Week 8 Run 1

[Dodgylungs]

Tough run today. I did my usual route. Laura spoke to me 5 minutes in and again 10 minutes in (which I appreciated) once again after 14 minutes to tell me I was halfway through. She spoke again with 5 minutes to go and then....nothing! I was waiting for the 1 minute warning and it didn’t come. So when I had finally finished it was a bit of a surprise.

The extra 3 minutes wasn’t massively tricky though I was a bit tired after 14 minutes but I now feel that my tiredness is often psychological. I was on the flat bit of the Heath halfway through and I did a bit of back and forth on that path before reaching the downhill bit with 5 minutes to go and as ever the last 90 seconds is uphill. Even though Laura didn’t warn me at the end I knew roughly where I was with time.

So another run successfully completed. It was important today to test my mental strength because I now know my head tells me it’s too hard when the uphill parts come and also if my legs are feeling a bit achy. There was some question mark in my mind whether I would make it to the halfway stage as I was feeling extra tired today. Once I reached 14 minutes all doubts evaporated. That psychological mark of halfway through has always been important to me even when I used to run on the treadmill.

Elvis Costello, Iggy Pop, Gang Of Four and a band called Television kept me company. I almost enjoyed it today - almost!!

[carolinestanford Graduate]

Fabulous! I’m off out shortly 😬

[Dodgylungs Graduate in reply to carolinestanford]

Thank you! You’ll do it!

[Pnegirl Graduate]

Well done on your run! I can't even contemplate anything uphill yet so to have it at the end of your run is a great challenge to overcome 🙂

[Dodgylungs Graduate in reply to Pnegirl]

Thank you. Well on Week 5 Run 3, I attempted quite a steep incline and it meant I didn’t finish the run. Since then I sought out a flatter route.

Will attempt the steeper incline again for my third run this week, but straining ourselves too much early on can have a detrimental effect. Stick with what you know you can do for now. The rest will come.

[Lookslikejames Graduate]

Good work! Not long until graduation now 💪🏻

[Dodgylungs Graduate in reply to Lookslikejames]

Thank you! Yes, only 5 more runs!!

[acountrycabbage Graduate]

Well done! 👍🏼 And thanks for adding where the announcements are, it’s comforting to know in advance 🙂

[Dodgylungs Graduate in reply to acountrycabbage]

Thank you! Yes the announcements suddenly didn’t include a 1 minute warning. Very strange!

[Instructor57 Graduate]

Well done !

Your getting through these runs now , soon be Graduation week 😬👍

[Dodgylungs Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

Thank you. Yes, only 5 more runs!

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to Dodgylungs]

Then the fun starts 😂

[Dodgylungs Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

I’m a long way from 5K. I’m averaging 8 1/2 K an hour. That needs to be upped to 10K an hour or I’m not going to achieve 5K in 30 mins.

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to Dodgylungs]

Well as you know , there is no requirement to do so

[Dodgylungs Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

There is in my head!

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to Dodgylungs]

There by lies a problem

[Dodgylungs Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

I’ve been resisting speeding up this far,

[Hula_hooping_rach Graduate]

I did this run this morning too. Also surprised there was no 1 minute left reminder, I wonder if it will make a comeback in week 9?

[Dodgylungs Graduate in reply to Hula_hooping_rach]

😊 Yeah I’m wondering the same thing. Don’t understand the logic of suddenly cutting it out. Maybe she is gently weaning us off her?

[nowster Graduate in reply to Dodgylungs]

"It's not you, it's me..." 🤣

[Dodgylungs Graduate in reply to nowster]

😂 “I just feel we’ve gone as far as we can together. You’re slowing me down.”

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to nowster]

It's not me, it's us 😂

[Dodgylungs Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

We’ve run our course 😂

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to Dodgylungs]

Yep, were heading in different directions

[CazzaW Graduate]

Fantastic, you’re doing brilliantly 👏👏

[Dodgylungs Graduate in reply to CazzaW]

Thank you!

[JulesL69 Graduate]

Well done. I find the mental side of things challenging at times. Another run completed 🏃‍♀️🙌🏻

[Dodgylungs Graduate in reply to JulesL69]

Thank you. The only answer to the mental toughness conundrum is to keep doing the runs. With each completed run comes more strength.

[JulesL69 Graduate in reply to Dodgylungs]

Totally agree... I kept saying on my last run, you can do this, you have done it before, my stamina is great and forget those aches.

My legs are slightly behind my lungs at the moment but they will get there.

[Dodgylungs Graduate in reply to JulesL69]

Some days I feel I’m running for the first time. Both lungs and legs are complaining, but it’s knowing that the fitness is there whatever you’re feeling on any given day. I’m not a natural distance runner, being built like a sprinter, but I keep going knowing that I’ll feel good at the end of the run. Not to mention the fitness and health benefits!

[JulesL69 Graduate in reply to Dodgylungs]

Love the feeling when I have finished ... that keeps me going too. Yes, agree the health benefits are great.

[cellovsky]

Well done! Uphills as well, so impressive! Going to try in the next hour or so...waiting for the temperature outside to fall but also trying to convince myself that it's possible.

[Dodgylungs Graduate in reply to cellovsky]

Thank you! It is more than possible. Run slowly and be positive and it’s guaranteed!!

[cellovsky in reply to Dodgylungs]

Thank you for the encouragement! I walked my warm-up with 2 stray kittens weaving round and between my feet. I then ran, but oh so slowly, but completed. So happy I went out. Now to charge my headphones that gave up in the middle. Good luck to everyone!