Well Tuesday after work is supposed to be my hilly run day but yesterday morning I wasn't feeling too great and thought I might change the route to a more flat one or possibly ... not run at all. Horror. But I started to feel better as the day went on and even began to look forward to it. My next decision was regarding what to wear. My proper long sleeve running top along with my wind proof running jacket hasn't arrived yet, so my only choice if I don't want to run with short sleeves is too wear a fleece over the top - but I get soooo hot. It wasn't actually raining by the time I got home from work, so I decided to risk just the short sleeves. Brrrr.
During these longer runs I've learned a couple of things about myself - I look forward to my runs and miss them on my rest days. I get all excited during the warm up and can't wait to get running. Then for some reason - I don't know why - about 4 minutes in I hit a mental barrier where I start to believe I won't / can't / shouldn't do it. I've tried bullying myself, this makes it worse. The only way through it is to mollycoddle myself. 'See if you can make it to the next lamp post / to the end of the song' that sort of thing. This time was no different but the problem is I was half way up the first and toughest hill. Yet it sounds odd but this helped, because I could tell myself I was tired already because I was doing something really difficult and the route gets easier a little further down the road. Then I could tell myself I'd got the worst of it out of the way and just keep going.
The other thing that happens to me is about 18 minutes in where I hit a physical barrier. This is where I start getting a stitch (I'm working on that with the breathing) and my legs start to feel very very heavy. This wasn't too bad on the 20 minute runs ('come on only 2 minutes to go') but tougher on the 25 minute runs ('only 7 minutes to go' doesn't quite have the same ring to it) But recently I have discovered that if I work my way through that barrier, I get a second wind just after 20 minutes, where I start to feel better again.
Anyway my point is, yesterday this physical barrier didn't come. I waited for it. Expected it. Those heavy legs? No sign. Come on side stitch, where are you? The heavens opened instead. Great big pellets of hail. Yet I was feeling like I could go on. I hit 25 minutes and then keep going to 28 and was still quite a way from home, so thought I might as well run to the end of the song. And there you have it. The song came to an end and I slowed to a walk and looked at the time. Pretty much bang on 30 minutes.
GPS totally failed me again and according to Endomondo I ran 0.00 miles in 30 minutes.
Really? Maybe it was all a dream.
*shudder*
I too, face the mental and physical challenges along the way. I also use the reasoning of just to the lamp post, only 5 minutes more etc. I wish I could just relax more and let my mind wander. I think I could actually be a better runner if I could do it. Great job in getting to 30 minutes!!!!! 
Week 8 Run 1 Done -Meh
Week 8? Or 6? Run 1? Or 2? 
Week 8 run 1 (AKA: no, it's a stick stupid).
Week 8, Run 1
Week 8 Run 1
