Week 6, Run 2 - not sure I believe it

[arbitrarygenius]

So, even though I still tell people I'm going for a walk-jog rather than a 'run', I just finished w6r2 and now get to angst about the 25 min run coming up next. I also finally let the fitbit track the run and let me tell you, I think I'm heading more towards a couch to 3k, but I'll happily take it. This is so so so much better than I thought I could ever do.

When I started I told myself I'd stop after week 4, because that was already a pretty decent whack. But when I got there I decided to keep at it and see if it was true that it could make anyone a 30-min runner (I'm super slow, still have a lot of weight I'd like to lessen and really self-conscious about people seeing me jog).

But I just did two 10-minute jogs after a day of walking around London in gruelling heat (for me) yesterday and an upper back tattoo on Thurs. I went out today with the mindset that because I had no idea how much the tattoo would factor in, I'd stop if it felt at all bad - the first day I've really gone out with such a good excuse to not finish. I figured if it was bad, I'd just redo week 5 and accept the week redo for the tattoo.

But I did it and I think I even picked up pace for the last 60s of each run.

Onwards and upwards. Though I will wield the tattoo excuse for a while, I think.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

All you need is 30 minute runs...not 5K, so you are doing just fine...Take it slow and steady, an be proud, because you are out there, and you are running!

Snails rock... !

[arbitrarygenius Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Snails DO rock

[Jazzyrunner Graduate]

Well done, so inspiring for someone like me, just starting and not really believing I’ll get beyond a couple of weeks! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[arbitrarygenius Graduate in reply to Jazzyrunner]

My first goal was SERIOUSLY to get to 5 mins running and I thought that would be fine for me, something I'd never done since I was 16 and had no real interest in since then. Then after that, it's all be curiousity over whether I can keep it up, and this week is, I guess, the first one where I know I can, it's now just about pacing myself, not getting 'bored', not laughing at how bad my time sense is, and not worrying about what anyone passing me thinks of me.

Although I'm worried about next run, after that I'm kind of looking forward to weeks 7-9.

[Jazzyrunner Graduate in reply to arbitrarygenius]

Yes! You’ve got to the point where you know you can keep it up! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[DiscoRunner Graduate]

Slow is completely fine! Takes me about 50 mins to run 5k! It’s the running that counts - 6 months from graduation this week & 5 1/2 inches gone from my waist! You’re doing great!

And if you want to learn to run really slowly - here’s the Japanese slow jogging technique film I saw in W6 - and have run this way ever since!

m.youtube.com/watch?v=9L2b2...(Not working as expected?)

[arbitrarygenius Graduate in reply to DiscoRunner]

Interesting! I've been probably moving about that slow for the longer runs just so I finish them and feel that accomplishment, but I've definitely be landing on heels. Thanks for this.

[DiscoRunner Graduate in reply to arbitrarygenius]

Definitely don’t want to land on the heels! It’s worth watching a few times as there are a few bits to the technique. I think it’s worth learning this properly - because it’s useful if you’re having a ‘bad’ run, you can just slow right down, and also in this heat!

[arbitrarygenius Graduate in reply to DiscoRunner]

Will definitely give it a go. I'm quite good on the relaxed arms, not so good on the looking ahead always.

[Oldgirlruns Graduate]

London was hot yesterday wasn’t it! Thank goodness I don’t have to be there every day any more! Sounds like you’re having a really good turn round in your life this year ag - hope it carries on getting better for you. I’m at the same point as you are in the plan so I’ll be watching how you get on! Good luck!

[arbitrarygenius Graduate in reply to Oldgirlruns]

It was so hot and I walked for so long. Ugh..

[VickyH31]

I’ve got the 25 minute one coming up on Saturday. Good luck!