I'd found Week 7 really hard going so was really pleased when I completed W8R1 with relative ease ("relative" being the operative word!). I set off in the rain feeling confident and actually looked forward to my run. The first 10 mn went very well and I though "oooh, maybe I AM a runner...".
Then for some reason it all went wrong. I had to overtake a bunch of teenagers who on close inspection turned out to be my anti-social neighbours' kids smoking pot (at 7.15 in the morning!). Though I tried hard not to, I must have increased my speed (feeling self-conscious and sensing their mocking glassy eyes on my rotund derriere...). Anyway, by minute 14 I was gasping for air and it took all the willpower in the world to carry on. I managed to push myself further and finally had to stop after 25mn....I just couldn't do it anymore. I know there were only 3 minutes left but it felt like a lifetime.
I am very annoyed with myself, it is my first fail ever and to have it happen so close to graduation is upsetting. I tried to tell myself that I must have been a Speedy Gonzales, hence the failure but no, no such glorious excuse....I only clocked just over 3kms in 25mn. My confidence has certainly taken a dip, I just hope it recovers!
Written by
Stephanie-j
Graduate
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this is the best place to come for confidence boosters Just chalk it up to experience and carry on with r3 next time. It's hard to get the pace right every time and 9 weks isn't long enough for our bodies to develop a "natural" running pace in the same way as we usually, automatically, fall into a natural walking pace when we walk. You have 4 more long runs until graduation and there's every reason to suppose you'll make those- after all, you've done everything else. Take a rest day and relax your mind a bit before r3. Let us know how you get on
You'd have been pleased as punch if you'd done that in week one !
Give yourself a break, we all have good and bad runs, often with no reason at all, so have a days rest and get out there again. hopefully there won't be any pot smoking gits out there !!!!!
We must have posted simultaneously as I just saw your message after I posted mine. Yes, I shouldn't get hung up on it, I will put it behind me and not let it play on my mind me next time I run. I did 28mn once, hell I'll do it again, regardless of pot smoking kids and aggressive canines! ??
Thank you for your encouraging words. You are both right and I will put it down to experience. I was quite bothered by it all day but then I thought about how terrible I felt running for 1 minute in week 1. Twenty five minutes really isn't that bad. I won't worry so much about my snail pace and focus on stamina. Speed will come later and hopefully I will soon be able to outrun the sneaky little dog that bit me as I ran past! Thanks again for your kind words.
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Just chalk it up to experience and carry on with r3 next time. It's hard to get the pace right every time and 9 weks isn't long enough for our bodies to develop a "natural" running pace in the same way as we usually, automatically, fall into a natural walking pace when we walk. You have 4 more long runs until graduation and there's every reason to suppose you'll make those- after all, you've done everything else. Take a rest day and relax your mind a bit before r3. Let us know how you get on 
W8R2 - that was hard, but woo hoo, survived!
W8R2 - My First Parkrun (wow it was hot) 
Failed at the first hurdle
My first fail Wk7 Run1😢
First fail and so disappointed W6R3 
