W9 R1...

[Cp1965]

Good morning from Chernobyl, er Leicester, right on the edge of the "hot zone"... late finish at work last night so going in later today, and took advantage of the relative quiet to start Week 9. Took 2 rest days after the weekend's exertions, so fully recuperated, left the house at just gone 6 with a feeling of apprehension. 30 minutes is after all a big milestone...

Decided to take my usual route round the country park. Sadly I was baulked a couple of times by dog walkers who decided it was OK for them to take up the entire path, and once by a cyclist who made a dash to get through a gate before me and got stuck, so never really felt like I got into a rhythm for the second half. Sadly there still appear to be many people who feel that they don't need to share the footpath.

Also got overtaken and left behind by someone admittedly probably less than half my age, but it sort of makes you feel inadequate when that happens.

Still-despite that-I did it, 4.51k in 30 minutes, no personal bests or anything, and Mo Farah isn't looking over his shoulder yet, but as Jo Whiley said I'm now running for 30 times longer than I was at the start of the programme. So, stitch that, 1970s PE teachers! 2 more to go then I can start chasing the 5k target...

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Huge well done...just relax and enjoy the runs towards the podium... plenty of time for speed later

Please do stay safe, worrying times for so many folk there x

[Cp1965 Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Thanks Oldfloss, compared to where I was 18 months ago I've come a long way, so I'm happy to stick with the programme, going to measure out a course of exactly 5k this weekend and once I have done W9R3 I'll start doing the 5k regardless of time. Think I'll be happy with that, I don't have any aspirations to do ultramarathons...

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Cp1965]

Brilliant... after you Graduate, some short runs, some 5K ( regardless of time), and some lovely long, slow, steady runs too. They are the ones that ultimately build everything up; stamina, strength distance, and speed

[Newbie59 Graduate]

I like that, 30 times longer than week 1

[Cp1965 Graduate in reply to Newbie59]

That's one way of looking at it anyway! Or, more to the point, several thousand times more running than I had achieved in the preceding 40 years...

[TallTeal2020 Graduate]

Superb! Well done 🎉

I could (and still might) do the same run today but I was thinking I'd take 2 days rest and tackle it tomorrow... Your post has me thinking just do it.

Keep up the great work

[Cp1965 Graduate in reply to TallTeal2020]

I took 2 days before tacking this one too, debating whether to do W9R2 on Friday night or Saturday morning at the moment. Just hoping now I can stay awake for my daughter's "virtual parents' evening" later on!

[linzi7478 Graduate]

Well done, not long to the finish line and to graduation podium!! This morning is my first consolidation run after graduating sunday. Keep going, stay safe, onwards to graduation soon xxx

[Cp1965 Graduate in reply to linzi7478]

Thank you, this weekend or early next week hopefully, fingers crossed!

[Tinytears60 Graduate]

Brilliant!....

That's my bugbear too... It's always me that moves - A family of 4 want to all walk beside each other - NO!! Walk in single file so that someone else can get past!... Grrr!...

Anyway ... you did it!... 4.5k in 30 mins!... Superb!

Take care

[Cp1965 Graduate in reply to Tinytears60]

Sometimes I have to stifle the urge to shout "******* SHIFT!!!" at folk like that... and the ones with uncontrollable hairy rats on 10m extending leads... 🤣 Shouting however is frequently out of the question! Onwards and upwards...

[Bogshuffler Graduate]

Love the "So stitch that 1970's PE teachers" they were awful weren't they.