16th Consolidation Run

[Dodgylungs]

Today I came of age as a runner. I took off the training wheels of the C25K app and did my first Nike Running Club run - a 35 minute run which to my utter amazement I did with comfort. This was a last minute decision to change course but I felt good today and I wanted to aim for 32 minutes. I gave myself permission to bail out after 32 mins if I wanted to but I didn’t need to.

It was cold this morning but my suspicion that I run better in rain and cold seems to be proving correct at the moment. Years of playing football in atrocious weather seems to have made me comfortable in dodgy weather conditions. Today was the first time I have enjoyed a run from start to finish. There were hardly any moments of struggle because I took SueAppleRun advice and slowed down.

The first 10 minutes seemed straightforward. I even had the strength in my legs and lungs to run up the incline on the Heath without any stress or discomfort. I ran along the flat past the coffee shop and once past the running track I made my descent towards Kentish Town.

I have never been so comfortable at 15 and 20 minutes. The guy on the app was jabbering away about running in hot temperatures and I swear it helped me as I visualised running in LA in the warm weather and I was transported out of cold and dark London. It was like a meditation.

By the time I hit 25 minutes I felt comfortable and I couldn’t believe that at 30 minutes I wasn’t struggling either. I carried on and hit my usual end place at 35 minutes that I usually hit at 30 (thanks to the extra run on the Heath) and I wanted to carry on. Yes, you read that correctly, I wanted to carry on. I saw that I had hit 4.3km in 35 mins and I felt I could have carried on and run the full 5K...but I didn’t. I know too much about my mind and body and I didn’t want to risk injury. This was already 5 minutes further than I’ve ever run on this journey and I know the 5K will come now. I’m in no hurry. But I do feel pleased as punch at this significant progress.

[JetsNanna Graduate]

Brilliant!! Just brilliant. Well done for doing your first 35min run and enjoying it in its entirety and also for knowing that you should stop (even if you felt like you could have carried on). A wise move. You know that you can do it now so gradual increases are going to get you to that 5k in the safest way. 😊

[Dodgylungs Graduate in reply to JetsNanna]

Thank you! I’m in a good place now and ready for 5K in the coming weeks/months.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Small steps will still get you there, with reduced injury risk.It sounds like you have arrived at a happy running place.

[Dodgylungs Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thank you. I feel I hit the sweet spot today.

[pr0fess0r Graduate]

Congratulations on the run! I agree about cold weather, I actually prefer it! Fingers crossed for snow haha. I'm glad that going slow was the trick for you, I am only gently increasing my pace over time. Bring on the 5k!

[Dodgylungs Graduate in reply to pr0fess0r]

Weird isn’t it? It’s probably more to do with the fact I wasn’t fit in the summer and now that I am I’m enjoying the runs in cold and wet weather. Whatever it is, long may it continue. I’ll run 5K within a month I reckon.

[LauraRuns Graduate]

Woooo! What great progress DL!! 🙌🏼 sounds like a great run and I’m glad to hear you enjoyed it and got a taste of the runners high. Sometimes switching things up a bit is all you need for a good run. Well done 🥳

[Dodgylungs Graduate in reply to LauraRuns]

Thank you Laura. It’s weird to do a run without feeling the struggle. I guess all the hard work is paying off now. I always get a high after a run, but this was enjoying it during the run. Much prefer that to feeling sick, out of breath and/or fatigued!!

[Jiveblue Graduate]

Hey Dodgylungs - brilliant post and just the enthusiastic words I needed to encourage me to get out NOW! Cheers!! PS Well done on your run - your mix of composure and calm is very motivating!

[Dodgylungs Graduate in reply to Jiveblue]

Thanks Jiveblue (great name btw!!) so glad you felt inspired to get out there and run. I've persevered for over 4 months of feeling tired, sick, achy. wheezy, breathless and now suddenly it all fell into place as if it's been a doddle all along. I guess the secret to making something feel easy is hard work. I'm so glad I stuck with it as I'm now reaping the rewards. Good luck with your running.

[Queenie17 Graduate]

Well done you must feel great!😄Reaching the point of enjoying the run, rather than just getting it done was a revelation to me😂now I cant wait to get out. Enjoy your achievement so far and good luck with future runs🏃🏃

[Dodgylungs Graduate in reply to Queenie17]

Thank you. Never thought I’d enjoy the running. All those years on the treadmill was often torturous.

[Speedy60 Graduate]

Well done you!👏👏👏Was the guy jabbering away on the app, Coach Bennett? In between all the chat he has some great advice. I've had a few real lightbulb moments listening to him.

As for running in bad weather, give me winter any day. My distance and times really dropped off in the summer.

Keep going!

[Dodgylungs Graduate in reply to Speedy60]

Thank you. Yes it was Coach Bennett. I actually liked the jabbering, it took my mind off the running which is what I think it’s designed to do and I’m sure it’s the reason I found it easier. Less time in my own head. I like cold weather running too. My hands and head are always cold to start and then warm up exponentially. It's kind of exhilarating.

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

That’s brilliant, I’m glad you had such a good run

[Dodgylungs Graduate in reply to SueAppleRun]

Yes, I took your sage advice. Thank you. Best run yet.

[SueAppleRun Graduate in reply to Dodgylungs]

It worked for us and you don’t have to slow down much to feel comfortable and eventually you will realise that your slow easy pace used to be your fast breathless pace, over time speed comes naturally, we are still slow but a lot faster than we were a year ago

[Dodgylungs Graduate in reply to SueAppleRun]

Absolutely, that’s where I want to get to. The gradual improvement in a safe and controlled way and seeing the clear progress over time.

[Couchphoenix Graduate]

Well done DL, the NRC runs are great for consolidation runs, Coach Bennett’s enthusiasm does make the run more enjoyable I find....he can be a bit random sometimes, he’s good though 👍🏃‍♂️

[Dodgylungs Graduate in reply to Couchphoenix]

Yeah the talking really helped actually. There was no negative stuff about 'you might be feeling tired now' like Jo did on the C25K app. I just listened and tuned out of any pain with music playing in the background from Spotify. I think it's going to work for me.

[Pooped77 Graduate]

Well done sounds great. I love hearing your mentions of north London I grew up around there, running on the Heath sounds great. I am at a similar stage to you - I have found just mixing up the runs has helped, as you have seen there are so many guided runs on NRC - I decided to up one run a week to 4K (really like the 4K guided run on NRC), also tried a Zombie run the other week - slightly odd but quite amusing. I also enjoy running in the cold and rain 🌧 mins you for me I thinks it’s because it means there are usually less people about (I can still fell quite self conscious when running!)

Anyway I can hear the rain coming down outside but am looking forward to going out later - going to attempt 5k if I can find the time (family permitting!)

[Dodgylungs Graduate in reply to Pooped77]

Good luck with your run. If you’re running 5K you don’t need to feel self conscious. You’ve earnt the right to be out there. I think I’ll do a couple more 35 minute runs and then push through to make sure I complete a 5K. I reckon I’d do it in 40 mins at the moment. Once I’ve done that I’ll get to work on speeding up a bit and then in the new year look at progressing towards 10K.

[Pooped77 Graduate in reply to Dodgylungs]

Sounds like a plan 👍