Week 9 Run 2

[Dodgylungs]

Woke up this morning feeling good and the ankle felt good too after working yesterday and walking around on it, albeit strapped up as a precaution. I decided today that I would try a gentle run and any sign of a twinge or pain I would stop immediately. I’m so happy to report that I managed to not only finish the run but went over the 30 mins as I’ve now realised the app pauses slightly on every run. So I actually ran 31 mins 30 seconds.

The first few minutes felt great but as soon as I hit the first incline the lack of running in my legs began to tell. It wasn’t excruciatingly uncomfortable but neither was it easy. The biggest thing that has improved since coming on this forum is my mental strength. I now know I’ll never stop unless I’m injured. It took an age to hit 15 mins but when Laura told me I’d reached halfway I knew I was actually 90 seconds closer to 20 mins and this knowledge spurred me as Personality Crisis by the New York Dolls played. I laughed to myself amid memories of my last relationship but that’s another story...

I ran back and forth on the flat and did my usual descent down the incline past the lido and I felt a sense of elation. I only had 3 1/2 minutes to go on my stopwatch when Laura told me I was at the last 5 minutes and if I was tired to slow down. I actually sped up slightly in my elation. As I passed 30 mins on the stopwatch I thought I’d run the extra 90 seconds so I could get Laura’s congratulations which is good for the psyche. Hong Kong Garden by Siouxsie And The Banshees played as Laura said just a minute to go which was now up the incline on the main road. I jogged that last 60 seconds feeling so happy to be back running.

One more run to go to graduation. Lust For Life played as this thought hit me on the walk to the cafe for my latte and croissant...

[Ruby69 Graduate]

Fantastic post what a lovely run and songs 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[Dodgylungs Graduate in reply to Ruby69]

Thank you! Yes it was my favourite run so far!

[nowster Graduate]

Lust for Life was played on BBC Radio 2's "Sounds of the Seventies" on Sunday afternoon.

[Dodgylungs Graduate in reply to nowster]

What a great song that is. Love Iggy!

[carolinestanford Graduate]

Yay! well done

[Dodgylungs Graduate in reply to carolinestanford]

Thank you!

[Hidden]

Good on ya 😁💪

When you going to do your final run?

I'll try and do it with you 😁🏃‍♀️

We got this!

[Dodgylungs Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Great idea! I usually run at 9am and think I’ll be doing that time on Friday. That would be lovely if you could run it at the same time. Depending on how my ankle is, I intend on slightly increasing my pace. I’m curious to know what time I can actually do when I run flat out. I’ll probably run the first 5 the usual pace and then steadily pick it up between 5 and 15, consolidate 15-25 and then let rip for the last 5.

Not that this is likely at all on Friday but there must be people who run 5k under 30 minutes. What do you do then? Keep running for 30 mins?

[Hidden in reply to Dodgylungs]

Long as I'm feeling fit on Friday then I'll run the same time then 😁💪 but no fields or stiles for me this time!

A good friend of mine who's a long distance runner, she does 5km in 24 minutes. She's also half my body weight I should think 😂 tiny little thing but runs like the clappers.

I plan on just keep repeating 30 minute runs from next week and tracking my progress. I'm hoping that over time I'll improve, just like I have done during the last 9 weeks.

[Dodgylungs Graduate in reply to Hidden]

I really meant people who do the C25K programme...Wow, 24 minutes! Awesome time. Where does she run? There is a running track on the Heath which I could run on once I’m fit enough to want to do a PB. My friend Ben runs 5K in 20 minutes, mind you he did the London Marathon in 3 1/2 hours. Ridiculous times!

You’ll definitely improve and run faster than you are now. I guess it all depends on how much you want to push yourself. I’m 57 and not sure how good for my heart it would be to try and run a 5K flat out. I’d love to have a go on the running track though!

Let me know how you feel on Friday and we can synchronise our runs!

[Hidden in reply to Dodgylungs]

Will keep you posted 🤞😁

[Dodgylungs Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Great!

[Hidden in reply to Dodgylungs]

Are you running today DL???

[Dodgylungs Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Yes. Going out at 9.

[Hidden in reply to Dodgylungs]

Fab. Then I'm doing it with you 😁

I was going to wait until tomorrow but I've done Mon, Weds and Fri this entire programme and I feel like I'll jinx it if I change now 😂😂

Wishing you a fantastic final run DL, I'm feeling good but the weather here is appalling, strong winds and lashing rain. Going to be a wet run!!

[Dodgylungs Graduate in reply to Hidden]

It’s raining here too but I guess we’ll have to get used to that in the coming months!

Hope you have a fantastic run too. We’ve worked really hard to get here and we can do this!

See you on the other side Burkey!!