And the moral to the story is .....

[Sugar2]

.....don't give up just because you've had a bad run!

I graduated a couple of weeks ago, not bu running 5K, but by completing all the runs in the programme, and since then I have done a couple of 3 mile runs. I'm not the speediest runner around, and they took me just under 40 minutes, but that didn't bother me, I just really wanted to be able to say I could run 5k.

So on Sunday morning I went out, before breakfast as usual, full of purpose and determined to nail the 5K. I was also trying to lengthen my stride and felt really good as I ran along, a real runner, who would have thought it, me, 58 years old, never been sporty, always batling with my weight me, running!

And then .... I just stopped. No warning, no staggering along, puffing and panting. My body just came to a complete, unexpected standstill, at 1.25 miles (2K). I walked for a little bit, then tried to run again, but I just couldn't. I think my mind had taken over, and was busy telling me I couldn't do this, of course I couldn't, what was I thinking, I must be joking, me a runner? No way.

I've been feeling quite rubbish about it since then, but today I woke up determined to give it another go - and I had the best run i've ever had. 3.14 miles (5.05K) in 40 minutes. I'm elated, and back on track.

So, to anyone going through a bad patch, I would say ... NEVER GIVE UP, NEVER GIVE UP, NEVER GIVE UP.

[SBG356 Graduate]

Well done Sugar on managing to get to your goal of running 5K, thats a brilliant achievement! You are so right; we all get days when we just dont perform how we want to for any number of reasons, some that we may not even be aware of, but we shouldnt give up. Even the most experienced, hardened runners get off days so why should we, mere novices at this running lark, expect anything different?!

Thank you for sharing this and good luck on all your future runs!

[mcc65 Graduate]

Hi Sugar, so encouraging to read your comments - I have had a couple of less successful runs (I've decided I'm going to stop saying bad runs) in Wks 7 & 8 - ironically the run I am struggling with in W8 is R3 - I did the first two without any problem!!!

Like you, I'm not going to make the 5K, but even being able to run for 30 minutes will be a minor miracle so I'm going to concentrate on upping the pace / distance after I graduate :o)