(Quick photo of the very dark, yet gorgeous view this morning which has absolutely nothing to do with my post but which I thought it was pretty enough to be shared)
Hi everyone. I hope you're all well, staying safe and still enjoying your running no matter what stage you're at. It's been a crazy couple of weeks since I've posted or been on the forum but sometimes life gets in the way. On the one hand, I've had the stresses of redundancy/ redeployment meetings, job applications and tier this and tier that. On the other hand, I've had the absolute joy of getting to grips with consolidation runs and completing my Cancer Research Marathon Challenge raising over £230! It has certainly been a roller-coaster of a fortnight but overall, I feel positive.
On the running front, I did consolidation 8 this morning. I've been really enjoying experimenting with pace, learning where my super-comfy, comfy-but-still-challenging and faster-than-normal paces lie and seeing how my body responds or recovers. I've tried running in the evening though my preference is still in the morning before work, and I've alternated between 30min runs and 33-35min 5ks so as not to push myself too much too quickly. I am still using the app to keep time and am still running in my usual spot but now that I'm not worried about my apps cutting out due to no connection (people were checking my fundraising page's Strava stats to see how I was getting on), I think that using my own time and trying other routes are my next steps in the consolidation process. My mind has even started wondering about the 5k to 10k bridge but I'm going to give it more time yet till I feel ready for that one haha!
Anyhoo, I just wanted to drop you all a quick hello and I can't wait to catch up on how everyone's getting on 😁 x
Written by
Pnegirl
Graduate
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You know what, it really has. When I first started c25k, I thought running was going to be the stressful thing but it's come full circle and it's what actually helps you through. There have been ups and downs recently but I know that's the same for a lot of people at the moment. On reflection, things are starting to look up. I hope you're still enjoying your running 🙂
Good to know things are improving. I feel for you, having gone through job insecurity stresses over the years.
I’m still enjoying my slow running, which has by itself gradually increased in speed over the weeks. I got a boost today when I realised my Adidas app underestimates my distance, so my pace today was about 8 min/km over 5K instead of the indicated 8:17. Keep running and posting!😀
I forgot to say congrats on your marathon challenge and raising the money!
I know! I took the photo and didn't really think much of it until I looked at it again after work. The different blues are quite striking. Don't think there'll be that much or any colour after the clocks go back 😂
Well, running in the dark well be a new experience for me. I have bought myself a chest torch though just in case I need it, so as long as I don't get accosted by any neighbours thinking I'm a burglar breaking in, I'll be happy
A torch ✅ definitely a wise head on young shoulders 👍 don't overlook Hi-viz items my running jacket ( by Ron Hill, ebay bargain I'm a cheapskate 🤫) has a hole on the back!!! But the clever thing is it marries up with a magnetic light up button..... But I've tried it and it just work just fixing it to a normal running short Kaboom be safe be seen Pnegirl.
Thanks for the advice lmc50, I really appreciate it. I've got reflective stripes on my running gear and the torch has a red light on the back so hopefully that'll be OK. You be safe too 🙂
Hello lovely girl, I was thinking about you just this morning, hadn’t seen a post from you for a while.
Glad to hear you’re still cracking on pounding the pavements despite everything life is throwing at you.
Major congrats on completing your Marathon challenge, what an achievement! 🤩👏🏼
I’ve been eyeing up JuJu’s Magic Plan in the 10K forum.. ☺️ I like the look of the structure and I’m best having a goal where I can literally track my progress every step of the way.
It's so lovely to hear from you acountrycabbage! And how odd, I was thinking of you this morning because the horses were really close to the sportsfield and giving me a very good 'what the hell is she doing' expression 😂.
How are you doing? I hope you're ok and that you're still loving your running. I'm so pleased I'm not the only one thinking about the 10k transition. I've looked at one plan online but I haven't looked at the 10k forum yet. I might go and have a secret lurk in the background haha!
Hi Pnegirl, well done on raising £230 for charity 👏🏻👏🏻 have you tried the Nike Run Club app yet? I used it to reach my first 10k and even 13k once. I found the choice of coached runs on there ideal. You can listen to your own playlist too just like C25k. 👍🏃♀️
Ooo, no I haven't tried that. I like it when there's a choice of coaches so I'll definitely look into it. Wow, 13k...I felt tired reading that haha. Thanks Couchphoenix! 😁
How funny, ‘great minds’ and all that 😁 I’m alright thanks. Had a crappy C5 this morning but generally still loving running. My mojo hasn’t deserted me which is the main thing!
Nope, don't let the mojo get away from you! I'm sorry to hear you had a bad run this morning (sorry if I missed a post about it too) but it's just a little blip amongst all the lovely runs you've had so far.
I'll see you in the 10k forum then. I know who I'll be blaming when I finally take the plunge and am knackered haha 🤣
Ha ha, I will happily take the hit, you’ll rock it!
Don’t worry about posts at all! I feel out of step with the forum right now. I think it’s because to begin with we were all headed in one direction with the same goal and now as graduates we’re all going at different paces and directions, etc. Not a bad thing.. to me it feels like consolidation is about learning how to be a runner when left to your own devices. C25K gave me the initial tools and now I have to work out what to do with the skills I’ve picked up. I’m still a student and I’ve just headed off to bigger school! 👩🏼🏫✨😃
Yep, we're like kids in year 7 who have backpacks as big as them haha! Newbies again lol. You're absolutely right. That's how I've tried to approach the consolidation runs and I think it's a good attitude to adopt.
Although I've had a couple of weeks away from the forum, you know I completely understand what you mean about feeling out of step. Like you say, people are heading off in different directions and I wonder if it is because with having a lot of the fundamental tools now, it's about how we fine tune our own running. Here's to our next runs 🙂
It’s easy to have your new ambitions try to run away with you but I’ve been impressed with myself for reigning it in and just concentrating on getting out there for 30mins. That’s effort enough in itself..! 😅
It's going OK. I'll be doing recovery run 12, an equivalent of W6R2, tomorrow morning. The ankles have been a little tender today after a trail section on Saturday and yesterday's runs. I've done some balance exercises and ankle rotation exercises today.
My calves were also very tight this evening after walking round the supermarket. A set of stretches has helped with that.
I'll be hyper-attentive to both ankles and calves tomorrow!
Oh .... there you are ! 😄😉 wondered where you'd gotten to 🤔🤷🏼♀️
I kept checking your profile in case I’d missed anything , so nice that you’re back .
You’ve been busy too !
Well done on the fundraising front, thats a brilliant amount you’ve raised and consolidation run 8 😮 you’re cracking on .
Sounds like you’re really discovering who are as a runner and it won’t be long before your clicking on that bridge to 10 link 👌😂😂
Hope the work situation and the ‘’tiering’ systems aren’t getting you down too much , what a silver lining C25K has been . Gets everyone out to blow the cares and cobwebs away .
Yet again heavy rain is putting back my runs , but at last got out at teatime and got C6 done tonight.
Hi Racinginthestreet! It's great to hear from you and yes, sorry for going quiet lol. Things just got a bit hectic to say the least 🙂.
Things have been up and down but I've taken so much enjoyment out of my running. I'm not sure why, and I know I still have loads to learn, but it has really felt like things have clicked into place over the last few weeks but I'm not going to let that make me complacent. Ah that's rubbish that the rain has gotten in the way but glad you're still getting them done. The weather has certainly taken a turn this month and we're now well and truly into autumn. Let's hope we get a reprieve as cold, sharp mornings or evenings can actually make a lovely start and end to the day. I'll try and catch up on your posts very soon and may see you in the 10k group if you're tempted to have a lurk there as well haha 😁
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Week 8 Run 2 On Fire 🔥 
Week 1 run 2 complete
Week 9 run 3 completed!
Finally! A couple of weeks after everyone else, I get a run in the snow!
Week 9 - Run 3 - Graduate
