Consolidation week one - hill challenge and icy shower 🥶

[Catho78]

Well my friends I have consolidated my running week one post graduation from C25K.

I chose to run with just my music and a timer at 30 minutes and this helped. I struggled with the app on week 9 and a time check every 5 mins! Makes you clock watch. I prefer to switch off if possible.

My first run I covered my usual route starting part way up a long hill, I usually walk to the top then run around then down the hill. It’s a 1 mile gradual incline and more steep at the top. I found part way starting not a problem, got my HR up quicker but kept up a steady pace.

My second run was at 05:30 as this was the only time I could fit it in. There’s only one road near me with street lights on that early and, yep you guessed it, it was my demon hill. So I set off slow and conquered that hill in 13 minutes, and the best bit, I got to run back down lol. I was also spotted on this run by someone I know who later asked me, “was that you I saw running the other morning?” I wasn’t sure if I felt proud she saw me as a runner or embarrassed she’d seen me run 🙈

My final run I completed today. It had been raining on and off but I waited for a dry period and the sun was out. I tried a flatter route and was enjoying my run. I had a light jacket on which I tied round my waist. At the half way point my alarm went to tell my to turn around when a sudden freak icy downpour came down almost horizontally on me. It made me shriek, it was as if someone had thrown a bucket of icy water on me! I was trying to turn my alarm off but the phone didn’t want to work in the wet, trying to do an about turn (not sure why but I struggle with this) whilst protecting my phone and untying my jacket to put it on. I must have looked a sight but I managed all of these things whilst still running, and even upped my pace lol. The rain stopped as fast as it started, my jacket was wet through but it kept the wind chill off. I headed for home and even over took a tractor! Okay he was cutting the hedges but still it was moving lol. I laughed to myself on my run home, well I’m wide awake now, that was refreshing!

So week one consolidation, one hill conquered and learning to multitask whilst running 😁. Who knows what week two will bring but I say bring it on lol 🏃🏽‍♀️🏃🏽‍♀️🏃🏽‍♀️🍾

[RacingintheStreet Graduate]

Well done on your consolidation runs 👌 That hill 😱😱

Thankfully I have lots of nice routes or at least smaller inclines , hills at back of us would offer some nice runs but they are big hills ! Maybe tackle them next spring/summer once I build some stamina 💪☀️

I did laugh at the multi tasking , one of my party tricks is trying to take top off without sorting earphones ( wired ones ) have nearly come a cropper a couple times with them tripping me up .

Well done for overtaking a tractor 👍 🚜🚜🚜 ..... well it does still have an engine in it 😂🤷🏼‍♀️

[Catho78 Graduate in reply to RacingintheStreet]

Hi, thanks for your reply. I was chuffed with the hill as it opens up more routes and I think the tractor counts lol. Happy running

[CazzaW Graduate]

Well done, great to hear about your first weeks runs post grad... quite eventful 😂 not sure I like the sound of the icy blast 😬

It’s really interesting to hear what everyone is doing for consolidation, all a bit different, so giving me ideas! Am finally hoping to get this done over the weekend if my ankle holds up... I’ve had an injury lay off like you.... so frustrating 🥴

Good luck with CW2 😊

[Catho78 Graduate in reply to CazzaW]

Hiya, sorry to hear about your injury, so frustrating, and painful bless you. You’ve got this, slow and steady. I’m enjoying trying out new routes and trying to ignore pace as main focus, I’ve even driven a few local routes to consider longer runs for the future. I like short and long term goals to stay focused. This the start of an adventure lol. Good luck with your runs

[CazzaW Graduate in reply to Catho78]

Thank you 😊 am just about to post.... am so relieved to say I got out earlier and unintentionally far exceeded my expectations 😃 now have only one go... graduation finally on Sunday....I hope 🤞

Am liking the sound of short term and long term goals 👌

[Couchphoenix Graduate]

Great post, Catho78 seeing someone you know when your running hasn’t happened to me yet, but I can honestly say I’d feel proud now and say yes it was.....which is massive for me as I told no one I worked with I was doing C25k until I’d actually completed it. They were surprised and I was waiting for some joker to say something but it didn’t happen, it was the opposite and they were encouraging and could see I take my running seriously, some decided to do C25k as they’ve said I inspired them ! 2 have since completed it and love running now. Anyway, well done on overtaking the tractor 🚜 and battling the elements 👍 ☔️ try the Nike Run Club app for your consolation runs, it’s great.