Consolidation W1R1 - Done (but only just)

[Roadrunner65]

Advice on here says it takes 12 weeks for something to become a habit, so I intend to run for a further 3 times a week for 3 more weeks following my recent graduation (still feels so great saying that).

I almost, very almost, put away the running shoes and was ready to 'retire'. This was my thought up to the point on the 2nd day off at around the time in the evening that I would set out on a run with my new bff Michael Johnson.

I pretty quickly realised around that time too, that it was those pesky mind demons at it again, trying to do me down, tell me enough is enough, take it easy now, you're a graduate, you got the bragging rights, what do you need to prove?

As soon as I realised this, and remembered about the 'mind demons', the 'mind angels' charged in and took over, made me put on the shoes and get out there.

I know now, this is going to need a different set of motivators, for me. Gone is that sense of peer pressure (without the pressure) from you fantastic folk out there. This was going to be, and was, just different.

I thought I'd just start the timer on the phone, put on the tunes and run with a smile on my face, easy. After all, I was/am a bonafide graduate! Honestly though, I found it hard. Maybe because it came at the end of an extremely long day working from home, no thanks to the extraordinary circumstances we find ourselves in, and my legs, having barely moved all day, and brain, exhausted from the events of the day, just did not have enough blood circulation and oxygen and so it was always going to be tougher than I expected.

It felt so much longer than 30 minutes and those mind demons were soon back out to play. But I got through it, just.

It's the 2nd consolidation run this evening. My head will/should be in a better place now that I think I know what the problem was. So, hoping for more of a 'fun run' this evening, despite the dreaded lurgy that is plaguing the world right now. I might even ask MJ to coach me again, am sure he won't mind.

Keep on keeping safe fellow C25K'ers.

[Margot2 Graduate]

Well done for keeping going!

I graduated 2 weeks ago and have been consolidating. I try to run for 5k each time, not got down to 39mins yet. Some runs seem harder and I can’t always pinpoint why.

Stay safe & keep going.

[Timotea Graduate]

Very motivating post! Glad you did it as I am coming up to final run in W7 and sort of wondering how this works when you have graduated and no longer have that graduation goal to work to.

[LittleIreland Graduate]

I'm planning on using all of summer to consolidate and then move onto 10k when the weather becomes much more bearable.

[Comfortnotspeed]

You kept going. You were tired and you beat it. How amazing are you? Well done and enjoy you rest day 😊

[Tasha99 Graduate]

Never, never let the demons win! Never! Hold on to the post run high and remember it the next time they try to knock you back. This is every run for me! Well done on graduation!

[Hidden]

Well done for fighting those demons, you are doing great.

I’m heading out on my first consolidation run today and am a little daunted by taking the next step without the structure of a plan, so I’m going to make one of my own.

Good luck with the rest of your consolidation runs. Happy running 😊

[Wenderwoo Graduate]

Well done 😁