For my third (I think?) postgraduate run I decided not to do another 5k, as my legs were still able to remember the last one, but I thought I'd try out the-hill-that's-as-steep-as-the-local-parkrun-hill. It is conveniently less than a mile from my front door.
I warmed up by a little walking circuit round the block, dropped off my cardigan, and set off in t-shirt and tracksuit bottoms (the running tights are somewhere in the wash). I was quite glad I wasn't wearing the tights though, when I passed two ex-pupils as I trotted through the village - clearly I'm not quite confident in them yet!
Then out of the village to the bottom of the hill. I'd decided to just give it a go - not trying to do anything daft like run fast up the hill (yet!), just see how far I could go without stopping. So I was taking teeny weeny steps (about 9 inch long steps) and just plod plod plodding. But I did it - I got right to the top (seven minutes of pretty steep hill) and kept going along the flat bit, turned round and came back down. Decided to stop at 30 minutes, not because I was tired, but because I thought I'd probably done enough for today - but I managed a minute of sprinting faster before I stopped - which felt good.
30 minutes running altogether - just 3.3km, so 6.6 kph, 4.2mph -overall it was the fastest run I've done, which surprised me hugely! I think that's the first time I've got over 4mph (which is my fast walking speed, hey ho!)
The hill bit was pretty slow, unsurprisingly - 5kph, just over 3mph - but I used to find it hard work just to walk up it, so that's fine. Average speed other than the uphill bit was 7kph or 4.5mph, just under 14 minutes for a mile - still slow, but significantly faster than before.
Slow and steady to graduation has really worked so well for me - my body is clearly ready now to step it up a bit. Woo hoo!
The best bit though, was realising that I was really enjoying it - even going up the hill It was gloriously sunny, birds were singing etc etc. And I was doing it all on my own, without anyone pushing me on, just because I wanted to do it.
Thank you Laura, and thank you everyone who's ever encouraged me on here. You held my hand while I got going, until I could do it on my own. And it feels just great! (But I expect I'll keep blogging a bit yet!)
Now, where's that badge got to?!
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greenlegs
Graduate
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Almost... I want to have done the whole 5k-including-the-hill first. But I can see that that's quite possible in the next week or so! So now I'll have to find some other excuses! (It's scary, the thought of being amongst all those people - I don't do crowds - though I suppose I won't be amongst crowds for very long!)
Might go and suss out the route later this week though.
I'm so stuck in my routine I will definitely have to break out of it soon. As I said, I'm fighting shy of hills so far, my usual route is as flat as a pancake but the parkrun course is mostly uphill so I'll have to put in a bit of practice before I feel able to tackle it.
I suppose it'll tie in with my decision on the 10k training this weekend.
Try replying to the Fitness Editors question (about a month ago) to get your badge - this forum is great but it does need a better mechanism for getting badges applied.
I noticed after I posted that you had and that sending a message to admin is broken. I have "reported" their questions on the hope that someone in admin will get back on the ball and hopefully make it easier to claim a graduate badge - which at the moment seems to be another 9 week programme!!!! lol
Well done, I hate running up (or down if I'm honest) hills so am in awe of anyone that runs up one by choice. (Have hill runs tonight at running club but trying to block that out ) You should give Parkrun ago it really is good fun and they are happy to let everyone go at their own pace. I really look forward to my Saturday morning Parkrun. Oh and please don't stop blogging need to know how you are getting on
OK - I'll go and try it out later this week, when nobody else is there! My latest times (and I've only actually done the full 5k once so far!) would make me equal last, about five minutes after the 3rd to last. I'm not sure I'd be comfortable with that, but I promise I'll go and think about it! You're doing a good job promoting it!
I do already have my barcode with c25k as my club!
Well done Greenlegs, it was ages after graduation before I felt brave enough to tackle inclines. Even now although I'm okay-ish with them I'm whacked when I get to the top for a bit. Reading 'Chi Running', Danny Dreyer says to work with the hill, the hill is your friend.... Friendly hills? I guess I'm not quite at that stage yet.
Great to read you're all set for Parkrun, they're great fun.
Mmmm, I'm not sure about friendly hills either! But going really steadily did help - I wasn't actually all that bad at the top. Maybe I wasn't trying hard enough though!
Went on my easy paced distance run today, several challenging inclines, I eased up and what do you know I was much less whacked at the top. Cheers Greenlegs! I'm maybe not quite friends with the hills yet but less aggressive, more respectful perhaps.
Go for the parkrun! If they are anything like our organized 5Ks here in the States, you will get a confidence boost and feel like your among friends. I ran an organized 5K the week I graduated. I dreaded it because I'm so slow and I had never ran with proper "runners" before. I don't regret doing it at all, even though at the sound of the horn, they all took off and left me!! Very well done on the hill! I have a hill from hell that I plan to visit again on my next run. Gayle
Great shiny new badge!! It really does suit you Greenlegs
I've tried that hill a few times and it's steep but mercifully short. I will be thinking of you this week trying it out. The course is just a short hop from our house, infact I took the children for a stroll around the comyn yesterday. The views were stunning. Enjoy your tryout.
You've just got to think of hills as friends, who are challenging you to do even better! Instead of enemies to be beaten - they will win if you treat them like that!
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It was gloriously sunny, birds were singing etc etc. And I was doing it all on my own, without anyone pushing me on, just because I wanted to do it. 
(But I expect I'll keep blogging a bit yet!) 
They'll arrive soon. I hope!
Tech, hill and muscle trouble ☹️
I just ran for 43 minutes!!!! Thanks CathCakes!!
Hill Training (a bit enthusiastic)
Never thought i'd choose a hill! :) 
