests will come rolling in thick and fast. I think I’m just a bit lucky with the pace that I’m running, I’m a bit of a short arse, I have done zero exercise for a very long time, I’m a bit overweight and also I used to smoke but gave up when I hit 30. I have no idea why i’m going at the pace that I am 🤔 As you get stronger you’ll definitely see improvement there - just don’t try and force it. The important thing is we’re both running 25mins now which is damn awesome! 😎 Yes, i ran this morning slightly slower pace this time and a new route felt really sweet! Have a nice and chilled evening KD 😁🤡

[New_Runner_KD in reply to Hidden]

Thanks! You're so supportive and that's much appreciated and it really does help me 😀😀. I would be happy at 42 mins for 5k to start with 😀Well done on your first WK 7 run! Sounds like you're really doing great stuff! Have a great week - will check in again soon!

[Hidden in reply to New_Runner_KD]

That's what I really like about this whole thing, we're all in the same boat going through similar experiences and feelings. We're all capable of so much and spurring each other on really does help. Still can't believe I'm in week 7, It's gone so quickly! Chat soon KD 👍

[IgaT Graduate]

Congratulations! You are so close to that medal! Seams like you had good (not necessarily easy) runs. Have a great week 7!

[Hidden in reply to IgaT]

Thank you IgaT! I know... getting closer... nice and steady... eyes on the prize 🏆 👀

😊👍