Running breakthrough! 😁

[Glitterjav]

Hi All! I just completed W9R2 and for the first time on a longer run I actually sped up and really enjoyed it!! I felt like I was flying (though in reality I was only 20 seconds faster than normal!). Before I went out I was feeling rubbish, my CFS was telling me that I probably shouldn’t go out, it was proper windy, but I wanted to stick to my graduation day of Monday on my day off!! It seems that the worse I feel before a run, the better the run actually is! 🤷🏻‍♀️ Anyone else find this?! Just so chuffed at feeling enthused by a long run as the first one was a bit tough and I actually felt like a runner today 😊

[Granspeed Graduate]

Just shows how important it is to actually get out the door! 👏🏼 So glad you got a suitable reward for your efforts. (And don’t knock 20 seconds! It can be a big difference sometimes. 😄)

[DiscoRunner Graduate]

That’s so great! And yes I do know exactly what you mean! When I selected the how I was feeling face - whenever I felt confident, the run would be one long slog, and when I was apprehensive it would be a dream! It happens less now I’ve consolidated and completely embraced my inner snail!

Well done you and sending you masses of good vibes for Monday x

[Glitterjav Graduate in reply to DiscoRunner]

Aw thank you! I just didn’t recognise myself today, I almost wished that I could’ve seen myself running as it’s so never been me!! Do you feel it’s become easier, or more comfortable since graduating?

[DiscoRunner Graduate in reply to Glitterjav]

Definitely. It took about 6 weeks. I didn’t manage 3x30 every week during that time (holiday & illness) but I was out whenever I could and did as many 3x30s as possible. I redid the graduation run again and again (changing the coach voice got variation). I Needed the encouragement and the timings! But after about 6 weeks I felt more confident and comfortable and got a multi timer app to create my own runs with beeps and things to tell me where I was. I then added 5 mins to one run per week, and stated to listen to long engaging podcasts (about all sorts of things) and I found getting lost in listening a great way to just relax into the running and plod along in my slow way. The slow jogging I do I find really enjoyable while I’m doing it now - used to be more pleased that I was still alive and it was over!

I think it’s amazing what you’re doing and I think if you can just get out there and even if some runs are only 10 or 15 mins, I think it’s the regularity that helps to make it easier. Can’t wait to read your next post! x

[Glitterjav Graduate in reply to DiscoRunner]

That sounds like a good plan! Which app do you use? I think you’re right about the regularity. Just don’t want to get slack after graduation!

[DiscoRunner Graduate in reply to Glitterjav]

It’s called Seconds - it’s a paid for app, but I can build a series of runs so I know I’ve done x time, and there’s a halfway alert too - which you can add or not as you wish. This works for me because I’m not really bothered about distance - at my speed there’s no point! But I do want to slowly build duration to one run to improve my stamina.

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

Great job... sometimes it takes a few minutes to get into that rhythm... my 30 minute pace beats my 10 minute one hands down. Enjoy the graduation run.