Ok, I know this is the c25k forum but here is an overview of my last few runs in case anyone is wondering about consolidation.
My consolidation choice is w9 again for at least 3 weeks, to be evaluated after that.
I struggled for the first 2 consolidation runs. Considering that I had already run w9 once it should have been easier, at least in my head, to do week 9 a second time, but those first two runs were difficult. It was a real effort, mentally, to carry on outside of the paln with no real rules, and not yet really on the bridge to 10k path. I am a person who needs structure - I don't ad lib well when I am learning something.
I am determined, however, to get to 5k, and that goal kept me going this past week, even though the first 2 runs were hard.
This 3rd run however, while far from being a breeze, was SO much better. I ran a bit faster (really just a bit) than my last runs and used Laura for the first time to get me out of my rut. With warm up and warm down I managed 4.4k, which is probably my best so far.
So thank you all for putting up.with my consolidation ramblings and special thanks to those that have motivated me.
Moral of the story is that the hard patch is just a patch