Well well well my lovelies, here’s a tale to tell. So I went out this morning at 6.30 having given myself an extra day’s rest and I felt 100% ready and willing. I did the pre run uphill walk extra brisk this morning and started off straight away into the run. I did the same route that I have been doing for the last 3 runs which is a steady incline and then downhill. At 5 minutes I was feeling strangely tired. I carried on downhill and then started the uphill incline onto the Heath. I was willing Laura to tell me that I had reached 10 minutes but on this run she talks to us at 12 1/2 minutes. When I reached the top of the incline I just felt exhausted and I stopped. About 2 seconds after I stopped she spoke to me and said I’d reached 12 1/2 minutes. I walked the rest of the distance.
I went for a coffee and tried not to feel too disappointed. I did my usual 8am Zoom meeting and an hour later I was considering when I would attempt the run again. At 9.30 the answer came to me. I would attempt it again right away. So I got all my running gear back on and despite it being 8 degrees warmer I made attempt number 2.
This time I walked up the hill very slowly. When Laura told me to start running I started out as slowly as I possibly could. I did the same route and on the upward incline I felt ok. This time when I got to 5 minutes I was comfortable. I kept clock watching until 12 1/2 minutes on the downhill section and this time instead of going up the second incline onto the Heath I found a flatter part and ran along the flat for the next 8 minutes. I made sure that for the last bit of the run a lot of it would be downhill.
Now a strange thing was happening, I was feeling really good. So I ran the last 7 minute section down past the lido faster than I should have and that meant the last 3 minutes of the run were uphill, but I felt absolutely fine. I was tired at the end of the run and the walk to the cafe was on slightly wobbly legs but in total today I have run for 37 1/2 minutes and walked for a further 20 minutes (not including the further walk home).
If this doesn’t prove that this running lark is mind over matter I don’t know what does. I couldn’t bear the idea of spending the next day and a half ruminating over another failure and so I turned it into a win! Thanks to The Clash, The Ramones, The Damned and all you lovely people I DID IT!!!
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Dodgylungs
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It really is. Even when I was running on the treadmill- which is far easier than running up hill and down dale, I had the odd day when I would bail out halfway through if I wasn’t feeling in the mood. The thing is that I was in the mood this morning. I just wonder whether the second incline on the Heath is just very taxing. I’ll keep attempting it though. Every run I complete makes me stronger!
Ah I will then. So you know the flat bit I’m talking about past the cafe and up to the running track. Then I doubled back on myself and ran down past the lido and onto the main road.
The bit I’m struggling with is the incline past the Italian restaurant on the corner. It’s quite steep. Second time around I went in between the tennis courts which is slightly less of an incline.
Seriously, hats off, I’m not sure I’d have the stamina to tackle the hills! I kept the Heath for dog walking and my running route was the perfectly flat and comfy 6K Outer Circle around Regents Park! I liked to wave at the giraffes and warthogs 😁🥰
Regents Park would be great but it’s a bit of a trot from where I am. I’m getting stronger. After this I’m aiming to go up to 10K (if my hip isn’t beyond the point of no return) so I need to conquer every run or figure out why I don’t complete some of them.
Awesome goal! 🙌🏼 My current long term goal is to do 5K in 30mins. I’m not letting it get in the way of the programme’s true aim of 30min non stop running but it’s in the back of my mind for post-grad✨
Keep doing what you’re doing 👍🏼 You may find a pattern. I overanalyse a lot and would like to read more on the ‘science’ of running. If I know the ‘why’ of something it eases my mind, whether it’s good or bad ☺️
There are so many books on amazon so I may have to ask the crew on here if they recommend any.
You’ll do it!! Actually before I attempt the 10K distance I too want to nail a 5k run in under 30 minutes. My fastest time on the treadmill was 28mins 30secs and that was hard going, so I know running 5K in that time outside is hard work but like you I want to achieve that. I think once I have managed that I will then attempt to move onto 10K. Either that or I’ll need a hip replacement. Whichever comes first 😂
Best I managed in my london days was 6K in 40mins, and that’s when I was running without any real enthusiasm so I’m hoping my new love of it will make all the difference. 🍀
Oof.. Me too.. In London my extremely fit doctor landlord was that person and I found it a bit depressing..! I would shy away from ‘run’ chat with him. I would feel differently now though as my approach to running is healthier.
Athlete George Sheehan is on my must-read book list for such brilliant quotes as, “There is only one runner in this race, and that is me.”
As well as,
“Just run. It’s very hard to understand in the beginning that the whole idea is not to beat the other runners. Eventually you learn that the competition is against the little voice inside you that wants to quit.”
Wow, well done you! What a positive end to a disappointing start, you must be so chuffed with yourself! Just shows you how mentally strong we need to try to be, despite those nagging devils on our shoulder telling us we can’t. We can, also going a different way and trying another route was the right thing to do, rather than setting yourself up for a failure, you set yourself up for a win 🙌🏻 Brilliant!
Absolutely. I’ll literally do anything to make sure I complete the distance. The fact I was fine the second time around shows that I’m more than fit enough. Sometimes my lungs are an issue and I was wheezy first thing but I stopped because my legs were aching. Second time I just ignored my aches.
Well done you!!!! 💪
I felt like that yesterday and only sheer stubbornness made me carry on. But I totally get why you stopped.
I will admit, for these runs, the ones with no intervals, I am changing my routes slightly to make them less hilly!
I'm like you, my first hill is for the warm up walk but after that I'm trying to keep it as flat as possible. I can challenge myself more further down the line x
Thank you! Don’t understand why on one run I’m exhausted and then another one 3 hours later I can do it without too much stress. It must either be the inclines or I’m stronger at 9.30 than I am at 6.30. So strange isn’t it?
Yes keeping it on the flat as much as possible is a big help!
Well done on your run! I’ll take a look at your post. You rock!!
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Week 7, Run 2
Week 5 Run 2..... much better
