Well, now! I had to do this run in a different county; I’m used to running in the Norfolk fens and here I am in the hills of Buckinghamshire! Could be a total disaster!
I knew this run may possibly be tricky. So I told myself that all previous runs were to prepare for the 20 minute run on Week 5. That’s now done. Start again to prepare for a 25 minute run with intervals of walking, like before. I was sure that this approach would work; I like following a structure and instructions,
With this in mind, off I went! Out of the house, onto the path. This was my first challenge! I’ve never run on a hard surface before. I figured I’d try it this time and by next run, I would have found a park somewhere. Anyway, music ON, Michael ON! Off I go..... Fortunately, Michael seems to have recovered from his crackly voice of the previous run and is on top form. Santana through the headphones! Warm up walk - getting used to the feel of the hard surface. 5 minute run. Legs feel a bit heavy but feel settled with the pace. No problems with accepting the stop and interval walk. 8 minute run - maybe this was a bad idea, the road feels so heavy! At some stage I pass the 1km mark and I realise that my pace is faster than usual, so I slow down a tad to cope with the road surface. Michael says I am halfway - just as I encounter a SLOPE, oh no! I plod on, legs even heavier; this incline is NOT what I am used to. Start to wonder if I can do it! This is for you my forum buddies, I can’t give up now! That slope went on for 4 minutes, I tell you! But I made it. Really appreciated the next interval walk. Did the final 5 minute run without incident. When I got back, was my face a little pink with exertion, and was I maybe just a tad breathless? I tell you, I was a red faced, sweating, panting wreck! But I did it. Oh yes, another one in the bag!!
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Jools2020
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I just checked my stats. Hark at me, I sound like a pro! In spite of the fact that the two interval walks were included in my timing on this run (and there were no interval walks on the last 20 minute run) my time was 30 seconds faster! (Although still pretty darn slow 🐌) So I was running faster than I thought. The incline showed as well - today 15m elevation and zero for the 20 minute run in the fens. Interesting and I’m glad I recorded it. I’m going to need some new running shoes for the road methinks 😂.
Yes, I do, I do! Think I might have a gait analysis done when I get back home. The shoes I have are predominantly trail and they are so nice I don’t want to wear them out running on the roads. Yes, I love the whole stats thing! I bought a sports watch last week, which I am enjoying! It’s a great feeling for sure 😘
Fantastic, good for you getting out and just exploring. A lot of things out of your comfort zone but look how well you managed and what you have achieved. Nothing’s going to stop you, not even those pesky hills 😊👏🏻
Jools AMAZING! Well done you for persevering and tackling that incline!!! I've not ever run in a hard surface either - interesting. I love how you talk about Michael as if he's your best mate 🤗
Buckinghamshire certainly has more ups and downs than Norfolk, maybe you could practice over humpback bridges 🤣🤣
Great job out there, and I love the mindset of a reset and prepare for 25 minutes, that’s exactly how I should have treated this the first time around! My daughter and I ran this the other day on the flattest bit of north Derbyshire (maybe with the top of kinder scout excepted) as we’ve found a place where someone appears to have ironed the hills 🤣
Run 2 is similar and then your reward is that run that these are training you for... enjoy.
Thanks! I think if I’d had inclines from the start, I would have got used to them. I need to go down into the valley and check out some parks. Good that you’ve found somewhere relatively flat! Bring on run 2!
You don’t give yourself an easy task do you! Not only having to encounter the intervals (which by the way you handled like a pro!) but you also ran in the road!!!, somewhere new ... AND you ran up an incline!!!!
This deserves a whole line of claps
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
Now that’s out the way let me tell you - I loved reading the journey of your run!! I got more excited with every word and I was willing you to do it!
How chuffed do you feel lady!? I bet you feel amazing!
Those intervals I found problematic but not you!.. you shrugged them off with such ease.... proud of you!
Ps. So pleased to hear Michael didn’t go off sick 🤣 we can’t do it without him can we ... well not just yet anyway
Trust me to make it more difficult! But I did squeeze in my 20 minute run before I left the fens for a while. Thank you for your encouragement and all the claps. I do feel amazing - and amazed that I’m on Week 6. How did that even happen? I also feel that because I’m running in a different place, that also helped with this sometimes challenging run. Onwards and upwards! Run 2 is waiting on the horizon 😀
Well done Jools! Knew you would nail it and only one county away from my ‘hood. I’ve found paths and road easier than grass and tracks. More predictable.
Only the one interval run left and I know you’ll nail this one as well.
Thanks! The jury’s out on paths and roads; I found it challenging to be crossing the roads while running and having to check for traffic. Tougher on the legs, too. I’m glad you posted about the walking intervals, it made me give some thought as to how to mentally prepare for them, which worked a treat. I think the next interval run should be straightforward as it’s 2 x 10 minute runs, Nice and tidy 😀. I’ll time them 🐌
Thanks. It was Jane’s posts that prep’d me as well. I’m desperate to do the 25 min tomorrow instead of my usual Monday for the final run of the week. But, I need to maintain the routine I’m in. Very impressed that you ran in a completely new area. Definitely going to save that when I’m comfortable run 25-30 mins!
It wasn’t through choice but necessity. I’ve just got back from a nearby park and think I have found somewhere, A local large park, less than 10 minutes drive. Good parking. Still some inclines, but grass, so I’m feeling a lot happier about the next run 😀. Good luck with your 25 minute run!
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Week 6, Run 1 done! 
Week 6, run 1!
Week 6 Run 1
Week 6 run 1
Week 6 Run 1
