Week 5/3

[Chinkoflight]

Week 5 is a surprise with everyday different and building to today's 20 minutes! While I had set off with a plan to reduce effort and concentrate on breathing, for the first time I had to contend with a bracing headwind. I was surprised how hard that makes running and breathing. So although trying to convince myself I'm running, today was definitely a jog! In truth all my runs are a jog! But the wind was behind me on the return and life got easier! Good luck everyone doing week5/3 today. PS 8 weeks ago I had a severe stroke, and everyone thinks I'm mad and should be taking it easy. My encouragement comes from this forum, and the rather excellent Jo Whiley 😉😁

[HeavyFoot Graduate]

That’s a milestone you passed today, Chinkoflight. 👍. Nothing wrong with jogging. It’s all a matter of perspective. To a person on a couch, we’re all runners.

Take Week 6 easy. It’s too tempting to take it like a bull at a barn door.

Happy runnings.

[Chinkoflight in reply to HeavyFoot]

Thanks for the reply. Taking today easier was definitely the way to go as after the toxic 10 I was breathing easy to the end and the legs were OK. Stride length had reduced. Bit of a Bruce Tulloh short choppy style I like to think!!!!!!😂

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

C25k is designed to be undertaken at an easy conversational pace, which for most people is a jog.

Counterintuitively, it is an easy conversational pace running that builds your stamina and endurance, not fast running.

Say this sentence out loud to yourself "Am I going slow enough to enable me to speak this sentence in one out breath?" If you cannot, you are going too fast.

[Chinkoflight in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Your post this and last week was so eloquent and forthright, it was truly a statement of being human. Thank you so much for your reply to my post. Talking is a big part of me and I lost completely for a short while before clot busting treatment kicked in. I could hear and process but was just unable to respond, including non-verbally. I will say your wise words with a special thought and gratitude that I can. Thank you again.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to Chinkoflight]

Thank you.

Taking C25k will give you the best possible rehabilitation, but be kind to yourself. The C25K philosophy has always been NO PAIN, NO PAIN, and it really works.

Take care, have fun.

[Returnagain Graduate]

Woo hoo! well done you that's amazing. Keep up the good work and enjoy, but also listen to your body and don't do too much. Good luck for the rest of your journey.

[BrokeyNotSoBusted Graduate]

Nice achievement. Jogging is still running, just at a slower pace but those horrible, horrible headwinds are enough to catch your breath walking so well done on battling through it (I chickened out on one of my runs and turned back). Wish you well going into week 6 and beyond.

[Chinkoflight in reply to BrokeyNotSoBusted]

Thanks for the reply. Yes the wind was a surprise but being not far from The Needles I don't know why I was surprised. I think I've actually had 5 weeks of pretty good weather for running so today was a bit of a tester, easy to bail out I guess. But if I do harbour thoughts that I might eventually enjoy this running thing then it's come rain or shine I guess! 😁

[Vespina Graduate]

Congratulations on nailing that one. That’s a big milestone. Even bigger with a headwind and on the road to recovery.

There’s no definition of either running or jogging so you’re doing whatever you say you’re doing. For me, if we’re not walking, we’re running, at whatever pace is sustainable and comfortable for you.

Enjoy week 6. It totally threw me going back to intervals but I got there.

[Chinkoflight in reply to Vespina]

Thanks for the reply, it's great to hear all the experience. I took a peak at the next run wondering what to expect after 20 minutes and was surprised too. But it's all good and I feel okay this evening! Cheers.