Monday’s visit to the prosthetist was very useful, and since then I’ve managed two runs with Garmin coach Amy, without any major problems. I’m wondering, however, whether to ditch Amy and go back to repeating the NHS couchto5k yet again. She decided in her wisdom that today’s (week 3) run was to be 1.61km/one mile non-stop. I was trying to make my runs less predictable and hopefully more interesting, but I really found the lack of permitted walking breaks so soon was very hard.
The difficulty I had today may have been of my own making. I wanted to combine running and dog walking, as usual. All my usual flattish routes for both would be busy on a Saturday, with cyclists and other dog walkers. So I picked a route on woodland trails. It’s a relatively level and pleasant route, I thought, where we rarely see anyone else. I hadn’t realised that it just seems relatively easy, because it’s part of a regular circular walk - we usually do a steep walk down into a ravine and back up again first, so after we arrive puffing at the top of the hill, this section across the top of the ravine is always a relief. The photo above is of primroses and violets at the bottom of the ravine, taken on 1 May.. I expect they are gone now.Anyway, as I said before, it was hard. There were a couple of very muddy sections where I was forced to walk for a few steps, including a very wet detour around a fallen tree trunk. Lots of uneven ground and tree roots. All in all a good test for my new foot and ankle, and it coped okay, especially as I stupidly hadn’t worn my trail shoes.
I had a look at the next run on the plan and it is 2.41km. I’m thinking I might postpone that and just repeat today’s run, but do it on the cinder track instead, then see how I feel about complying with Amy’s unreasonable demands.
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PeggySusi
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Beautiful place to run, even though a challenge, I quit my Garmin plan because the runs didn't suit me and there was an element of must do better after each run which wasn't helpful, good luck with yours though, it's tailored to what you can do so may suit you.
Thanks Sue, that’s interesting.. yes, Amy’s comment after the first few runs was Good Job, but the last couple of comments have been Room to Grow.. which just reminds me of Could do Better in a school report.. and gets my hackles up!😂
That's right, to me Room to Grow, meant must do better, I just got despondent, we did several weeks but it was 5 runs a week and one day we realised our legs never stopped aching so we stopped. I try not to recommend things but NRC training plans have flexibility and are very motivating, there's a Get started plan as well as a 5k and HM. I'm going to take the recovery runs slow and easy but might Jeff the long run if each week for now.
Have fun whatever you do and good news your fitting made a difference.
Thanks Sue, I will have a look at the NRC plans. The main thing is just to be able to keep doing a few runs every week.. I’m trying to stick to alternate days, but with an extra day’s rest if I really need it. I’ll be so happy if I can just keep doing that 😊
Totally! I'll be repeating bits of C25K yet again,as soon as my back feels easy enough to do so.C25K is like an old friend, familiar, not pushy but supportive and, once you've become friends...you know the friendship works x
Yes, I ditched my GC plan and felt a big relief. I got "room to grow" after a bench mark run, where I did my very best... not very encouraging. Then she asked if I was sure I was on the right plan? Did I want to do 10K instead of HM as I clearly wasn't up for it? When the long runs hitched up to twice a week I bailed out.
Yes, you must enjoy your runs or why do it? Are you training for an event or just trying to put some structure in? I'd also recommend NRC, they are never critical, call you an athlete... Me? An athlete? Why thank you Coach!! So much nicer than being told you're not any good...
Best of luck with whatever you decide, you don't have to choose one or the other, I still do some of the C25K runs when I feel like it.
Thanks Curlyg.. yes Amy seems like Miss Perfect and she does make me feel pathetic so I probably should ditch her.. I’ll see how it goes and maybe do Couchto5k again, then NRC.
Hi Sue, I'm glad your visit to the prosthetist went well, I'm on week 5 of C25K and maximum run section I've done is 0.83 km , well done on your mile run, if you start back on C25K I would recommend W5.
Glad your fitting has helped you out. I know what you mean about deceptive running trails though. There's a lane near me that is, to all intents and purposes, flat. When I walk it, I think of it as pancake-like. Perfect for the early weeks of c25k. Except that in those early weeks I realise that it is absolutely Not Flat!
Haha, yes, those early weeks when I first did Couchto5k made me realise hardly anywhere is flat.. I did the first runs in lockdown at 6am - circuits around a local flat car park, but I would only do the run sections where I had worked out that there was actually a very very slight downward incline..😂
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First Park run 
First longish run
11 mile run !
Wk9Run1 😀 Conquering a failed run!
My very first run versus this morning’s run...
