W8 R1

[Jools2020]

I won’t deny I felt a bit anxious about this run. Had a long day yesterday with travelling home again and didn’t sleep well, but really wanted to run this morning to help clear my head. It always works.

Lots of faffing about, couldn’t find my belt, then my phone went missing and forgot to charge my headphones; so I was a bit late going out of the door!

Morning, Michael, warm up walk started, Beatles again 🎶, liked the rhythm to run to last time, plus I can sing along to those golden oldies 😀.

I open the gate to the riverbank, oh no - dog walker ahead! Quite a way ahead, but I knew that I would reach him on my run and there’s not much room to pass. I also thought I recognised him. His dog, a gorgeous young cocker, knows me and will definitely jump up if I pass close. Dilemma! The parallel run on the low bank is mainly large shingle. OK. Go for the lower bank. I descend the slope, still on my warm up walk. Start to run and immediately find my pace. Unusual 😀. The doubts still creep in, but I’m going strong, oh yes - this is a good one! I pass the dog walker and the dog races down the bank to investigate but just circles and goes back! Crisis averted 😂. I glance at my pace, 9 something. Oh yess! I turn at the halfway point to go back and go a little faster. Would be great to get to 3K!

All going well - I glance ahead and think - I’m actually going to run out of riverbank, might have to turn again to finish the run (proving I was running faster on the way back). Then Michael cut in saying slow down; I misunderstood and thought the run was over, but it was 30 seconds left. Oh Michael! So my run ended up being 12 seconds short as I usually run for a bit longer anyway. I’m counting that run! I certainly could have run a further 12 seconds and I’m a rebel! My pace for the very first time was under 9mins/km. and I ran 3.1km. Yessss! In the bag. Felt so good to be running in the fens again, elevation gain was zero 😂

[packersruns Graduate]

Amazing!! Well done, I had a few issues with dog walkers today as there were more out than usual, I have some narrow paths that mean that sometimes I have to do quite a bit of on-the-spot jogging, or they look alarmed when they realise I've been behind them (socially distanced) whilst they are slowly walking, but it never bothers me too much because I feel like you sign up for it where I live as it's dog walking central! Also congratulations for getting under 9mins/km, it's an amazing feeling when you realise how you can get quicker - I told you it would happen 😉

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to packersruns]

Yes, you did 😀 and I wasn’t sure if I believed you! It’s not the most important thing about my runs, but achieving 3K certainly was. It’s always good to improve, I’m only really competing against myself right now. Might catch you up later 😂

[packersruns Graduate in reply to Jools2020]

I think that's the biggest thing is once you know you can achieve it, it only gets better. It wasn't necessarily my goal either - I'm sure you will haha! Depends what type of run you like too, for example sometimes I like the negative split runs where I try to go faster each km so sometimes my average KM looks way better than other runs where I'm just taking it slow and enjoying the run!

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to packersruns]

Funny you should say that, I’m starting to think like that, too! I almost didn’t push myself on this run, but I made the mistake of glancing at my watch, and my competitive spirit kicked in 😀. It was only 2 or 3 weeks ago that my pace was close to 11 m/km. I was just focussed on steadily completing each run. How we change 😂

[Fatfriend81 Graduate]

😂 lovely straight, flat, drama-free run! Well done on the PB. 👏

I haven't tried Michael yet, I flick between Laura and Jo when app says it won't work with selected trainer for some reason. Think Michael might be the one to get me through week 8 🤔

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to Fatfriend81]

Thanks. I love Michael 😀 but when he talks about slowing down on W8 R1, don’t stop like I did 😂

[SJ60 in reply to Jools2020]

Me too! It was very odd. I thought I’d done 🤷‍♀️ ah well there’s always run 2 🤣 well done on the pace too.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Well done... exciting times all around.. you sound a tad like me, looking ahead and weighing up the options...all in a split second

Enjoy that fen running.. flatness I am off to Wales tomorrow after over 16 weeks away... not flatness...yeayayayayaya !

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Thank you! I had to think about your comment - yes, I do exactly that! I’d never thought about myself like that 😂. I breathed a sigh of relief to be running in the fens again. Good luck with running in Wales!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Jools2020]

Ha ha!

I am a dab hand at spotting folk a very long way away; do I know them, know the dog etc...I had a real disjointed run last week when two dog owners and their dogs who I did not know, suddenly popped up on my field tracks! One was a mastiff... not on a lead!

Talk about split second run change! Luckily because I run early, it rarely occurs.

Love Wales... coastal runs and up and down those lovely hills.

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Don’t share your feelings about those hills! I struggled in Bucks for the last couple of weeks. But I did it! Maybe when I’m a bit further along in my running journey, but not just now. Lovely hills? 😂

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Jools2020]

Well whichever way I run at home, there is always an uphill.... I actually can run faster up hills than on the flat !

When I was training for my first HM, I had t practice running on the flat...and with other people too

[Frissels Graduate]

I did exactly the same - stopping when I should have just slowed down. I was really annoyed, but I told myself it wasn’t my fault and counted it as a full run. I didn’t make the same mistake for the other two runs of the week though - that would have been cheating!

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to Frissels]

Yes, it was annoying! I think my best friend Michael was a bit ambiguous and should record it again. I had plenty left in the tank, which is why I counted it as a run 😂 but I won’t be caught out again, same as you! I didn’t let it spoil my success!

[MontyMooDog Graduate]

Good solid run there and congrats on the PB. I've got the same run tomorrow 🏃‍♀️👍😁

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to MontyMooDog]

Thanks! I’m really pleased with my efforts and glad it went well. Can’t believe I’m on Week 8 now with a good first run!and good luck with yours tomorrow.

[MontyMooDog Graduate in reply to Jools2020]

Yes. Finding that this program really works and great support off this forum...

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to MontyMooDog]

I’m still in state of disbelief that I ran 3k today, after practically collapsing on my first run 8 weeks ago. Yes, the program works! The support on this forum is truly fantastic; I couldn’t have got this far without my forum ‘buddies’.

[MontyMooDog Graduate in reply to Jools2020]

Yes. I guess after graduating the art will be to keep in going with consolidation and beyond. I'm aiming to do the park runs when they start up again. I think it shouldn't be too long hopefully🤔

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to MontyMooDog]

Me, too! The one near me has a Strava group which I’ve joined. This morning, I was 10th on the leaderboard 😂😂😂 but today is the first day of a new week, and the real runners haven’t been out running yet!

[Instructor57 Graduate]

Hey well done Jools 👍👏👏👏

I bet it's good to be running there again !

Well, it now your turn to overtake me on your next run haha, I'm not quite ready yet !

Can't believe how much I am missing it though !

I think my pace will be slower on my next run ! Haha

Whenever that might be ! 😐

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

Thanks! Yes, it feels good to be running in the fens again 😀.

I know how you are missing it - I felt the same on my 4 rest days. No better today?

Make sure you do take it steady on your next run. Hope it will be soon.

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to Jools2020]

Yes, a bit better thanks !

Not quite enough for me to run again yet !

I think I need a bit longer yet !

I want to go but I don't want to go too soon so keeping my sensible hat on 🙂👍

[PlymBorn]

Well done Jools !! It’s always the pesky tech that gets you out of sorts !

I must admit I nearly stopped early with Michael’s last few seconds comments ... you’ll be ready for that on R2.

That’s another one ticked off ✅.. and back on familiar territory!

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to PlymBorn]

Thanks! I’m glad I’m not the only one who was a bit misled, but it didn’t spoil my success! I deserve it 😀

Coming home has made me realise how much I love living in the fens!

[PlymBorn in reply to Jools2020]

I am very envious of the pics of the countryside you send ... can’t think of a more beautiful place to run ... as compared to the roads and houses I run along

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to PlymBorn]

It is gorgeous here. I was going to take a pic, but I was so excited to complete the run with 4 personal bests that I totally forgot! I realise I am lucky to have the riverbanks literally a warm up walk from my front door! I was going to run on the opposite bank towards Ely, (it’s so flat you can see the cathedral 8 miles away) but the Environment Agency are overseeing essential work on the Ouse Washes and the gate was padlocked.

[Fifitrixiebell73 Graduate]

Wow! Look at your pace! Speedy Gonzales eat your heart out!

[Jools2020 Graduate]

😂😂😂

[Tinytears60 Graduate]

Brilliant Lady!

Sounds like you had a good run today! 🏃🏽‍♀️👏👏

Yes - I found his message a bit confusing ... but no harm done as it’s only a few seconds before the actual stop!

Great pace too lady! You’re on fire today 🔥

Another step closer to graduation 🏃🏽‍♀️ 🎓 🏆

Enjoy your day knowing you achieved well! 👏👏 run 2 here you come!

[Jools2020 Graduate]

Thank you, Jane! 😘