Week 7 Run 2 shambling continues!

[CaptFrey]

Well my knees clicked like clicking was in style on my brisk warm up walk and hip crunched last night but I still ran and even managed the speed up at the end. I must admit the first bit of the run my inner critic mocked and we discussed swimming v running then the remainder of the run I seemed to be supported by some pigeons. No endolphins i think I have had my allotted amount after completing 20 minutes. 30 minutes is my aim at the moment and 5k by my next birthday. Oooh rambled sorry

[Deetermined Graduate]

Hi CaptFrey,

Congratulations for completing the run despite the start proving to be rocky! 🎉 I hope you threw a party for your hips and knees afterwards (I guess they would also accept extra rest days or a muscle relax bath or the prospect of strengthening exercises as reward, this is how I make mine shut up 😉). I had meant to inform you after your previous post already that I borrowed your endolphins because I was struggling a bit in weeks six and seven and felt that I needed some support for the remaining two weeks, my apologies. I had planned to return them at the end of next week, however, I now wonder if I should ask them to start swimming into your direction already? There is no need, though, to send me the pigeons who supported you today in return. No, seriously: Do NOT send the pigeons, please.

The more posts I read here the more I get the impression that it is pretty common to experience weeks six and seven as being a bit difficult after the amazing experience when completing week five. For me this was definitely the case, and I think this was mainly due to the following reasons; maybe the one or the other applies to you, too:

- For weeks I had been so excited about whether I would manage to run for twenty minutes in a row after such a short time that, once I had reached that milestone and knew that thirty minutes were an achievable goal now, part of the thrill seemed to be gone. Furthermore, I don't think that the sense of achievement I felt after W5R3 can be replicated. I am still happy after completing another week but nothing compares to that first milestone.

- Sadly, this slight dip in enthusiasm coincided with the moment in which my body suddenly noticed that I had started running. After W5R3 my left knee complained a bit. The first two runs in week six were alright but when the walking breaks stopped after W6R2 my knee persuaded my feet and my thighs to join the rebellion and to complain. All the time. We made peace, though, when I gave them three rest days in between runs in week seven and cut down on any other exercise I had been doing. And I promised to do knee strengthening exercise, I still owe them that bit.

So the good news is that now in week 8 I feel a bit more enthusiastic again as the next milestone is not too far away and my body seems to get used to running a bit longer. I keep my fingers crossed for you that it will be the same for you. 🤞What counts is that we made it this far and will not give up now! And it doesn't matter if we need a bit longer to get to the goal: I rather take breaks in between runs and listen to my body than risking injuries which might take months to heal. Having said that: happy rest day(s) and all the best for the next run! 😃

[CaptFrey Graduate in reply to Deetermined]

Thank you for guarding my endolphins 😁. The 20 minutes was an epic achievement for me and i am pleased to read you have progressed to week 8 Hopefully you will graduate with flying colours not flying pigeons. I have been afraid to rest incase I don’t start again. I am determined to graduate then when the Lido reopens synchronised swim with the endolphins 😉. This forum has cheered me no end knowing I am not alone in my quest.

[Deetermined Graduate in reply to CaptFrey]

No, definitely not alone. 😃 Regarding resting: I was nervous about that, too, because I was afraid that if I rested for too long in between runs I might no longer be able to run for 25 minutes non-stop but might fall back several weeks. Apart from the fact that this wouldn't have been the end of the world and that there is no shame in repeating runs or whole weeks: Spreading three runs over nine days instead of the usual five days turned out not to be a problem at all, and I assume that four or five days between runs would have been okay, too, if needed. If I hadn't taken these rest days, though, my pain might have become a proper injury and I might either have been forced to take a longer break or might have become less enthusiastic about running because I would have associated running with being in pain.

I can't imagine that you wouldn't start again btw: You seem to be very committed to run for 30 minutes and later on for 5k, and I am pretty sure that you don't want to miss out on that now that you got so close. Also, the same community which has cheered you so far will no doubt continue to do so and even kick your a** if needed. 😉