W5 done !! Halfway through.....

[ca66ie99]

Managed the first two runs ok but was extremely daunted at the prospect of running for 20mins. Several years ago I was regularly going to the gym and managed to run for about 15mins on the treadmill once but that was not after 5 weeks that's for sure.

I decided to listen to my own tunes as I wasn't sure whether hearing Laura say "youre halfway through" would help or hinder to be honest. I also took along a watch to time myself (didn't want to go crazy and run for 30mins now did I !)

I started up, remembering to pace myself, I do have a problem with that and go off quite speedily. I didn't feel too bad but had to fight not to look at the watch. I set myself a goal where I could and I was surprised to see I'd run for 13mins. I ran through another part and checked, nearly 18mins. The last 2mins were hard and I wouldn't have wanted to run for any further at this stage.

I have a little niggle in my calf now but I'm icing it, will make sure I have a rest day, maybe two and see how it feels.

I'm soooo pleased, people on this site were right, it is more mental as my body didn't feel too bad, it was more my mind saying that I couldn't. Halfway through now although I know it mainly long runs from here on in.

Thanks for the supportive messages earlier in the week, made me feel miles better. Week 6 here we come.......

[Flibbertygibbit]

Congratulations! Its posts like this that spur the rest of us on. Well done!

[suki_007 Graduate]

Well done! Once you've done that, you can do anything!

[Mitts Graduate]

Clever you looking at your watch - I wasn't sure I'd manage this run first time - my back was a bit off, I'd had a bit of a cold, and it just seemed so impossible, 20 mins. So I made a playlist of songs that came to 20 mins and 10 seconds, told myself I could walk in the middle if I wanted to, and started out. No walks necessary, but a couple of verses into the last song my ipod conked out, so I reckoned if I ran to the big tree quite a bit away and back that would do. So I did, but it was REALLY difficult, practically crawled the last few metres but was very chuffed I'd done it. Then I went home and discovered I'd added the times up wrong and I'd hit 19 mins at the start of the last song...

I went back to Laura for W6R1, but I'll be wearing a watch too from R3 onwards!

[ca66ie99 Graduate in reply to Mitts]

Well done you.

You have to fight quite hard not to look at the watch but then this arguement in my head last the first 13 mins when I could stand it no more !! I guess I also wanted to know how long I'd been running for because I felt ok at that stage. I think as long as you can manage to avoid looking at it until youre half way through then it will be fine as you won't have as long to go as you've already done !!

Good luck with the rest of your weeks

[Mitts Graduate in reply to ca66ie99]

You too! I discovered yesterday that the times given in itunes are shorter than the time it takes to actually play the tracks back to back - like my 25 min playlist actually took 29 mins to play through... goodness knows how long I ran for W5R3... it was the first time my legs just wouldn't go on... never mind, onwards and upwards, we're into the second half of the programme now!

[ca66ie99 Graduate in reply to Mitts]

Don't know about your playlist but when I play mine back to back there is always a bit of time swapping tunes etc, guess it probably does all add up. The watch was a better idea than I realised !! Never thought I'd be saying that I was in to the second half of the programme after 5 weeks, figured I'd be repeating at least one week. Not sure I'll manage to complete W9 on my holiday but I'm not too fussed !!

Week 6 here we come !!