On week 7, hills and the power of the mind

[DAS01]

So, last week I successfully completed week 6 and looked forward with some confidence to Week 7: three runs of 25mins. I’m away on a bit of a break in Devon this week, so after some time on Google I found a local running club (thanks guys) had described a run through woodland that sounded perfect and very close to hotel. Two laps through woodland and past an old ruined Norman fort…….what could be better?

The bit the local running club didn’t mention was the hill (thanks guys). My usual run has an overall elevation of just 16m, so basically flat. This run had an overall elevation of nearly 80m and consisted of two laps of gentle downslope followed by a very, very steep hill. On the first lap I felt utterly exhausted about 3/4 of the way up the hill and my running slowed to a walk. I think some of the reason for having to walk was the lack of preparation for running up such a steep hill as it came as a complete surprise. I recovered my breath on the gentle downslope of lap 2 and mentally prepared myself for the hill at the end of the run. This time, knowing what I was facing and preparing myself mentally I successfully managed to keep running to the end. It was a VERY slow jog, but the point is that it was a jog and not a walk. On the first lap, it was my mind which had given up running up that hill, not my body. On the second lap, I was clearly more tired but had a better mental resolve to keep going. My point, at the end of this long, rambling post, is that so much of the difference between success and failure on this programme is our mental state and not physical. Slowing to a walk on the hill on lap 1 was a decision I took. Keeping going on lap 2 was me simply refusing to give up. I’m beginning to realise how much C25K is about us acclimatising our minds, as well as our bodies, to making the transition to becoming “runners” instead of being unfit. If we think of ourselves as runners then that is what we do and our bodies, to some extent, will follow.

From now on I will think of myself as a runner and will not give up on running up that hill on lap 1 when I run that route again. This may have been my slowest run of the program but I think it’s the run which has made me become a better runner.

When did you all start to think of yourselves as “runners” and ,if you don’t already, what will it take for you to consider yourself a runner?

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate]

Well done for getting up that hill! I’m “fortunate” to live in a rural area surrounded by them so I’ve had to get used to them from the start. They’re brilliant for building fitness and there’s something magical about hitting the top of a tough one and getting a brilliant view. I prefer hilly runs to flat ones.

I started c25k back in January and the transition to feeling like a runner was gradual. It started when I was actively choosing to go out in the pouring rain and enjoying it. It continued with getting nods and hellos from fellow runners who were looking at me as another runner rather than a struggler needing sympathy! Then there was going running as a way to help sore legs rather than create them and the realisation that my mental commentary had totally changed from “only a minute to go-hang on in there” to “it’s only twenty minutes more-you can easily do that”. The thing that really nailed it was taking running kit on a relaxing holiday abroad and being excited about using it.

[cheekychipmunks Graduate]

Way to go DAS01! That’s mental resolve alright. 👊 So much of running is mental and it helps get us through the tough times. 🙏🏻

I’ve been running for 4 years now (in fact my 4th runniversary of starting C25K was last weekend - and I forgot! 🤦‍♀️) I considered myself a runner as soon as I started, and haven’t looked back. It’s part of my life now, and always will be. Happy running to you. 🥰

[Birdsong22 Graduate]

I think it was this weekend when I was away visiting family but packed my running gear and fitted in Week 7 run 1 before dinner on Saturday!