Week 9 Run 1

[Dodgylungs]

Ok so this was the hardest run so far. There was one major reason for this: I was working until fairly late last night (outdoors) and got home absolutely famished. The weather was colder than it has been and added to my hunger to such a degree that It seemed like a good idea to order in Chinese food when I got home. So at 10pm I ate special chow mein and an omelette.

Anyway, all through my run this morning (at 6.30am) I felt like I was going to be sick. It was one of the hardest runs I’ve done and I also felt extra wheezy. I was so tired last night that I didn’t take my preventer asthma inhaler. Plus it was raining.

I started off extra slowly as it was my first 30 minute run. I was already struggling in the first five minutes as my legs were achy and my lungs were wheezy and I just wasn’t feeling it due to the weather. I got to 10 minutes and told myself I was a third of the way through. Laura’s pep talks today were extremely welcome, none more so than when I hit the 10 minute mark as I was seriously thinking about stopping. 10 minutes felt like 20 and I really thought I was going to throw up.

Once I got to 15 minutes on the flat bit I was determined to keep going. I thought if I was sick I would just carry on afterwards. I ran my usual three times back and forth on the path and Laura told me when I had been running for 20 minutes (or at least I think she did) and again when I had 5 minutes left to run. As usual for the last 5 I was running downhill and I realised I was going faster than normal in my desire to get the run done and so I ran around Hampstead lido so I didn’t have to run uphill at the end.

Once I was finished, Laura congratulated me on running for 30 minutes and I couldn’t believe I had managed to get through it. On the walk home I got a phone call from a friend who needed an early morning pep talk and this took my mind off my sick feeling and the toilet gremlins which were now kicking in and also being soaking wet. I think it is the most elated I’ve ever felt after a run, mainly because I did virtually the whole thing in discomfort.

The moral of this tale is don’t eat a big meal late at night when you’re a 57 year old man with acid reflux! Anyway, I DID IT - I RAN FOR 30 MINUTES!!!

[carolinestanford Graduate]

Woo hoo! You are a superstar!!

[Dodgylungs Graduate in reply to carolinestanford]

Thank you!!

[Instructor57 Graduate]

Well done for completing the run ,

Just 1 hour to Graduation 😁👍

[Dodgylungs Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

Thank you! Yes, great way of looking at it!

[nowster Graduate]

Well done! I also went through a phase earlier this year of waking up in the middle of the night with acid reflux if I had anything to eat after 8pm. 🤢

[Dodgylungs Graduate in reply to nowster]

It’s tricky isn’t it. I don’t usually eat after 6pm, so last night was asking for trouble!

[Lookslikejames Graduate]

The fact you smashed out a 30 minute run with a belly full of Chinese is pretty impressive! Well done!! The next two runs will be a cakewalk in comparison

[Dodgylungs Graduate in reply to Lookslikejames]

Thank you! Absolutely, because one thing I won’t do again the night before a run is eat a big meal!

[Lookslikejames Graduate in reply to Dodgylungs]

Haha good! It’s great to see you so near to the finish line btw

[Dodgylungs Graduate in reply to Lookslikejames]

Thank you. It’s been quite a journey.

[Hidden]

Total legend!!

Well done DL 😁💪

[Dodgylungs Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thank you!

[Pnegirl Graduate]

Wow! How you did that, I do not know. Feeling nauseous while running has got to be one of the worst feelings ever! You carried on, though, and didn't let it stop you. Maybe keep the treats for non - run nights 😂 though it did sound bloody good lol

[Dodgylungs Graduate in reply to Pnegirl]

Absolutely, the expression my eyes were bigger than my belly comes to mind! Though not strictly true thanks to lockdown, hence the running! 😂

I think my determination never to stop again has come into play here. Before I came on here I was not mentally strong enough to run through pain, despite years of running on the treadmill. Now my endurance as well as stamina have improved and I can run through the discomfort barrier!

[JetsNanna Graduate]

Absolutely brilliant! What an achievement when all the signs were that it was going to be woeful. Well done 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[Dodgylungs Graduate in reply to JetsNanna]

Thank you!

[acountrycabbage Graduate]

MADE IT, well done for pushing on!

[Dodgylungs Graduate in reply to acountrycabbage]

Thank you! Staying power 💪