It occurred to me, when I was doing that 5k interlude, that in actual fact I didn’t run a full 5k because there was the warm-up included. For this week, I decided not to include the five minute walk, and that means I’m looking a bit backwards on distance but a bit further forwards on average pace.

This week someone told me about a 10k race they were doing, sort of asking if I wanted to come along. Crazy talk. They can do a 10k in just over an hour. I’m running 45 minutes and still haven’t hit 5k yet.

Definitely not up to thinking about races yet. Plus running with someone else is a whole other minefield I’m not ready for.

Week 6, Day 1

Run 10 min/walk 1 min. Repeat x 4.

Crikey this was a tough one. The sun was shining so bright and hot, and I was probably a bit full from an unusually large lunch. I think I started off too fast, but with the different pacing, it’s like taking a step backwards in terms of knowledge. I started off about the 8:40s, and as you can see, dropped backwards by a long way.

Week 6, Day 2

Run 10 min/walk 1 min. Repeat x 4.

Once again, this was a day when I didn’t really want to go out, but when I did, I was so glad I’d made the effort.

It was a beautiful evening - the remnants of a lovely spring day, so clear skies but cool air. I got into a rhythm and it felt okay, so I concentrated on trying to control my average pace. I started out a bit fast, and it got up a bit high, but by the time I was on the final run I had enough left to bring it down again.

Week 6, Day 3

Run 10 min/walk 1 min. Repeat x 4.

Not a bad run, considering how flippin’ tired I was after all this Grand Prix silly o’clock nonsense.

On my final run, I passed some boys playing football and they took the mick out of the way I was running. It kinda negated that good feeling I had last time I passed some kids and they called me a bonafide jogger.

It’s stupid, I know. They’re boys and they are allowed to make fun of silly adults doing silly things, but it’s just something I’m sensitive about. Doing Sidepodcast has given me a thick skin for all kinds of criticism, but when it comes to sports… well, being horrifically unsporty at school didn’t do me many favours.

Assuming I can keep my head up and not get all maudlin about ye olde hockey and netball games, then next week there are less repetitions. I’m not sure how I’ll get on running 15 minutes at a time, but I know it’ll be good to only have to do it three times!