"Thanks Michael" I said out loud as he announced the content of W6R2. " Well, this is nothing like R1 is it?". In my mind, I prepared for something similar to R1, don't know why, just did, so this was a bit of a 'worrying' surprise. However, 'action cures fear' I always say; get it started and any fears, worries, concerns disappear immediately (for me). 'I've started now, I can always stop, but I'll give it go, what's the worst?' I say (not out loud). 'No-one knows or really cares that you're doing this, so what does it matter if if you 'fail' this one... you've come this far, done well...'.
That's what was going through my mind as I kicked-off on the first run. I was expecting the 'toxic ten' any second, but it never came,. The old legs didn't get that aching, exhausted feeling, the 'give up now it hurts' feeling that me (and most others I now know) get early on into a run (this time at least). Is this a sign of progress or a one off? We'll see next run no doubt.
I was coasting! By the time I reached the first walk I felt great. I set off on R2, pleased with how was feeling. The track that came on the playlist was Rappers Delight, long version; I knew this would see me through. Half-way through the run though, uh-oh!....the toxic ten! But in the last 5 minutes?
It got tough, really tough, physically.But mentally? Surprisingly no. I had been here before, had fought these same minds demons and number of times now and won. So the dreaded fear of failure, the desire to stop, to 'call it a day, rest-up, you did well anyway, just don't tell anyone ...', never lasted more than a second or two.
Am I cracking this running malarkey? I think so, hope so, 'cos when I completed it, I have to say I felt the best I have done so far on this programme, even better than when I finished W5. Maybe it's simply knowing progress is being made, that I'm getting better at this, that it's not the individual run just completed. Who cares.. it feels great!
To any of you just behind me or just starting this programme, keep on running, you have my fullest encouragement and support; you will get to trust it and love it. To those of you just ahead of me or who have completed C25K, you are an inspiration, to be admired. It's thanks to this forum that I'm gonna get this done!
W6R2
Wk8R1 - a little unorthodox but hey...
Down but not out!
W6r2 A bit of a slog
W6R2....
