Couch Potato to 5K Week 8
This week has been a struggle, a real struggle. There’s no walking any more. Miss the walking, really, really, really miss the walking. Only 5 minute warm-up walk now. Now is just running, and more running, and keep running for 28 minutes, is a loooong time. I am tired. Is getting darker every morning. Temperature has changed too, it is getting cooler, prefer warmer.
On top of all that, tragedy has struck. Yes! Lovely sister suffered injury on Monday. Twisted ankle during run but carried on like a real trouper. So out of deep concern for her painful ankle decided to skip walking on Tuesday and give it time to rest. Was really nice to have a lie in. High point of the week really.
Wednesday running in the dark again, not funny. Far too many kids about when trying to run, not like they haven’t seen it before now, but they still cannot help but stare, it’s ruuuuude!!!! If I wasn’t fighting for every breath would have told them so myself.
Skipped walking again (nice well deserved lie in) as lovely sister’s ankle still bad and she decides for health reasons that running not for her what with her arthritis and pain etc (actually not joking, real arthritis). So we were chatting with lovely friend Teri on Skype about serious arthritis pain as also a sufferer who had to give up running for same reason. Well, supposed to be bf (best friend) Teri, being actually medically qualified in such matters, starts telling Joanne that actually if you were to walk fast ie. just to the point before running (am hoping she did not mean that ridiculously stupid wiggle walk), then you get a better cardio workout than jogging really slowly, and less joint trauma. Yes she used word trauma! Was horrified! What about my trauma when have been running all this time. Understand that have done fantastically, incredibly and amazingly well with all this running and have been an inspiration to others, but have not enjoyed it (the running that is, quite nice being an inspiration to others, like that bit). Have had to blog about it as a sort of therapy. Am probably going to need some kind of rehabilitaion after this. Can’t believe Teri waited until am on week 8, yes 8 out of a 9 week program to impart those words of wisdom, and if run 3 times a week is like have done 24 out of 27 runs! Well, had to let her know my displeasure over whole matter, and so she has since been sending me links (like this one http://todsin.searchwarp.com/swa83238.htm) to back up the “walking can burn even more calories and give better workout than running” scenario.
So now big decision to make my friends. Lovely sister has abandoned running and switched to walking. Lovely friend has confirmed walking can be even better (although mentioned it very late on in the program). Have completed 24, yes 24 out of 27 runs. Is it all for nothing I ask you? Could reasonably quit now but feel is quite sad to quit with only 3 to go. Quite nice to finish what you start even if it is ‘running’. Would face book family and friends be disappointed? Fear not! Will finish program (not making any promises for after that though). Will be a beacon of hope to all, carry the torch to the finish line alone but determined. Am on a noble quest and will not falter at the final hurdle, but the last part of the journey I must go alone. Wish me well dear friends and hopefully we shall see each other again soon when the deed is done, and good has triumphed once more!
