Today was W8R1. I've been pretty good with the programme so far, from about week two, I've been running on every other day without fail.
However, I went for a run last Sunday and then effectively took 4 days off as my wife was away and I was on parenting duties with our youngest. Subconsciously, because I knew I wouldn't be running until today, the diet kinda went out the window and I felt really sluggish this morning when I woke up, but still got ready and went for a run.
I've been using my own music via the RunKeeper phone app which i've set to 28 minutes so i can follow the plan, but today I felt confident. I set the run to 5k and went for it.
After a few minutes of struggling with pace (and running up hill) I found my stride on the flatter stuff and got into it. It was slightly humid so I struggled with my breathing after uphill sections but all in all, it was fun.
I've extended my usual route though so I can squeeze 5k into it along with warm up & cool downs, but this new route involves more downhill sections.
After about 18 minutes into the run, back ache reared it's head, but it felt more muscular than strain - I'm sure its the way I run down hill. I force myself to slow down to avoid shin splints but feel like it's the slowing down process that damages my back. I tried to run through the pain for 3 or 4 minutes but eventually had to drop to a walk for a minute or so.
The pain subsided which was nice so picked up the running again, really tough, no stride or pace and managed 30 seconds running before dropping back to a walk. Paused the app and felt deflated.
I walked for 250 metres or so, looked at my phone and it said I'd already run 4.3km!!! So that spurred me on, I immediately unpaused it and ran, ran and ran until I heard 'session end, distance 5 km' through my headphones
5k!!! Checked the time and it said 28 minutes 43s. I was over the moon, I'd done the 28 minutes (even with a walk) and hit the 5k mark. So I walked home with a smile on my face.
It's only when I got in and examined the run on my phone that I realised the app had started the route 0.7km before I even started running, so the numbers were wrong 
Feeling gutted that I had to stop after 20 minutes or so, but still proud for getting out and hitting the streets when I felt so sluggish after the last 4 days of chocolate-fueled madness.
Next run is on Saturday, wish me luck 
Well I wasn't expecting that.
It wasn't a fluke!
3 5Ks this week was just not meant to be😩😂
It wasn't pretty, it wasn't easy but I finally got there in the end 
Could have been under 30mins for 5k if it wasn't for the wildlife
