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. 😍
Written by
MuddledGardener
Graduate
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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.
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).
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
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!
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!!
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!
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.
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 👍
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 😝😝.
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....🏃🏻♀️💕🏃🏻♀️💕🏃🏻♀️
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1st Consolidation Run 
Consolidation Run 19 🏃♂️ 
First consolidation run
Consolidation run 1 🥵
