Accidentally ran Stepping Stones and enjoyed it this time..... and even ran on an extra 5 minutes and it felt great.

[chusan51]

Having not enjoyed the first two stepping stone sessions I went out this morning in the cold, drizzle and mist, planning to do the Stamina program and accidentally ran stepping stones. My stamina podcast ran out of stamina just seconds before the end of the 5 minute warm up and, not having my glasses on, it was a bit of a fumble to restart it, but I thought I'd managed and off I ran.

It was only when Laura said 5 minutes to go I realised I had been running to stepping stone and been enjoying it, even if I was a bit ahead of the pace again, something I've accepted is going to happen. But I'd already mentally prepared for the 35 minutes of running in Stamina so when Laura said stop I ignored her and kept going.

It wasn't my day for technology and my mapping app also malfunctioned as my route took me under a load of trees which are still quite heavy with leaf, and in the end it said I had only run 2.29km in 35 minutes, whereas in truth I was just a few metres short of the 6km mark - or so I think.

Anyway, it just goes to show how much our mental attitude has to do with how we run. I have been half way through many runs when I've decided to have a go at continuing to run after the 30 minutes, but have never quite managed it. This time I set the mental expectation of running for 35 minutes and I did it - and it was no more difficult than the 30 minute run. I could even have gone on for another five minutes but decided not to as got my charity run in just over a week and want to stick to my plan without over doing it and risking a muscle pull.

Oddly enough a 10km run no longer feels it's off the radar - I'm not going to committ to anything now, but so chuffed at my results today. Whoooo hooooo!!!!!

[Chocotwit Graduate]

Woot woot! Well done you! I only managed 4.5km using the stamina podcast so you are way ahead of me!

[psarapsych Graduate]

That sounds like a really happy experience Chusan. You're right about how different runs can take you at different times. I've given up trying too work out whether it's going to be a relaxed run, being amazed when i find I've already done 20 mins, our whether everything's going to feel like wading thru treacle.

Looking forward to trying stepping stones... It sounds like a good preparatory bridge for the other two.

Anyway, admire your slogging it out in mist and cold drizzle, Sara

[thinnerandfitter Graduate]

Hi Chusan,

There I was hoping to hear about Stamina and you've done Stepping Stones again! You seem to be able to run an amazing distance despite Laura telling you to slow down - I was about 10% below normal 30min distance (so 4k instead of 4.5k).

Still a bit nervous about trying Stamina but if it's a bit like Stepping stones only longer I guess I'll get there somehow. Good on you now thinking 10k isn't out of the question - perhaps that's what happens when you break the 30 minute AND 5k marks. Right now I have no intention of going further than 5 k but 3 months ago I couldn't have run to the end of my street - and it's a short street!

Keep on going and look forward to your next progress report.

[Pearsey]

There you are-it was ok after all!! Oh Tom you make me laugh-so much for I don't like stepping stones-it's boring, too slow, won't help my running career........ Eat your words!!! :-).

I loved stepping stones and speed, but stamina was grueling!! I injured my left knee too-still don't know how! No running for me until it's better-which probably means Wednesday, a week post injury. I've done all the right things to help it, so just have to be patient.

Are you going onto speed tomorrow, or giving the speed stamina a miss Tom? Let us know how you get on. I'm still not interested in distance/speed. Just happy I can run 5k.

Keep on Running!!

Colette x

[chusan51 Graduate in reply to Pearsey]

heheh, very true. Actually about to go out for another 35 minute run and will do the stepping stone plus 5 minutes.

At excctly this time next week I will be half way through my charity 5k. Having suffered some muscle pains in last few days I am going to slow down and aim for 5k in 35 mins, three times this week and then maybe the crowd will get me going faster next weekend but its finishing that counts. So speeding up is on hold for a week, time to take it steady and enjoy it.

Hope your knee recovers well - don't push yourself too hard, once these injuries take hold they need time to recover. A few days in front of the TV eating Quality Street is what you need, and deserve. Take care.

[Pearsey]

yeah Tom-I agree. The knee is very niggly still today-mind you I drove from Poole up to Harrow yesterday, which probably didn't help much.

Wow this time next week eh? I shall be thinking about you. As you say it is the finishing that counts, not the speed. I'm a distance, but not a speed person in that respect.

How did the stepping stone+5+run go?

I'll take the few days in front of the telly-by which time I shall be bored stiff-but pas on the quality street. They don't have coffee chocs anymore

Take care and good luck with the charity run-be thinking of you