Week 6: small but oh so precious victories

[venturieta]

Today while I was coming home from the last run of week 6 I was admiring the sky (see photo above) and thinking about how each workout is a victory impossible to share, even with people who Knows me. They just don't understand, and I can't blame them.

My mother texted me (she lives in another state, and in times of social isolation and inability to travel we try to keep in touch daily) and I was still very excited for having completed W6 that I told her USING CAPS LOCK that I can now run for more than 20 minutes without stopping. Her answer: "Cool".

Well, that's all right. 22 minutes* is not really much for anyone but me (and for you in this forum, I suppose). I ran for almost 3K, which is not a memorable distance. I'm still almost the same weight I was six weeks ago. The only tangible difference is that in the first week I gasped after a minute and now I am less concerned with oxygen and more with pain in my calves. Today, on top of that, I forgot to stretch, silly me.

Even my boyfriend, who decided to start running to keep me company (he's at W4D1), doesn't understand how I feel. He's sedentary and overweight now, but he was an athlete when he was younger. That is to say: he knows that he will be able to run for 30 minutes after 9 weeks, because physical conditioning is something that he knows he will be able to recover. While I occasionally find myself thinking while running: "Is that really me?", he hears me and says: "but what did you expect?"

I expected so many things: making a lot of excuses for not leaving home, giving up halfway, being in fact unable to deal with the challenges that the program presents. I certainly didn't expect to run for more than 20 minutes after 6 weeks of exercise. Because I never did anything remotely like that. And I'm enjoying it! This is the craziest of all.

I end up sweaty, tired, my face red, my hair stuck to the back of my neck ... and I can't wait for the next time I'm going to tie my trainers and leave the house again.

I started C25K to help me deal with depression and anxiety (in early March, when no one thought the epidemic would be so harsh) and I can't even imagine how I would be feeling today if I hadn't started running. It is okay that my small victories cannot be really shared: they are mine and they are real, and that is enough.

I did it. I really did.

* In the app I'm using the last workout for week 6 consists of 22 - not 25 - minutes of jogging.

[Fitat501970 Graduate]

well done I always thought every run was a victory and to be proud of and i believe everyone on here does too. Be proud of yourself!

[Hidden]

Congratulations venturieta! It's another COOL from me. You are making great progress and these little victories are wonderful stepping stones of achievement as you make your way through the plan towards graduation week.

What a beautiful sky in your photograph - no aeroplane contrails to spoil the clouds. 😊🏃‍♀️

[venturieta Graduate in reply to Hidden]

I know, right? I live near a busy airport and the absence of airplanes is eerie but also amazing in a way.

[grumpyoldgirl Graduate]

Beautiful sky, what a lovely way to finish your run. I know what you mean about other people not getting it, either because they aren't runners or because they are (or were).

But you know, and we know, what it means to run for 22 minutes. It's HUGE!!! (I remember run 1, and thinking, oh, run for a minute, that's easy. Huh! And then having to do it again, and again 😨)

So twenty two minutes!! 👍💪👏🙌👊

[venturieta Graduate in reply to grumpyoldgirl]

Yeah, I don't think I ever considered how long a minute can be up to six weeks ago.

[grumpyoldgirl Graduate in reply to venturieta]

😂

[Workingathome Graduate]

Well done congratulations on 22 minutes 🥳

What a great post and a fab photo too

[Sandraj39 Graduate]

Hi venturieta , I am so glad you posted this. I think many others on here will understand that these 'small' victories are actually HUGE! We have felt what you are feeling too.💪😀

I completed the program and a return to running, four and a half years ago now. I also struggle with anxiety and running has helped my mental wellbeing so much more than I could ever have predicted!

As you say, times are HARD at the moment - and running is helping so many of us, both mentally and physically.

Good luck, keep running and stay safe.🙂🏃🏽‍♀️🌈

[Sandraj39 Graduate in reply to Sandraj39]

I have just read some of your previous posts - which are so inspiring! 🙂 Also, I would never have known that English is not your first language! Good luck on your running journey! 🏃🏽‍♀️😀👍

[venturieta Graduate in reply to Sandraj39]

Thank you so much for you words, and also for encouraging me to write in a language that is not mine. I think I wrote somewhere on the forum about how my running repertoire ended up becoming anglophile by accident. I practically only talk about running around here, and I also have read many articles and memoirs... the results are, to say the least, unusual.

The other day I was talking to my boyfriend about difficulties in adjusting my pace and I just couldn't remember how to say "pacing" in Portuguese. He had to translate for me: "you meant"passada"". Oh, yes, passada.

[Decker]

Well done to you. And if there is any question, 20 minutes is a BIG DEAL! Every run you complete is a victory for you vs. your old self. I’ve been running for 2 years and that feeling never changes, it just gets stronger with every run and race. Great work!!