W4R1 - Against all odds, no not Phil Collins!

After a bit of a restless night due to wanting to hydrate properly for today and then needing the bathroom twenty times, I finally found myself ready to head out for my first run of week 4.

This is the one that has been making me nervous. This gave me butterflies the size of Pterodactyls, you know those dinosaur birds! Yes that big!

Usually when i'm tackling something big, like a work thing for example, I usually need to get the war paint on and dress to kill. Women will get this, it's like a confidence thing right? Given that I can't walk in heels never mind run in them, I had to change tack this morning, no make up, messy hair bun etc, but I did find my favourite gym top (from years ago) which is bright pink but only just fits! But I thought what the hell and squeezed myself into it. Normally i'll stick to dark colours and convince myself nobody can see me that way.

Decided on a different (meaning new) route and headed out. My previous routes work great for lesser running times as i'd worked out when i'd roughly be crossing the roads and didn't want any hold ups traffic wise. I know I know, sounds a bit sad.. but I don't want to stand jogging on the spot, I want to keep going.

Got onto my new path and the first 3 and 5 minute intervals felt good. Amazing considering i'd only just learned how to go for 3 mins at a time last week. No heavy breathing, no stitch which Sanjeev warned me about and no leg or ankle pain...the next 3 was okay but now I am actually sweating and i'm not done yet. I remember thinking Jeez, I've got a final 5 minutes to go, how the f will I do that? I also didn't have my route fully planned and realised If I wanted a nice straight 5 min run I'd have to venture onto the main road!! I mean, like in front of the general public. In a bright pink top. And sweating like a pig! At this point I really had no choice. Missy Elliot came on telling me to 'Get Yer Freak On' and so off I went.

I'll be honest here, the last 2 minutes of that final 5 is when I really had to push, I was on an incline aswell and there were two guys working on the left side of the road and there was no way I was going to drop in front of them. Sucked the belly in. Keep going, keep going.....sweat like a pig to look like a fox, sweat like a pig to look like a....

Sanjeev intervenes then to tell me i'm all done and just need to walk/crawl/shuffle home There was definitely no brisk walk home here and after I had stretched I had to lay on the rug for half an hour and just starfish. My legs had gone to jelly.

But against all odds, I did it. 2 more to go this week

[Instructor57 Graduate]

Well done with that run 😬👍👏👏👏

And a great post also , isn't it amazing how this program works 😬

[Hidden in reply to Instructor57]

If it works for someone like me who couldn't run a sentence together at the beginning, never mind run a minute then yep, it's amazing how this programme works!!

[Jcksam]

Aye 2 more of the same this week and worse next week wing (wo)man! Still we’ll face it together.

[Hidden in reply to Jcksam]

100% behind you 😉

[nowster Graduate]

Would it surprise you that in modern classification pterodactyls (pterosaurs) are not dinosaurs, but modern birds are?

[Hidden in reply to nowster]

Now I have to do more research 😁

[VPOLLIE67 Graduate]

You total hero!!!! Well done. I love your posts. They are so funny and graphic and inspiring. You have to keep running so that I can keep reading 🏆🏆🏆😂😂

[CazzaW Graduate in reply to VPOLLIE67]

You said it before I could, absolutely agree 100%, hilarious and inspirational 👌💪😃

[mezziejay Graduate]

Awesome ! That last five mins is pretty long, much longer than the first 😂😂

[Hidden in reply to mezziejay]

It is for sure, I'm sure Sanjeev was having me on and let me run way over the time 😂😂😂

[mezziejay Graduate in reply to Hidden]

See I stick with Laura she is nice and comforting! I read week 4 so I thought and was convinced I only had one five minute run to do ...when she snuck that second one in I was convinced I had somehow skipped a week 😂😂😂

[acountrycabbage Graduate]

Pterodactyl butterflies, brilliant! 😁 You squashed them butterflies good, positively trampled all over them!

That’s great your first two runs went well. I’m finding the first run the worst of the lot.

It’s funny when you spot another human and you somehow manage to dig deep and push on that little bit more.. 🤔 It’s all in our heads people!!

Congrats on a cracking start to Week 4 💪🏼

[Hidden in reply to acountrycabbage]

Thank you so so much. What's getting me up in the mornings and doing this is the endless support from people like you.

This whole Covid thing has been such a surreal and strange experience and connecting with people like this, during difficult time is wonderful.

So I truly appreciate your words x

[acountrycabbage Graduate in reply to Hidden]

You’re so welcome. Tiny Tears said rather profoundly today that the forum means the programme isn’t just a personal journey - we share it and you actually find yourself buzzing from other people’s progress as well as your own. It’s so true!

You’re right - it’s been the craziest time and I find heading back into the new real world quite daunting still.. there are some vile mindless people making everything so much harder, so to join this community brimming with positive vibes is medicine for my body and soul 💗

I don’t know about you - I still feel like a complete newbie, and yet I already can’t help but reach out to the Week Ones and Week Twos and be like, ‘No really though - you got this, I know you can do it, I’ve been there!’ 😀

[acountrycabbage Graduate in reply to acountrycabbage]

Oh, and I meant to add re. your Phil Collins theme and your difficult slumber;

🎶 “I can feel it, comin’ in the air tonight“

Thanks I’m here all week 😬 *gets coat*

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

Wow wow what a great description of your run, and you did it yay 😀

[Couchphoenix Graduate]

Great post Burkey46 really made me laugh 😂 well done you for getting through that one in style, belly sucked in running with confidence past the workmen, determined not to flake out in front of them, then getting home and ending up like a starfish on the rug.....I feel like I’ve just been on that run with you having read that....looking forward to the next instalment 😂👍🏃‍♀️

[Moomin63 Graduate]

Well done!! Great read by the way and yes I felt exactly the same!! You did it!!!!🥳 👏👏👏

[Moomin63 Graduate]

This programme is like magic isn’t it?!!!

[mrrun Graduate]

Regular daily hydration will help your running in a number of ways. People forget about it and boost their water intake on the eve of the run only to, well, spend their time passing water. Poor hydration will cause you a bunch of issues so try and avoid that business if you can. 😉

[Catho78 Graduate]

Well done! Love your post, you paint quite a picture lol. And thanks for the heads up, that’ll be me tomorrow, wk4 r1 😬

[Jane_1961 Graduate]

Brilliant well done 👏🏻👏🏻

[Jnubster Graduate]

Great post 👏🏻😁 I remember the early days my thoughts were rather similar - ‘what!! Run for 5 minutes, now you’re taking the p’ 🙈🤣

You’ll be surprised how the time goes on occasions not all I’m not going to lie!!

You sound like you’re giving it your all & that’s fab!! Keep going and good luck 💪🏼

[Tinytears60 Graduate]

👏👏👏 Applauding that run Lady!

Great write up! Made me giggle. The write up always helps doesn’t it... love your honesty!

I made the Hydration error too, when it was scorching hot 🥵

I hydrated so well that I was up and down to the loo ALL night! 🚽 I did consider just sleeping on it!

The loo Gremlin has also paid me a pre run visit! 🚽 👺🙈🤣 Like you it felt like every time I headed towards the front door she tugged on my bladder 🙈 😡

Re the make up!... I’ve done it, just the once... had been out for the day and was desperate to get my run in so quickly got changed and out I went! Glam running.. it beats the red faced sweaty mess I usually am - almost looked like a pro! ( no not that kind!... I meant Professional runner! 🤣)

I used to run in an aged 10 Leotard... it comes in handy to run in..... it’s that tight nothing moves! (.)(.) 👏👏👏 These days I’m very brave

Speaking of being brave... hitting the main road! Wow! 👏👏👏 Closest I’ve come to general public is running on bypass (in the dark) so well done you!

You’re ticking these runs off ✅ and before you know it you will be graduating! ... and in the meantime your running family on here get to enjoy your posts!

This C25k plan is magic.. and the support on here is a huge part of it.. it gets you through the tough runs and celebrates with you every step of the way!

I just buzz off reading people do things they thought they couldn’t!

Well done on both your run and your fab post 👍😀