This was my 5th attempt this week to run. My last actual run was Saturday 24th October and so nearly a week later I finally managed to complete the run. This should really have been my 10th consolidation run but my body and mind had other ideas. I did have an ankle tweak earlier this week but I immediately stopped and there has been no further recurrence though there is a little tenderness in that area on touching,
Long story short I am very proud of myself and this was my fastest and most consistent run. I'm still a way off completing 5K but I'm getting closer. The fact that I went out 4 times in the last 3 days to try and complete it speaks volumes for my perseverance. It was probably my hardest run mentally as I still have a slight lurgy on my lungs but despite that, physically I felt quite good at the end. This on only 4 hours sleep last night too,
I have now started accepting that the toxic 10 minutes are simply to be endured. I know now that once I get past 10 mins I usually finish. Every time I've bailed out this last week has been in the first 10 minutes. 3 times before 5 minutes was up and once on 7 minutes yesterday, Today I told myself that if I don't finish then my entire running programme was under threat. Whether that's true or not that's how I felt.
By the time I got to the Heath Jo was telling me that 10 minutes had gone and there was 20 minutes left (I think I want a trainer now that doesn't remind me of that). I ran on the flat bit of the Heath until 15 minutes and snaking around the race track when I heard the bell. Instead of going down to the lido, this time I ran back up onto the flat bit of the Heath again and started on my way home.
By the time I had reached 20 minutes I was well on my way and I knew I was going to finish. Instead of running up the big hill back towards Cathcart Hill, I ran down to York Rise which saw me hit 25 minutes. I had to run up quite a steep incline at around 27 minutes, 28 minutes was a downward slope and the last minute was uphill again but I made it and this time my legs weren't too wobbly. This is only the second time I've done this particular route, which is essentially a run home.
Job done and my running programme is back on track!!