Consolidation runs: Radio silence

[MuddledGardener]

Well, I have been unusually quiet this week. I suppose the reason for this is because I didn’t want to unnerve new runners.

This week, the weather has been very warm and humid, and I suppose I haven’t been taking care of myself, from a running point of view. I haven’t been drinking at least two litres of water each day, and have paid the price.

Monday’s run was difficult, which I posted about, but Wednesday’s and yesterday’s run were even worse. Both times, I forgot to use my inhaler beforehand, which only made matters worse, in that, during the Toxic Ten, when I needed to process as much oxygen as possible, I couldn’t. So that, combined with lack of hydration and the hot and humid weather, led to two very uncomfortable and unpleasant runs.

I kept the pace slow, not out of wisdom, but out of necessity, if I was going to run for thirty minutes. My body was screaming at me to stop. It was not gremlins. It was pure physical discomfort. We ran in the evening, but it was still 23 degrees when we set out. Both times, the sweat was streaming out of me, and my face was the same colour as my red running vest. Not a pretty sight. I also smelt... badly. Not a good advert for taking up running.

Anyway, both times, I completed thirty minutes of running. Now, you could call me a stubborn old git. What I think has happened, is that this programme has actually improved my mental stamina, not just my physical stamina. If I have to run for a certain length of time, I will, even if my body is asking for pity. I am proving to myself that I am stronger than I think.

So, if any of you are thinking that this running malarkey is more trouble than it’s worth, think again. Yes, it can be bloody hard, and it can hurt, but it will bring out an inner strength that you didn’t know you possessed, one which you can take with you into your non-running life. Whenever you think you can’t do something because it seems insurmountable, you probably can, because this programme, and everyone on here, have helped you to get stronger, both physically and mentally.

On a different note, here is a baby Barn Owl that I watched being ringed in the afternoon before my run. 😍

[Stephen_UK Graduate]

Great post and very inspiring. That's exactly right that you can use the strength this gives you in other parts of your life.

And a fantastic photo. Thanks.

[MuddledGardener Graduate in reply to Stephen_UK]

Thank you, Stephen. I was worried I may put people off.

[Stephen_UK Graduate in reply to MuddledGardener]

No way!

[MuddledGardener Graduate in reply to Stephen_UK]

😊

[backintime Graduate]

Glad you're back ! I missed you.

I'm sorry you had difficult runs, but it is interesting as I found some of my consolidation runs harder than week 9, I don't know if it's the fact that it's been push push for the 9 weeks and I was physically tired or what, but I did come out the other side and can now knock out 5k with relative consistency (I won't say ease, but pushing past 5k has made 5k seem easier).

Hang in there MG, we're supporting you through the harder ones, don't worry about posting, if you don't post we can't help and encourage. Or post over on the bridge to 10k if you really don't want to do it here.

[MuddledGardener Graduate in reply to backintime]

Thank you! I think I AM tired, actually, and am still way off 4K, let alone 5!

[Stephen_UK Graduate in reply to MuddledGardener]

No hurry. And no pressure.

[MuddledGardener Graduate in reply to Stephen_UK]

I just feel envious of those that talk about doing 5k as an everyday thing. 😕

[backintime Graduate in reply to MuddledGardener]

I was trying to encourage, lol. When I was consolidating I couldn't either. I kept thinking that it was supposed to get easier and it wasn't. Until 1 day it was. Just like that, everything clicked. Try throwing in a quick (for you) 2k, or a really slow 4k (just keep on going one day).

[MuddledGardener Graduate in reply to backintime]

Doing a slow 2k tomorrow with my granddaughter!

[backintime Graduate in reply to MuddledGardener]

Brilliant, I have a junior parkrun 2k in August with my youngest son too...

[MuddledGardener Graduate in reply to backintime]

I’ll let you know how it goes! 😁

[DiscoRunner Graduate]

Great post & very true - the impact of c25k across our lives is amazing. And slow in this heat is a must. But then I’m slow in the cold too!!! x

[MuddledGardener Graduate in reply to DiscoRunner]

I don’t think I’ll ever be fast! 🤣

[nif100 Graduate]

omg you sound like me gritted teeth and get on with it and if I have decided to do x amount of time I dam well will no matter what....mind you today is exceptionally humid and hot here on the island so no fun for runningxx

[MuddledGardener Graduate in reply to nif100]

I have to say, that running hasn’t been fun for at least a week! 😳

[Fatgirlslim19 Graduate]

I love your sheer determination and grit, lady! You're right though that mind set comes with the progression of the programme, repeatedly telling ourselves "Just a little bit further, just to the lamppost/tree/junction" as we go pays off for sure!

[MuddledGardener Graduate in reply to Fatgirlslim19]

It’s hard, though! 😳

[Fatgirlslim19 Graduate in reply to MuddledGardener]

It is! But if it was easy everyone would just get out there and do it instead of having the wonderfully hard and rewarding journey we have taken.

[MuddledGardener Graduate in reply to Fatgirlslim19]

*polishes halo*

[Fatgirlslim19 Graduate in reply to MuddledGardener]

You missed a bit

[MuddledGardener Graduate in reply to Fatgirlslim19]

🤣🤣🤣

[Oldgirlruns Graduate]

Lovely pic MG - and, as ever, a cracking post for us to take on board. Happy Running!

[MuddledGardener Graduate in reply to Oldgirlruns]

Oh thank you! I really didn’t want to scare anyone off! 😳

[Oldgirlruns Graduate in reply to MuddledGardener]

Don’t think you could ever do that!

[MuddledGardener Graduate in reply to Oldgirlruns]

You wait! 🤣🤣🤣

[Cantstopmenow Graduate]

Thanks for your post - I've missed you! I'm just in from my 4th consolidation run, I found it really tough, I tried a new route and think I set off too fast. My Strava app lost GPS again and thinks I only ran for 10mins!!

How is your granddaughter doing?🏃‍♀️

[MuddledGardener Graduate in reply to Cantstopmenow]

Thank you! We’re doing our first Junior Parkrun tomorrow! She’s so excited, especially as she has some “proper“ running shoes (from Next 😂), and she has a bright pink Parkrun wristband. 😍 She’s four, and everything has to be pink or purple!

[Julia187 Graduate]

I found the consolidation runs to be a strange mix of good and bad with nothing in between! I think adrenaline carried me through the last two weeks of C25K and then felt a bit flat and lost. You get through it though and running kind of becomes just what you do 😊 Well done for persevering, winning the mental battle is a much tougher job! Enjoy your park run with your granddaughter, what a fabulous role model for her.

Beautiful picture 🦉

[MuddledGardener Graduate in reply to Julia187]

Thank you! I don’t know about being a fabulous role model - I’m clinically obese! 😂

[Julia187 Graduate in reply to MuddledGardener]

You’re out there doing something, that. Punts for something x

[Jogunlikely Graduate]

A tough week indeed. So you know the answer, look after yourself better 😍

Well done for getting through.

Pic of baby owl much appreciated. They are very ugly in a cute kind of way 😄🦉

[MuddledGardener Graduate in reply to Jogunlikely]

They were SO cute! This was the youngest, but the older ones had more adult feathers. There were four in the nest, which was brilliant.

[Comfortnotspeed]

Inspirational post. I’m sorry it’s been tough but my goodness you sound determined 👍

[MuddledGardener Graduate in reply to Comfortnotspeed]

Thank you, that’s kind. Good luck with your running journey.

[Oddity]

Hiya! I did my first 30 minutes this morning and just as I finished I spotted a distressed earthworm and remembered one of your posts from a week or so ago and rescued it!

Yes it's hard going but we are doing it and we are getting stronger in so many ways 👍

[MuddledGardener Graduate in reply to Oddity]

Oh well done! If earthworms are all people remember me for, then so be it! 🤣🤣🤣

[Meepmum Graduate]

Thanks Muddled you're encouraging me as I flog away here in the heat. I chickened out in 23C and have saught refuge in the air conditioned gym but found I hate treadmills with a passion 😝😝.

[MuddledGardener Graduate in reply to Meepmum]

Glad to be of service! Treadmills make me lose my balance! 🤣

[Couchpotato2 Graduate]

Well done! You were braver than me this week

[MuddledGardener Graduate in reply to Couchpotato2]

Or stupid? Discuss. 🤣

[Vintage61 Graduate]

Very honest and inspiring post thank you. I think it really helps to hear about the reality and that it can be hard and sometimes even painful but building resilience and digging in sometimes gives an even greater satisfaction and sense of achievement . I’m still fairly new to this but I love it so much and want it to be part of my life now and that means taking the good and the not so good! Week 7 run 3 early tomorrow morning....🏃🏻‍♀️💕🏃🏻‍♀️💕🏃🏻‍♀️

[MuddledGardener Graduate in reply to Vintage61]

Good luck tomorrow! Hopefully it’ll be lovely and cool for you. 😊