Consolidation 22 - Back to the beginning - Hel... - Couch to 5K

Couch to 5K

132,590 members158,675 posts

Consolidation 22 - Back to the beginning - Hello again, Michael!

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate
41 Replies

So I went back to W1 R1 and ran faster during the run parts and jogged during the walking parts.

Had to go back to Michael, cap in hand, asking if he would forgive me for cutting him loose so abruptly. Luckily he seemed cool with it, but he did sound a bit distant to start with 😀.

It did seem odd going back in time and hearing him talk me through the very first run! Warm up walk over, Santana through the headphones and I was off on a sprint. I was just thinking that I couldn’t keep this up for long, when it was over. How did a minute seem so long on my very first run? Slowed down to a jog. Going well!

I was working on a lane in the village where tarmac had recently been laid. It was perfect to run on and I knew there would probably not be any cars so early. However, I realised halfway through that I’d forgotten to record the run. It was the shock of hearing Michael’s voice again! I recorded the second half, just for interest, but the first half was definitely faster. My stats on Garmin show that I was running 54% in Zone 5 and the rest in Zone 4. Yep! Seems about right, I was certainly pushing it for those runs - felt good, though!

All in all I really enjoyed doing this. 60 seconds running at a time seems to work for me and I’ll repeat it next week. It’s a shorter workout, approx 18.5 minutes, excluding the warm up and warm down walks. Distance approx 2.4 K. My legs certainly knew I’d been running!

Whooper Swan pic from my archives because we are expecting them back here sometime soon and it’s always exciting to see them return, sometimes hundreds at a time 😀

Written by
Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020
Graduate
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
41 Replies
Mum2N profile image
Mum2NGraduate

Love this. I've found Michael to be very forgiving 😁. I did W5R1 today and for the last minute of each run I upped the pace. Its fun playing around with it. I'll give the W1 a touch of the Jools2020 . . . .

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate in reply to Mum2N

😂 Wish I could take credit for it, but it was recently suggested to me by nowster when I couldn’t do the Speed Podcast! 😀

nowster profile image
nowsterGraduate in reply to Jools2020

I can't take credit for that idea, only for suggesting it. 😉

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate in reply to nowster

I think it’s been done by a number of people on here 😀

hamit profile image
hamitGraduate

Nice pic, if only you got the swans reflection in. Sorry I am a reflections fan.👍😁

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate in reply to hamit

Thanks, Hamit! I like reflections too; but for this image I cropped most of the refection out as the focus was the swan’s feet as it came in to land on the lagoon. The complete reflection just didn’t work. 😀

hamit profile image
hamitGraduate in reply to Jools2020

Been there☹

MontyMooDog profile image
MontyMooDogGraduate

Good running there. Looks like you've got your very own version of the SPEED podcast😁 Cracking photo too 👍

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate in reply to MontyMooDog

Thanks - yes, that’s true, but shorter periods of running, which suits me better right now! I can extend that more gradually by working through the programme again 😊

MontyMooDog profile image
MontyMooDogGraduate in reply to Jools2020

Cannot see how this is shorter than SPEED podcast interval??

SPEED is 6 reps of 1 min run and 1 min jog

W1R1 is 8 reps of 1 min run and 1 min jog/walk

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate

Great picture jools 😁👍

And yes, I first saw this method posted on here a couple of months ago and thought it sounded better to me than the speed podcast , although I haven't tried either yet 😁

Glad you enjoyed it 👍

I was going to do a slow run today but it was that slow I forgot to get out of bed 😂😂😂

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate in reply to Instructor57

Thanks, Ian 😊, can’t believe you would prefer to stay in bed rather than get up and run 😂.

I didn’t post this one to Strava because I didn’t start recording until halfway through, but Garmin gave my best pace at 4’54”. I bet I didn’t do that for long 😂

Give it a go, you might enjoy it! 👍

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to Jools2020

Haha, too late now , I'm soaking in a bath and reading up on the MAF method before I start work .

Yes it's amazing to see what some of the short bursts are 😁

I will run tomorrow 👍

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate in reply to Instructor57

Had a quick look - interesting! I’m a believer in slow running as you know. That’s what I’ve been doing on Saturdays without fully understanding the science behind it. I just know it’s good, but most of all, I just love my slow runs. It really clears my head and it’s just me and the early morning.

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to Jools2020

Yes, I think the fact that you love them is enough !

If the secondary effect is fitness, then even better 😁👍

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate in reply to Instructor57

I agree 👍

MontyMooDog profile image
MontyMooDogGraduate in reply to Instructor57

Cannot see how this is shorter than SPEED podcast interval??

SPEED is 6 reps of 1 min run and 1 min jog

W1R1 is 8 reps of 1 min run and 1 min jog/walk

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to MontyMooDog

Absolutely, i didn't say it was shorter 😂

MontyMooDog profile image
MontyMooDogGraduate in reply to Instructor57

Sorry meant this for Jools lol😂

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to MontyMooDog

😂👍

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate in reply to MontyMooDog

I don’t get it 😂 then why couldn’t I do it? The beat seemed odd on the podcast - maybe it was on the ‘off’ beat. Maybe I just cope better running without the beat?

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate in reply to Jools2020

Oh, wait. W1 R1 is 90 second jog/walk. That could have made all the difference.

MontyMooDog profile image
MontyMooDogGraduate in reply to Jools2020

Sorry my bad. Yes 1 min run and 1.5min walk. Can't believe we got so much rest back at the start lol😂😂😂

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate in reply to MontyMooDog

60 seconds of Michael was much shorter that 60 seconds of Laura on the podcast!

MontyMooDog profile image
MontyMooDogGraduate in reply to Jools2020

Haha..... 😂🤣😅

Bontobpat profile image
BontobpatGraduate

I do like reading your posts after your runs. I have still just been doing the standard 3 x 30 minutes mostly, but I like the sound of this one. I think next week I will start mixing it up a bit. Great photo of the swan. Keep the updates coming!

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate in reply to Bontobpat

Hi there and thank you! 😊 Definitely good to mix up the runs a bit. Whooper swans come from Iceland every year to overwinter in the UK. One of their preferred places is close by. We have thousands in the area of the Ouse Washes every year.

Bontobpat profile image
BontobpatGraduate in reply to Jools2020

I had to do a web search on what ‘Ouse Washes’ was! Who knew the running blog was going to educate me in other ways too. We have a large variety of birds in and around our garden. My husband is often trying to get a photo, particularly the rainbow bee eaters who are a challenge to snap when they take the time to land and beat insects to death on a branch.

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate in reply to Bontobpat

As I typed ‘Ouse Washes’ I wondered if you would do a web search for it. I did the same for the rainbow bee-eater; what a beautiful bird! We are both expanding our knowledge.

MccHa profile image
MccHaGraduate

Great going Jools2020 👏👏👏 Glad you enjoyed your run with Michael 👍👍👍

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate in reply to MccHa

Thanks, MccHa! Michael and I are a team again 😀

Maxi80 profile image
Maxi80

Me and Mike have a love hate relationship. I mostly hate him.

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate in reply to Maxi80

Switch to another coach! He’ll get over it 😬

Tinytears60 profile image
Tinytears60Graduate

Aww I’m silly but feel a little emotional that you’ve returned to our trust coach Michael...

What a fab idea tho - I might try that .... still taking it easy so that would be just the trick for me!

You are clever - you’re my coach 👏👏

Sounds like a fab outing for you and it did make me smile that you were that shocked to hear his voice that you forgot to press record.

It’s crazy how we look back and remember we felt so tested by W1r1.... how amazing is this plan?

You are an accomplished runner now 👏👏💕

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate in reply to Tinytears60

Thank you, Jane 😊. Yes, it was a bit emotional. Although 60 seconds seemed a lot longer then when we were all struggling to do it! 😂

nowster profile image
nowsterGraduate in reply to Tinytears60

Yes, it is amazing. Looking back to my first attempt at W1R3 with the unexpected steep bit: getting a stitch, totally drained, palpitations, breathing all over the place, etc.

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate in reply to nowster

I was fit to collapse! 😂 I nearly gave up the whole idea !

Birdlady64 profile image
Birdlady64Graduate

Sounds like you had a blast!

Yes winter is definitely approaching.

Whooper and Bewick season for you

Brent Geese season for me 🙂

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate in reply to Birdlady64

Yes, it was fun! Looking forward to getting my camera out again. Last year I got a few shots of a pair of Bewick’s coming in to land on the water. The WWT used them for a while for their marketing 😊

Birdlady64 profile image
Birdlady64Graduate

Fantastic!

That must have made you feel proud

I used to take all the SLR kit on birding/wildlife watching holidays but I was never really that good at it. I spent so much time trying to take photos I never really saw anything if that makes any sense.

I remember photographing a Martial Eagle in the Kalahari and it was only after I saw the photos that I realised there were 2 eaglets in the nest!

I just take my binoculars now, use my phone for quick snaps and a Lumix for close ups of flowers, butterflies, dragonflies etc

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate in reply to Birdlady64

Photography in the Kalahari, wow! I love closeups, too. I haven’t done much this year, but usually I photograph dragonflies, damselflies, butterflies, bees, moths - anything that looks interesting and lands near where I am! Last year I got some gorgeous shots of a ladybird snoozing in a forget-me-not!

You may also like...

Back to the beginning

negative). This morning was my first outing with a local c25k running group ( MY first, but the...

Back to it - again 😊 Week 3

there! I did not find the 3 minute runs difficult (I walk a lot) but I know I need to run...

Consolidation Run 1 🏃‍♀️ decided I’d graduate again 😆

my side so I didn’t have to run round and round as I did on Sunday! The run went pretty well until...

Back again, just started week 3.

levels, etc, did a 5 minute jog in week 2 and an 8 minute jog on week 3 run 1. On the 8 minute jog...

Beginning at the very beginning. Yet again.

week 9 run 2. Then went on holiday, and when I got back it was cold, dark and raining. I can only...