The mind is a strange thing (well mine is, anyway!)

[maisiesgranny]

Set out on my Week 6 Run 1 run earlier this morning, with a sense of anticlimax from having done 20 minutes in the previous run. Sure enough, my legs got heavier and heavier...and I felt like I was dragging a couple of sandbags tied round my ankles. About half way through, I tried a little trick by imagining the sandbag on my right leg dropped off on the path behind me. Immediately, my right leg started feeling its old self again. So I mentally untied the left bag and - hey presto - I felt normal again. Then a very odd thing happened: Just as I was coming to the end of the run, approaching the park gates and genuinely tiring, there was a terrible shout from across the road, followed by a squealing of tyres, a truly horrible bang and a lot of yelping - a dog had run out across the road and been hit by a passing van and dragged along the road in front of my eyes. I sprinted the 70-or-so meters faster than Usain `bolt - without a thought - to see if I could help. I'm happy to report that the dog seemed ok - less so the owner and the driver both of whom were very shaken. So was Yours Truly...but Isn't it funny what the body can do if it has to!!

[Annieapple Administrator Graduate]

🍏I do hope you have recovered after that adrenaline rush!!! Glad the dog was ok and hopefully those involved are ok too. An unexpected way to get a workout at the end of your run!!! Well done too on overcoming the toxic ten .. love your sand bag description… exactly how it feels! Going to try your solution next time!! Take it easy now!!!

[Frankenfoot23 Graduate]

Oh goodness, what an awful thing, but a happy ending at least You will find now that you are so far through that running is more of a mental challenge. I think it changes in weeks 4 and 5, and after that it's all mind games. Once you complete, it gets easier mentally and becomes even more fun. Good luck!

[maisiesgranny Graduate in reply to Frankenfoot23]

I'm thrilled to hear that - thanks! Onwards and upwards.