Week 5 run 2 (kind of) completed....

[nicolaclaire]

Ok so I ignored my own advice and once more tried a new untested route..... I usually drive to a local park and run round it twice, but decided to start the run from my front door, run round the park once and then head back.

Sounds like a good plan I hear you say..... Better for the environment and the pocket, and yes I might have been inclined to agree if it wasn't for the fact that the timing meant that 30 seconds into the run part I hit a hill ( mountain) and 3 minutes in I had to cross a very busy road, there was a crossing but it meant I had to pause for about 10 seconds (which obviously I was very grateful for at the time but makes me feel like I haven't properly completed the run) the up hill didn't ease off til about 6 minutes which was absolutely evil, I'm not sure which was worse, my exploding calves or lungs! Somehow I made it through to 8 minutes, I can tell you I was VERY happy to be walking!!!!!!

During the walk I realised that my unfortunate timing suddenly didn't seem so bad as the second run would now be downhill!!!! Yippee!!!! Even with this help though I still really struggled.... Not helped by the fact that I passed an ex student whilst gasping for breathe! Actually that kind of distracted me for a few seconds!!!

Anyway, the upshot is I made it to 8 minutes, the walk home nearly killed me but I did it!!!!! Might repeat ths run though as really don't feel ready for 20 minutes yet!!!!

[Legion Graduate]

Well done for getting through W5,R2. Next time, could you maybe extend your warm-up walk (I usually do ten minutes now I'm on the long runs) so you can clear the hill first? I don't think anyone ever feels 'ready' for W5,R3, as it is truly a mental challenge as much as a physical one, but when you've done the prerequisite runs, your body really is ready. You just have to try and knock those negative gremlins off your shoulder and keep reminding yourself that you have run for xx minutes before, so you can do this.

Someone posted that W5,R2 is 'two 8 minute runs with a 5 minute walk between' whereas W5,R3 is 'two 8 minute runs with a 4 minute run between'. I thought this was a great way to look at it and wished I'd seen that before I tackled W5,R3. I spent my run reminding myself that I'd run 5 minutes before... 8 minutes before... I'm halfway now... less than an 8 minute run to go...etc at various points, and although I kept thinking I'd give up, I got to the end and could hardly believe I'd done it. Persuading yourself that YOU can do it too is the biggest challenge. I know you can.