Week 9 Run 2

[NorthernMonkey1]

So this just happened...I really struggled with the first run of week 9. As soon as I hit 5 minutes my legs turned to lead. Running back was against the wind and rain. A really horrible run! After a bit of reading on here I found that my water intake was nowhere near what it should be. Increased to 2.5ltrs and today’s run was a lot easier. Still hard but a good hard. One more run before I graduate, still can’t believe how far I’ve come!

[00marks Graduate]

Congratulations! Really good going. Keep at it.

[ground_level]

If you've completed the run, and done so spite of those conditions, some sincere congratulations are in order!

On the subject of water intake, a reminder about body composition often helps with a sense of why it's so important that we consume sufficient water each day whether we're running or not. This is of course is more important if we are upping physical activity levels through running and/or other activities:

- Our brain and heart are 73% water.

- Our lungs are about 83% water.

- Our skin contains 64% water.

- Our muscles and kidneys are around 80% water.

- Our bones are around 31% water.

Take all the body composition water numbers above, and top up the respective percentages of those body parts to 100% with various cominations of (in order of their presence in the body) Proteins, Fats, Carbohydrates, Genetic Material, Vitamins, Minerals, and some gases (e.g. oxygen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, etc) then that is, there or therebouts, approximately the composition of all of us.

Water is key for everything that is vital to being a human.

[NorthernMonkey1 Graduate in reply to ground_level]

Thanks for the info ground_level 🙂 I’ve made myself complete each run no matter how hard I’ve found it, and some I found really hard! I just keep telling myself I’ll only be cheating myself if I don’t do it. Plus, the look on my wife’s face when she sees how much progress I’ve made. Before I started i was overweight, unfit, bad diet. Especially during lockdown. Now I feel stronger with each run. I really want to push on after graduation but I’m undecided on what to do. Run further or faster?

[ground_level in reply to NorthernMonkey1]

I have no idea what comes next if I make it through the next five runs, but I have started thinking about what a post-consolidation runs world might look like.

As a city dweller, the idea of being able to go out running for a full hour in more natural surrounds, irrespective of speed or distance, really appeals for its positive contemplative, meditative, health and wellbeing potential.

[NorthernMonkey1 Graduate in reply to ground_level]

I have no idea what comes next WHEN I make it through the next five runs (corrected it for you 😉)

I’m lucky in the fact that I can choose road, track, country paths, and if I fancy a short drive the beach. So far only ran the road route. But will vary it once I’m comfortable in my running

[ground_level in reply to NorthernMonkey1]

Sounds very much like you've got what could happen next very well covered!

[ground_level in reply to NorthernMonkey1]

While I remember, we touched on similar "if" vs "when" use of language in this post:

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

I'd like to say 'when' but I'm erring on the side of "if" caution.

[Jacqui1992 Graduate]

Brilliant 👍well done. I must say not looking forward to w9 , I’ve done w7R2 this morning and carried on for another 1 minute that was tough!!

26 minutes is a killer hope I manage 30 minutes.

Will you keep up the running?

[NorthernMonkey1 Graduate in reply to Jacqui1992]

Thank you 😊 just stick to the program and you’ll smash it. Your body is gearing up for it. They’ll be a voice in your head telling you that you can’t do it. Kick that voice to the kerb. Look how far you’ve come. You can do it!!

Definitely going to keep up the running. I’m an early bird so it’s either get up and get out or back to the couch. Hoping to do some park runs soon. Will you?

[Jacqui1992 Graduate in reply to NorthernMonkey1]

Yes I think I might do a park run. I’m an early runner as well, I meet other runners and they are so fast compared to my plodding along but they are about 25 years younger than me 🤣!

Good luck

[NorthernMonkey1 Graduate in reply to Jacqui1992]

I know the feeling! It’s a really popular route that I run and the competitive side of me wants to race them as they pass me. But sadly there are no defibrillators on the route 😂

[Fabulous450 Graduate]

Congratulations to you!! That’s an amazing run!! 🤩🤩🤩!! Have the most wonderful graduation run too!! 🎓

Great reminder about the water intake too!! 😉 Enjoy!! ❤️