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This article is part of TechRadar’s Get Fit For ‘25 series.
Since 2019, I’ve finished more pies and pints than kilometers ran.
Me finishing an ultra in 2019 vs finishing a cocktail in 2024
Time is a cruel mistress.
Surprisingly my heart rate was listed as 190bpm with a 225bpm maximum, an almost impossibly high number.
Unfortunately, during the run it became clear that the heart rate monitor was no longer working.
Me finishing an ultra in 2019 vs finishing a cocktail in 2024
It’s also a nice to reconnect with my old sporting pals.
Within a few kilometers I am reminded why I love running.
Unfortunately before the 1km mark, I was having a medical emergency again.
I had to fight myself out of the door for this run.
Perseverance is the first lesson to learn in a challenge like this.
After I set off my ankle was complaining about something but I just ignored it.
My 5km time may be slow but there is 100m elevation on this route.
Talking of stretching, I’ve not done any pre- or post-run mobility work.
Two kilometers into my run I was making pistol fingers and poking the air while mouthing lyrics again.
I was even looking forward to the hill at the end.
My legs didn’t have any aches or stiffness in them and I was looking forward to the rush.
One of the best things about being unfit is that the “runner’s high” comes quite quickly.
One thing I was not looking forward to is the last few hundred meters.
So, I get on Strava and map out a 1km route with less elevation.
This should be easy!
On the second lap I was trying to reason with myself.
Instead of avoiding a ladder I’ve essentially given myself five to run up and down.
I remember I felt pretty bad in the last 20 km of my ultra.
There is also no shame in having to start again.
I gave up on my last lap.
On the upside, I now have a reference point.
Day 4: the first challenge
My cold is worse now and it is raining.
I don’t even want to stand up from my desk to make a coffee.
Going for a 5km run is not an attractive proposition.
Apart from my cold, I don’t have any aches and pains in my legs.
Today’s mission is to just get the run done.
So, I step out of the door and I am instantly met with sideways rain in the face.
I wrapped up warm with gloves, fleece-lined tracksuit pants, and a waterproof jacket.
All subsequent runs are automatically synced to Strava
Next lesson: shorts, perhaps with tights underneath, even in cold and wet weather.
I actually knew this, I just forgot.
Sure enough, after 40 minutes I’m back home and out of my wet clothes.
Hopefully my sickness will be better tomorrow and I can put a better effort down.
After four days there definitely seems to be a change.
Despite my cold, I am actually starting to look forward to my runs.
It’s making this challenge a lot more difficult than I anticipated it to be.
I wasn’t into sports watches.
This run was very much like the previous two.
Not fast, just trying to finish.
Day 6: the penultimate run
I am looking forward to getting this over and done with.
I couldn’t bring myself to finish this run.
My cold has got the better of me.
I thought about changing the title to ‘Can I run 5 km every day for 5 days?’
but that’s cheating.
I consider that goal well and truly achieved.
Just running for the sake of completing a run when I have a cold is not productive.
Last week I was not that motivated to run or to get fit at all.
