Week 9, run 3, purring like a cat!

[Lentlily]

Run 3 has happened at last, scheduled for last Wednesday but delayed because of a very disrupted week, I was beginning to wonder if it would ever happen!

So, after a crud of a day and a week I was very happy to finally go out the back door, climb the hill and ...... run! The sun was setting when I set off, the moon rising, rain had stopped, temperature dropping, birds singing the twilight chorus, pheasants roosting, hazy views to two neighbouring counties and four roe deer glided effortlessly across the track in front of me.

I was curious as to how an unprecedented four day break from running would effect me. I did go to dance practice this week and my work is reasonably active but even so I was still wondering and ..... it was fine, comfortable in fact. The light was fading fast on the way back but the moonlight shone on the puddles helping me to avoid them, leaping as gracefully as the deer ..... not, I tripped up once! Then the thirty minutes was up and I had achieved something that seemed highly unlikely nine weeks ago. I picked my way back down the hill and through the copse in the dark, and strode out across the moonlit fields back home, awash with contentment, lovely evening, lovely run, if I was a cat I'd be purring!

I have learnt so much over the last nine weeks much of it from the mine of information that this forum is, so a big thank you to everyone for your experience, your stories and your good humour

What next? Well, the next adventure I'm working towards is Parkrun. I think I will give myself a couple of weeks more to consolidate and improve fitness and strength and then give that a go. I also want to run/walk one of my favourite walks, about two hours if just walking. It incorporates two hill forts one of which has a perimeter bank with a path that rises & falls steeply, I would love to hop, skip & jump (I've heard it's called technical running!) up and down those slopes with the same fearlessness as I did as a child so next time enjoyable weather coincides with some free time that is what I am going to do.

Happy running all!

[Heti Graduate]

Huge congratulations Lentlily. I’ve been waiting for you. I hope you’ve enjoyed your last run as much as I’ve relished your writing style. Please keep entertaining us! 👏🙏❤️

[Lentlily Graduate in reply to Heti]

Thank you so much! I did enjoy it and was riding high for quite a few hours afterwards too, just felt physically good, tired now but never mind it was a good end to a rubbish week. We can run! Amazing isn't it? When I told my Mum what I was doing she said 'Can you run?' somewhat incredulously and the answer is a resounding yes! Hooray, it's a happy feeling and good to be standing on the finishing line with you.

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

Congratulations 🥳🎉🥳🎉 I feel your joy and love your plans, sometimes a short break of a few days means we go out on fresh kegs, yours obviously were .

[Annieapple Administrator Graduate]

🎈👏🎊🎉Congratulations  Lentlily You have done it. Please step up to the podium and claim your Graduate Badge here!!

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Huge well done to you... Just the act of running can be absolutely incredible... ni matter ho pacey or how far... that childhood exuberance...simply wonderful!

A short break can work wonders too...

If you head across to Bridge to 10K, you will find lots of friends there and loads of ideas for moving on.

A couple of weeks of mixing the runs up...they do not have to be 30 minute ones, although putting a couple in is useful, but you really can begin to benefit from shaking it up... short outings, some 30 minute and some... just head out and relax and see where you get to, runs! New routes too!

Looking forward to your posts in the future... Oh and that hop skip and a jump you are craving?

I remember running down my warm up hill, on a summer's day and hurdling over all the cow- parsley sticking out from the hedgerow! Maybe not the most sensible thing at my great age, but HUGE fun x

[Nitra]

Very inspiring post, well done. I took am aiming for a parkrun next and like you want to start consolidating my fitness over the next few weeks. Best of luck 🏃‍♀️👍

[Colouringlover]

Amazing well done 👏🏻 love the write up of your final run, hope we hear more of your adventures on your next running journey 😁

[00marks Graduate]

Congratulations on completing C25K!

[Fionamags Graduate]

congratulations! Sounds like your graduation run was a belter!!!

[Trailslogg Graduate]

What a beautifully written post! I felt I was right there with you and all the wildlife 😍. Enjoy your next runs... and hop-skip-jumping is just the best!

[Galgal55]

Well done it’s a wonderful feeling isn’t it. I have run on and off for 20 years but had the longest break ever from Aug 2022 to the start of Jan 24 and I used C25K to return to running. I’m 11 weeks in and it’s a joy to have got my fitness back at last. I’m working on pace at the moment - enjoy the joy which is lacing up your trainers and getting out there🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️