W7R3 A Tough One

[Wenderwoo]

Today was a lovely day, a bit chilly but sunny - a lovely day for a run. I saw the physio yesterday; things pretty much the same, keep doing what you’re doing, come back in just over a fortnight and try a one day rest between runs just before I go back to see the impact.

I’ve been upping the anti with strength exercises the last 2 days and boy does my body know about it. Off I plodded and my legs felt very heavy from the get go. “Keep going, it’s just the toxic ten”.....

15 minutes later it was still the same, but “don’t give up, else you’ll have to do it again”. So dug in and when the one minute to go came I speeded up just a little bit, but was ecstatic when Laura told me to slow down and walk.

It was the toughest run I’ve had for a fair while. Not sure if it was the already achy limbs, not enough hydration maybe, or just one of those runs. But I’ve done it and super excited to move on to a brand new week - W8, bring it on!

What thoughts do you have to try to keep going?

[pete1212 Graduate]

Well done on your run wenderwoo 👏👏👏happy running 🏃‍♀️ you smash week 8 your getting closer to the end 👍

[Wenderwoo Graduate in reply to pete1212]

Thanks, I’m not sorry that one is over as it was hard. Looking forward to W8 😁

[59er Graduate]

Haha! I can really relate to how you felt today because I've felt it too. The heavy legs and thinking 'I can't do it today'- what is that? I'm like you- I try to think it out. Have I overdone it with yoga or dog walking or didn't I drink enough yesterday, am I eating the right things? It's so comforting to know that this must be 'normal'. I don't know about you but I just dig deep and say to myself I'm out here now and just set a nearby target to run to and then another and then another. By the time I've done that I'm hopefully through the worst and nearer the end of the run than the beginning so there's no going back!

Good luck with week 8 🏃‍♀️😅

[Wenderwoo Graduate in reply to 59er]

Absolutely! One thing I’ve learned is sometimes you just have to use sheer bloody-minded determination 😖

[59er Graduate in reply to Wenderwoo]

🤨👍

[Roxdog Graduate in reply to Wenderwoo]

Yep - totally agree with that!

[Buddy34 Graduate]

It may have been just one of those runs Wenderwoo but you did it you've just ran 25 minutes for the 4th time. You're doing great 😊😊

[Wenderwoo Graduate in reply to Buddy34]

Thanks!

[MartinKH Graduate]

Great determination to get through Wenderwoo 👍👍👍👍

[Wenderwoo Graduate in reply to MartinKH]

Thanks!

[Hannasasop Graduate]

Well done you. I felt exactly the same with run 2 yesterday and it was bloody-minded determination that got me through. Enjoy week 8, you’re leading the trail 🏃🏼‍♀️🎉 Be very proud of yourself 😀

[Wenderwoo Graduate in reply to Hannasasop]

Thank you!

[apatsyf Graduate]

Just keep going!! It's funny when you're on 25 mins for the fourth time and feel it should be getting easier, but it doesn't. 😡. Take heart that next week is only 3 mins more and then only 2 more on top of that and you're there 🤷‍♀️!! Hopefully I will try starting back at week 5 from Monday - not sure it's easier or harder, having done it before, but I'm there chasing you on. 🧘‍♀️🏃‍♀️🚴‍♀️

[Wenderwoo Graduate in reply to apatsyf]

I got to W7R1 mid November last year and that’s when I had the Achilles problem and had to stop for 6 weeks. I then had a test run, and decided to go back to W4, so I understand how you feel. It’s frustrating but sensible. But are you sure you need to go that far back? I’ve seen on here before that the experienced people say that 2 weeks off shouldn’t affect fitness levels and you’ve only been a little longer than that I think? 😁

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

It wasn't a case of the toxic 10 but toxic 25, congratulations on not stopping as you realised that if you had stopped you would have had to run, run 3 of week 7 a second time which altogether would have been a 5th time for that 25 minute run, onwards and upwards to week 8, not long now until you graduate 😁 🏃🏾

[Wenderwoo Graduate in reply to AlMorr]

Thank you 😁

[Roxdog Graduate]

You're nearly there Wenderwoo! This is great.

I don't think at all while I'm running, apart from thinking about maintaining posture etc. My mind sort of goes blank I've realised. Just my music keeps me going. I don't look at the next landmark I have to reach or the time I have left. It takes all my effort just to run. Weird I know but I just run until the timer says stop! So no helpful tips from me sorry!

[Wenderwoo Graduate in reply to Roxdog]

Thanks! I’m looking forward to just being able to try out other things soon 🤞🏼

[Roxdog Graduate in reply to Wenderwoo]

It is interesting post-graduation! You start to understand what kind of runs you want to do and what kind of runner you are (probably a permanently slow one but who cares 😂).

So looking forward to you graduating!

[Parky88 Graduate in reply to Roxdog]

Roxdog that is the ultimate goal for me, how do you do it?! To just switch my brain off would be ideal but I just cant do it, that little voice is just there all the time!

[Roxdog Graduate in reply to Parky88]

It just happens. The effort of running and concentrating on how I'm moving just takes over. I also have an allotment and when I'm working there, particularly when I'm doing heavy work, it just switches my mind off. The running is hard work so it takes over!

[Parky88 Graduate in reply to Roxdog]

So envious! I've found a good audiobook distracts me somewhat but that's the best I can manage

[Roxdog Graduate in reply to Parky88]

Oh and my music helps!

[Debston Graduate]

Brilliant, just think how far you've come since Week One. Not surprising that repeatedly running for 25 minutes solid takes more energy than the amount of running you were doing in the early weeks. Just keep on keeping on and your body will adjust. Eventually, 25 minutes will seem like a short run!

[Wenderwoo Graduate in reply to Debston]

Thanks! Though I nearly spit my tea out at 25 mins being a short run - though of course I know you’re right 😜 I’m so looking forward to getting this completed and setting the next challenge, whatever that may be 😁

[Nilsam Graduate]

Well done, Wenderwoo. Pleased to hear that you are injury free. It is definitely a balance to rest but to keep the fitness. Take care. 👍👀

[Wenderwoo Graduate in reply to Nilsam]

Thank you 😁

[RunningMigster Graduate]

What keeps me going? I'm a tight fisted Yorkshireman.

If I've run 15 minutes already, I'm not going to let it go to waste by stopping! I'll do that next 10, 15 or 20 minutes even if I end up crawling home 🤣.

Week 8 next! Very exciting. Soo be on that last week!

Mig

[Wenderwoo Graduate in reply to RunningMigster]

Yep, pretty much my thoughts exactly!

[DDJ2019 Graduate]

Brilliant - well done Wenderwoo.

[Wenderwoo Graduate in reply to DDJ2019]

Thanks!

[D48P Graduate]

Sounds like a tough one well done for completing it ✅ almost on the home stretch now 🏅

[Wenderwoo Graduate in reply to D48P]

Thanks!

[Ryndle]

Well done Wenderwoo, bloody mindedness is a tool I’ll hang on to for W7 x great achievement, you’re spurring those in earlier weeks on 👍 no pressure 🤣

[Wenderwoo Graduate in reply to Ryndle]

Just like I’ve been spurred on by others, thank you 👍😁

[mom24uk Graduate]

Fabulous, well done! 👍

[Wenderwoo Graduate in reply to mom24uk]

Thanks 😁

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

Oh well done that’s so good to hear, these longer runs are tough but so satisfying

I used to have an imaginary green ribbon to pull myself along when running longer times got tough and near the end it turned gold to pull me to the en, writing that i wonder about my sanity but it worked

Now of course if i feel the need to walk a bit i can and Willow runs a bit less time than me mostly and waits patiently for me to finish it’s great to run

[Wenderwoo Graduate in reply to SueAppleRun]

Whatever it takes, we all have our thing, thank you!

[Hymertrails Graduate]

Congratulations on smashing W7, some runs are just rubbish and things don’t click! Onwards to W8... Good luck!!

[Wenderwoo Graduate in reply to Hymertrails]

Thank you 😁

[UBFittie]

Brilliant!! You are inspirational my dear xxxx

[Wenderwoo Graduate in reply to UBFittie]

Thank you 😁