Consolidation run — a reflection

[MintT]

For some reason it felt so much harder than Sunday’s graduation run.

There was a lot of prevaricating this morning. The wind is back, (not strong but a 😩 moment) the sky’s brilliant blue now grey.

We leave to spend a few days walking in the mountains. If I don’t run today, it probably won’t happen again until Friday. Rain, slippery and high ascending paths and photography means no running for me.

So, I leave the house, go back into house having decided I definitely need an additional top.

I pause …

but a commitment is a commitment, no matter how hard . I walk for 5 minutes. I’m having to tell the gremlin on my shoulder to go away. It doesn’t and continues to sit there smirking.

I try to ignore it and focus on the end game.

Halfway bell —yay. A jog on the spot to take off the unneeded top and wrap around waist. I tell the gremlin it can smirk all it wants I’m not stopping. I don’t tell it that I’m willing the countdown commentary with every step taken.

Keep going, keep going, keep going

Final minute — 😮‍💨

No punching the air just relief I’d managed to get to the end

Wasn’t expecting it to feel so hard but another run in the bag — Onwards ♥️

[BahamaMama1 Graduate]

Well done, those gremlins can weigh heavy on the mind. The mind games are much harder than the legs and the hills!

[MintT Graduate in reply to BahamaMama1]

And this one refused to budge today!

Thanks, I’ve got the 5mins in, and then you’ll start to feel better mind game Hopefully the muscle memory has internalised this one.

Truth be told I probably need to run this a few more times before moving forward Onwards ♥️

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

Well done and congratulations on the first “just because I can” run. I found it all very strange not having to tick one off and I think that contributes to making it unexpectedly tricky for some. Great job.

[MintT Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Thank you so much for your comment, that resonated with me. I think you’re spot on — it feels like something ended whereas I probably need to think of beginnings. ♥️

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to MintT]

Yeah… every finish line is the next start line. It’s not necessarily one that will take you over longer distances, but it’ll take you to new places literally and figuratively… and of course running enables us to cross start lines in other seemingly unrelated areas of life as we become more energetic, and mentally stronger too.

[Jancanrunagain Graduate]

Hi Fellow Consolidator - weather crap here am cloud watching for a break…if you punched the gremlin then so will I - this could end up being a repeat of W9R2!

You got to run and it was a graduate’s run. Go girl…

[MintT Graduate]

Hello hello— hoping you get a break in the weather. It certainly makes a difference. I’m also hoping because the gremlin stayed so long with me, it’s too exhausted to try elsewhere!

I’m thinking the same a couple/few more runs at W9

I’m cheering you on. We’re rocking the sixties !!

[Jancanrunagain Graduate in reply to MintT]

We are rocking it... although the weather was rubbish and a weather based gremlin was certainly hanging around me. Still there's plenty of experience to be gained from consolidating and not being in too much of a hurry to extend distance and time.. Enjoy your break

[MintT Graduate in reply to Jancanrunagain]

Blimey girl you were on fire today — I on the other hand was not. I are now sat in front of one though!! Thinking Friday next run for me — you? Bit of consolidation and then onwards?

[Jancanrunagain Graduate in reply to MintT]

I’m doing three consolidation runs todays, one 2 x 16 minute intervals and then a 32 minute one.

Then I’m going to hit the ‘beyond’ runs which open up in the app. My most favourite distance was 10km so I’m hoping to get to that by late Summer… certainly by end of the year…. Mad but committed I hope

[MintT Graduate in reply to Jancanrunagain]

Sounds like a plan. It’s better a long while since I ran 10km but it’s a distance I liked too Feels challenging enough but enjoyable enough too, if that makes sense!

[Jancanrunagain Graduate in reply to MintT]

we will see how we go!

[Gthants]

Fantastic. Really well done!

I found running after graduation very hard indeed. It seemed ... weirdly pointless. What was I trying to achieve? C25K is a straight(ish) line target: run for 30 minutes. And yes, I could then run longer and actually get to 5k, but I did not have the voice of Laura in my ear telling me the next stage of the run and where I was in the 30 minutes and whispering words of encouragement.

This board meant a lot for that week or two.

Then I did seriously aim for 5k. And for 35 ... 40 ... and then 60 minutes. I was aiming for 10k, but priorities change and now I go the the gym too and do pilates and yoga, so running for 25-35 minutes 2-3 times a week works well for me. But I'm a 62 year old man and this a decent level of activity and fitness works for me.

But I repeat: you did brilliantly. Those gremlins will remain. But you conquered them and will do so again and again.

Graduation was brilliant. But the run after. And the next and the next: they are medal-worthy.

[MintT Graduate in reply to Gthants]

Thank you so much, and yes you are spot on with your comments. I need to define for myself what my next goals are. See the graduation as a launchpad.

I turn 64 this year and I’m interested in ensuring, as much as I can, a good health span.

The gym is definitely part of that strategy, improving strength, balance and flexibility.

I’m sure the gremlins will return and I’ll be ready!

Onwards.

[CBDB Ambassador]

Oh wow! You had to face the Threshold-Gremlins twice! The biggest hurdle is the 2 cm threshold, once out the door, it’s easier to keep running. But you had to face that twice!

Well done for keeping running!

[MintT Graduate in reply to CBDB]

So true and it also helps knowing there is a wonderful likeminded community to help unlock the door in the first place!

[drl212 Graduate]

Sounds like a tough one!

Well done for pushing that gremlin off your shoulder...

[MintT Graduate in reply to drl212]

Oh it was, a definite down but not quite out moment!

Thanks I’m hoping it has exhausted itself and needs to go into hiding 😂