At running club recently, we've had the option of training sessions, rather than a "comfortable 4-5 mile run". I've opted for the training sessions (1) because I believe they'll be beneficial and (2) because due to some health issues, I've had very low energy levels and knew that if I needed to have an extra rest during a training session it wouldn't hold anyone else up - as it turned out, I'm too stubborn to stop, I just go so slow that I'm not quite moving backwards.....
Over the past 2-3 weeks I've done two hill sessions, a speed session, a step session (uphill steps, of course) and, tonight, a "pyramid" session - 1 min effort, 1 min recovery, 2 min effort, 2 min recovery, 3 min effort, 3 min recovery......
That was a killer - I was so grateful for the club policy and the kindness of the faster runners, who always loop back and run with the slower runners encouraging them to keep going. I know I would never have persevered so long had I been running on my own.
As I was gasping my way back to the starting point, where our cars were parked, one of the "sheepdogs" (my name for them as they kept coming back for the straggling sheep that was me) told me that tonight's session was one of the toughest they do and that I would feel the rewards in three or four weeks time. That made me happy and I'll hang on to that thought whenever I'm struggling (quite often !). I can still honestly say that I haven't yet asked myself "why am I doing this?", even though I felt sick at times this evening.
I'm not sure why I'm sharing this, except that the struggle I felt tonight reminded me of several of the runs on the C25K program where the support of Laura on the podcasts and the inspiration from people here gave me that extra little boost to succeed.
And, somehow, I've arranged to go on an 8 mile run this Sunday ! :-0
And the eight miles......
Can't complete first session
Personal training session
First session completed. 
First go at Session One!
Timing the training sessions
