Wow Week five was a surprise

[Lizzie_NewStart]

When I started week 4 I was expecting to start finding it a lot harder as I only reached week 3 before my accident. As I repeated weeks 1 to 3 they did seem easier than the first time but it was a lot hotter then and I was running on my own so there was a lot of different factors involved.

Week 4 seemed a lot less difficult that I had imagined but when I saw the plan for week five I felt that this was the one that I was going to struggle with. Going from 5 minute runs at the end of week 4 to a 20 minute run at the end of week 5 seemed a massive jump.

Run 2 with the 8 minute runs went surprisingly well. We are chatting less during the runs but just enough that it takes our minds off of the time. As we neared the end of the first 8 minute run I was counting down the seconds but at the end of the second run I felt I could have carried on a bit longer. I was still unsure about the 20 minute run on Friday.

Friday came and I was convinced that this was going to be the run that I failed on. We left home with the threat of rain but it held off, I am not sure I could have contended with a heavy downpour on top of the run. We got to about 5 minutes in and I started to struggle a bit but we were running into the wind. As we turned a corner and the wind was now to my side it felt a little easier. At about ten minutes in, my boyfriend started to slow a bit but then picked up again. That was the first time he seemed to have had am issue. I am not sure if seeing him struggle a little when I felt OK spurred me on but I started to think we were actually going to manage the run.

I was glad when the twenty minutes were up but we did it!!!

What I really needed to do once we got home was to take a shower and recover, however Oscar and Feddie were so excited to see us, we had to just change shoes and put on a coat and take them out. Of course, then the rain came so I suppose in a way I did get my shower!

When we did finally get home and dried the dogs, getting into a warm shower was well worth the wait.

Weeks six next. I am over half way!!!

[Annieapple Administrator Graduate]

🍏👏🙌 You are indeed and congratulations you are now running 20mins which is a run many graduates love doing! Don’t fear any run! Just follow the programme. Each run & each week prepares your body and your mind for the next week! It’s carefully orchestrated to bring you success. X

[grumpyoldgirl Graduate]

Well done Lizzie! Week 5 is a scary week. But you've just proved that as long you take it one run at a time, you're ready for each run as you get to it. Unless you do what I've just done and got myself an ear infection just before run 3. Curses!

Best of luck with week 6 🍀