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?!
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! :) 
