I am taking great strides (mentally, not physically 🙄) in trying not to be too hard on myself, but wow, that felt like a slide back into the bad old days of hard work running. The three week 8 runs could be categorised as: fantastic, fantastic, OK. I was coming down with a virus for the OK run so there was a reason for it not being fantastic. I thought I had it sussed, people! Just go slow, concentrate on breathing easily, la di da, life’s a box of chocolates and all that jazz. I knew that a bad run would be waiting somewhere, but I thought the slow slow run might keep it at bay a while longer.
Well, it might have - had I gone slower, darn it!!! I made mistake after mistake on this one. I have been unwell, missed a day and was so determined to run today that the grey damp rain wasn’t going to stop me. I was a pepped up multi-coloured peacock about to liven up that monochromatic landscape.
The route I had planned was completely sodden so I thought I would take a footpath cross country towards the next village and turn around at the half way point. I didn’t know it but just take it slow, it’ll be fine, right?!
Somehow I confused ‘wet’ with ‘cold’ and layered up as if I was running in sub zero temperatures, complete with compression calf sleeves and socks, woolly socks, leggings over ski thermals, base layer, mid layer and jacket. Oh yes, hat, gloves and some stalwart knee supports I haven’t used for running before... why oh why?! It was 7* out there!!! I swiftly realised my mistake and considered doing a dance of the seven veils and shedding clothes as I went, but this stuff doesn’t come off without a fight. Instead I wrestled with zips and flapped about like a red-faced turkey. Whilst doing so, I stepped in a large puddle with my right foot and the woolly sock obligingly soaked up the cold water like a thirsty sponge.
The knee braces were far too clunky for running and actually, worn with the compression sleeves, were cutting off my circulation. I realised I had ‘lost’ my right foot about half way through the run (try adjusting Velcro round your knees whilst running). Why didn’t I stop?! Like Pavlov’s poor sod of a dog, I do believe I have become conditioned. I loosened them properly during the cool down walk but felt a dangerous wobble and didn’t dare take them off for fear my legs would collapse without them.
I hadn’t realised quite how hilly the route was, either. Lordy Lordy. I hit the worst of it at around 23 minutes, which I would describe as a kick in the nuts if I had them.
I actually got my phone out and (whilst running, of course) was watching the clock for the moment I could stop, which I did with a juddering halt. I leant over a fence and thought about being sick - which is when it occurred to me that I might have been going a bit too fast again... 🤔
Will I never learn?! Console me, friends...
Written by
ktsok
Graduate
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
I am still on your heels as I have just done W6R3 - so up to 25mins now. I ran through a puddle last time and there were loads of people around so I had to pretend that I hadn't but the shoe let ALL the water in.
Haha, did you squelch?! It’s so funny the way we instinctively pretend something like that hasn’t happened... like, nothing to see here, nope, all good, wet foot? Where? 😆
I don’t know if you are really brave or just plain mad to be back so soon after that nasty virus. So the last run was ok and this one was tough. That means you are due some fantastic ones 🤞
Like you I tell myself go slow and I must just slip in to running faster not on purpose but then I can tell with my breathing and that reminds me slow down good luck😊
Yes, concentrating on the breathing has been a game changer for me, turning the runs into a meditative, relaxing, joyful experience. The breathing had to fend for itself today... a combination of overheating, perhaps not entirely recovered from a virus, knee tourniquets, mud and puddles (meaning I had to concentrate on my feet) and hills (meaning I had to concentrate on survival). Lessons learned!
I feel guilty, you are asking for kind, supportive words and 🤣🤣🤣🤣 I cannot stop laughing...
It sounds like you’ve learnt a few lessons today, the hard way though 🤪🥵. I am sure you will rock the rest of your graduation week, yaaaaay! Podium within sight!
Mafee posted my planned reply, word for word! So funny 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
What else can I say apart from well done for getting through it.
I can relate to the wet feet, I tried a new route yesterday that gave me choices, run straight through the puddles, or circumnavigate them via the muddy grass either side.
It must have taken you quite a while to get ready for that run🤣😂
I started getting ready at 6.45am (thought I might go before the school run) and actually went for the run at 11.45am 🤣
I guess good socks help with the wet terrain...
In hindsight, it is hilarious. What I forgot to mention was I had Coach Bennett’s ‘Thank you’ guided run on - he was telling me to shout out ‘thank you’ to the world, and I did - right at the moment I stepped in my first puddle 😂
I’ve heard that one, poor you, going thru your wet ordeal with such a positive contrasting podcast in your ears, it must have felt as if he was mocking you 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
It was on a downhill stretch in the first 10 minutes or so, so the shouted ‘thank you Couch to 5K’ (yes, I really did shout that) didn’t seem completely out of place... the puddle did dampen my parade a little 🤣 to be honest, Coach Bennett just became a background noise at that point, he clearly had bugger all idea what was going on.
You’ll like this - I haven’t fully recovered from the virus and was quite dehydrated. I actually visualised face-planting in a puddle and drinking the muddy water at one point. It was pretty grim out there. I think there is a 99% chance that the next run will be better 🤣
Looks like a gurt big hill is the cause of your woes! They really are brutal energy sappers, as well as slappers down of any pretensions to pace increases. Returning to the flats and taking it easy is the way forward for us both at this stage, I think! Best of luck to you, comrade! 🙂
Well am not surprised you found it hard, you were wearing your whole wardrobe! One thing I can say is the next run you’ll have immediately lost loads of weight!
Sorry you didn’t enjoy the run but I’m sure it’s hard coming back from being unwell. I’m sure next run will be great!
Your runs always seem so much more interesting and eventful than mine! 😀 I did suffer my first ‘delay’ this week on W8R2 when I went out and found my foot slipping every so often on patches of ice so I turned around and had another rest day. Today I tried again and completed it with a new route which had looked an ideal length on paper but on W8R1 I chickened out and kept with my old route because at the decision point it felt it would be a long way even though I knew I would be running for 28 minutes both ways. Such is psychology. Anyway onto R3 on Sunday and then one week to go!
Interesting and eventful aren’t always a good thing! And I think a dose of idiocy factored into this mornings farce 😆
It is funny how daunting a new route can feel, isn’t it? The first time I ventured onto a road (single file country lanes, no pavements) I felt like some sort of intrepid explorer. Trepid(atious) explorer might be more accurate! I’m trying out more routes now and I love the sense of freedom it gives - but on a sub-par day the unexpected hills and gates and just the general unknown can feel like extra hurdles you don’t need. So I guess it’s another lesson - head for the unknown when you are feeling good! Glad you are back on (the familiar!) track - we are nearly there 😳😃
Different routes can come to appear like a friend or enemy accompanying you on your run. My nemesis 😡has always been a level crossing close to the end of my run. If a train 🚞 was due I knew that if I climbed up and down the bridge I would never get going again or worse still fall down the steps in my exhausted state so I would run up and down the road whilst waiting praying there would not be 🚞🚞. This delay meant I would have a longer walk home. Now I can run longer I can reach the next road bridge in the time available so no more level crossing! 😝Good luck with your final week! 😃😊
Haha, that’s brilliant. I can completely understand your logic but it’s wonderfully barmy, at the same time! It must certainly add a thrill to your run, seeing if you can beat your nemesis 🚈! 😆
That has truly brightened up my week. Thank you 😊 🙏 How on earth you could breathe let alone run. It was warm today too. Sorry. I think you realised that too 😆. Fabulous post and fabulously entertaining run. Well done on getting through it as many would have given up. You get my most entertaining run of the week award too. 💗🥇 .
It was completely ridiculous. Maybe I was still fever-addled. I did start getting ready very early, thinking I might go for a pre schoolrun run. I was wearing the new Aldi stuff and the layers were so thin! They didn’t seem very substantial at all... then the hours passed and the day warmed up but I failed to shed layers in response... 🤦🏼♀️
Aww - mind you, I've only just got past the worst of that wonderful season of having a personal central heating system at all times, during which I was bare legs and flipflops through the last two winters - and I still get overheated easily! Hence why I was sweating just reading your description 😂
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
W9 R3 - Tough but done!
GUTTED - Pulled muscle in W9
W9, R2 on Christmas Day 🎄
Laura’s W8 and W9 playlist
