Week 4...rinse and repeat

It’s been brutal to be honest. While the dark nights are here I only have 3 safe routes and they all contain more than one hill. I have fallen short on each of the three runs. Run 1 the first five minute run fell on a hill, quite a steep one and I fell short by a minute. Run 2 changed route but the last five minute fell on the last part of a hill, again I missed nearly a minute. Run 3 tonight, I fell short on the second 3 minute run on a steep hill. The goddam hills always fall on the run not the walk 😒

I haven’t really enjoyed this week as I have felt sick with the effort, can breathe through it, but legs went to jelly! I slowed right down to try and get there but it wasn’t to be.

I won’t be beaten, I am going to repeat the week, if I can’t beat the hills now I will not move onto week 5 until I can. This way my stamina will build and it won’t be so hard to tackle hills later! Instead of focusing on what I didn’t do, I have tonight given myself a massive pat on the back and decided that I only missed almost three minutes all week. It’s not that much more to achieve 😊 go me 🏃‍♀️

Positive pants says I liked week 4 that much, I’m gonna do it again 😂💪🏻

[Wenderwoo Graduate]

Here’s a pat on the back from me too ✋🏼 Keep the positivity - you will get there. These runs will build your stamina and before you know it it will be “what hill?” 👍😁

[CatMo13 Graduate]

Hi there - well done. Maybe try what I do, which is do a loop of a flat part . Literally just like being on a treadmill but it’s 1000meters or a short distance. Cos when you do hills it’s a lot harder on you and so your body’s having to work more - which is why you feel sick. I repeat weeks and runs all the time - everyone has their own ways of doing it. Keep up the good work 👍

[Hidden in reply to CatMo13]

I hear you...the issue I have is I live halfway up a very steep hill, if I do the up and round route, I walk the worst bit but there’s another steep hill right on the five minute run and another on the three minute. If I go down and round, the hills are less steep but longer. There is no flat loop 🤦‍♀️ But there is some downhill which perversely come on the walking sections. Weeks 1-3 weren’t so much of an issue as the runs were shorter and the recovery longer so I could do it.

Once the light nights are here my choices are a bit better. Thanks! Xx

[Mum22boys Graduate in reply to Hidden]

If it's any consolation, and believe me I'm only talking a small consolation, but I think going downhill is tougher on your knees and easier to injure them as you have a tendency to over stride. I think your plan sounds spot on, and you will beat those hills and just think how much stronger you'll feel after all the uphillness!

[Hidden in reply to Mum22boys]

❤️

[Hidden]

Well done. All my routes are down from my house and then I end up having to run up quite a bit. Not for too long but it may be once I do 30 min runs. I’m taking your approach. Slow down, baby steps, and I figure that it’ll make me stronger too.

I love your determination. You’ll definitely get there. You only fell short by a tiny amount.

[Penoverfifty Graduate]

Could you find someone to run with and look for somewhere flatter?? We have an old railway line in our village which I would not do on my own in the dark, but with my friend or other half with me it's fine?? We also drive to other towns with routes that have flatter routes, as where we live is a small village, so it's quite hard to have a good distance with street lights.. Hope this makes sense, but keep going, I avoid big hills.

[Hidden in reply to Penoverfifty]

You are making the assumption I have friends 😂 in the main I can’t commit to running with AN Other as I go at all different times dependant on work. But last night we had a little drive out and I possibly found another route that would be ok and less hilly. OH is scared to death I’m gonna ask him to join me! Thanks for input xxxx

[Fors Graduate]

Hi

I realised that i don't have to run straight from a to B. My route is a bit hilly too. If a hill is too much I turn round and go downhill for a. bit. You can go to and fro over the more level bits several times

[Sybilw Graduate]

Good for you! I wish I’d tackled hills like you as they still scare me and I put on my “can’t do that” head. The ones round here aren’t even proper hills! Hope you love week 4 even better second time around. 😆