Snot!! And on to week 9!!

[NettieNoo]

There, that got your attention! If I ever suffer from dehydration it won't be due to sweating, but the vast quantity of mucus my head produces when I run. I now know I can never give up running, or I may drown. I don't hold with spitting (revolting habit) but I had to resort to it on Friday because an insect flew into my gaping mouth as I desperately tried to suck in more air. (What sort of suicidal insect hangs about in drizzle in temperatures of 4°C?) The good news is that I'm a rubbish spitter and succeeded only in getting gob all over my face and down my front. Glamorous.

Anyway, Friday's run was cracking. I didn't want to go, talked myself out of it and back in again several times during the day, I was exhausted from a week of (for me) extreme amounts of exercise, but got out there, did it and it was ok. Better than ok afterwards, as I realised when walking back (I always run in 1 direction and walk back for the extra exercise) that I was grinning all over my chops, feeling exhilarated.

I then had 2 days off running (did 2 long walks, some hula hooping and a sea swim on my days 'off') and finished week 8, my 3rd 28 minute run, yesterday. For the first time on this C25K journey I set Strava going (although I found when I opened Strava that Fitbit has randomly synced some of my activity in the last few weeks, including a car journey to the petrol station and some laundry folding which it auto-recognised as a swim 🤣). It says I only ran for 27 minutes (which ISN'T TRUE!! I timed it) but that it was 3.26km at an average pace of 8.15/km. I know that's not what you'd call record breaking, but I'm chuffed with that and looking forward to tomorrow's week 9 run 1 of 30 minutes with equal amounts of excitement and trepidation.

[nowster Graduate]

In colder weather, my nose tends to gently dribble onto my top lip for the first 15 minutes of a run. Not a great situation.

[MissUnderstanding Administrator]

I went for a run just after a cold and my tissue blew away. All I’m saying is my behaviour fell below the standards of which I expect of myself. I won’t describe how my gloves looked afterwards 😳

Enjoy your run tomorrow. You know exactly what to do because you’re already doing it so well! Keep it steady and you’ll have a great time. Apps like strava and Nike Run Club (which I use) can often be a bit inconsistent for to GPS. I’d be tempted just to enjoy the last three programme runs without it, but I once almost had a full on tantrum in a country lane when NRC recorded my speedy run wrong! Totally up to you.

Top tip? Remember a tissue!! 😂

[NettieNoo Graduate in reply to MissUnderstanding]

I've resisted looking at pace / distance up to now, mostly because I knew I'd be disappointed. I tend to get a bit obsessed with the numbers and with comparing myself to other people. I KNOW it's a stupid way to carry on, but it's so tempting. It's also what made me end up hate running when I did it before, because it just became about pushing myself and forgetting what it was really for in the first place. I'll try not to do that this time.

[MissUnderstanding Administrator in reply to NettieNoo]

I’m exactly the same as you. It’s one thing logically knowing that pace doesn’t matter, but it’s still hard not to let it affect how you feel about your runs! It’s the main reason I’m not on strava. Nowadays, I only pay attention to my pace if I’m deliberately doing a faster run (that’s something I’ve picked up since graduating-couch to 5k is best at the conversational pace). Other runs I only note down the time and distance I ran for so I can feel proud of that rather than obsessing over how fast (or not!) I was over every km! It’s so easy to get sucked into runs only being about the numbers!

All this tech is a great to have available but you only have to use what’s helpful to you. The main thing is knowing yourself well enough to say that something won’t be positive for your runs so you’ll stay away or use it with care.

[OldManRunning Graduate in reply to MissUnderstanding]

I didn't use Strava until after I finished which in some ways I regret as it would be nice to look back on them now. I had a tantrum too as Strava decided to suspend my run and then restart it 1.5k further on the map looked like I flew over the caravan park close to my home 😂😂

[MissUnderstanding Administrator in reply to OldManRunning]

Coach B on Nike Run Club talks about running being like flying but I don’t think I’ve actually taken off yet! These apps do throw up some funny results! 😂

I’m sure my Fitbit had me running straight across a lake once when the GPS signal cut out.

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

My most difficult runs have been when I forget a handful of tissue, or kitchen towel roll that is more robust.That's a pretty good pace you know, and it doesn't matter as long as you enjoy it.

[OldManRunning Graduate]

Well done NettieNoo, it's fabulous when you feel that good after a run 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️🏃🤸‍♂️😁

[grumpyoldgirl Graduate]

Yup, got my attention for sure! 😁 I get that sinking feeling if I forget a tissue because I know what it means 😬. Look at you though, all the way through to week 9 and enjoying it! 💪 And a perfectly respectable time to boot, so nothing to worry about there. Week 9 and small insects had better watch out!

[NettieNoo Graduate in reply to grumpyoldgirl]

Ha! Blowing a hooly, snowing and freezing cold here today! I'm doing it anyway, but I seem to remember from running in the wind before that it makes breathing more difficult. If there are insects out there today, they're well 'ard 🤣

[grumpyoldgirl Graduate]

😂