Feeling Frustrated and Like I am Going Backwards

[dindy]

Hi All. Been on bit of a downer just lately. As yet I still cannot reach 5k which is frustrating to say the least. Since graduating I have been mixing my 3 jogs a week up a bit, I say jogs as I am no where up to running speed which to be honest I do not mind as long as I am getting a good workout I am happy.

Been doing the 30 min nonstop jog and was getting to the point where I started to increase the distance from 30-40 mins or somewhere in between. Did the normal 30 min jog on Monday and I felt goods afterward.

Next 30 min jog was on a Wed and decided to do just it at my normal pace. 5 Min warm up went ok and then started jogging. By around 5 min into the jog something did not feel right as it felt like my heartbeat was a lot faster and harder in my chest so checked my heart rate and it was sky high. My max BPM is 150 and I was touching at times 165 and this is even when I slowed jog down to 3.5 mph!! Normally at this pace I am around 125 BPM so I knew something was not right. Continued on for another 5 mins and the decided best to be safe than sorry and I stopped training.

I had a headache and did not feel too fell so went to bed for a couple of hours and then got up feeling a lot better. Even sitting at computer my heart rate was about 130-142 BPM. It took a whole 24 hours for it to settle down to normal. Someone told me it could be anxiety and to be honest the night before I was awake at 3 am worrying about something that really I did not need to. Most of what I have read seems to point to anxiety about something.

Even though I did not feel any chest or heart pain or any since it seems to of got to me mentally. I have done 2 runs of 30 mins since with no problems except that I am worried about pushing it too hard. As soon as I start to breath too hard and heart rate goes up I slow jogging speed right down even thought I am used to breathing hard and have no problems doing so.

The last jog as soon as heart rate started to go up I slowed the speed down or done a walk for one minute then started jogging again. It is funny but I had to stop for about 30 seconds to let cat into garage as he likes to catch spiders and that was a revelation. Just those 30 seconds complete stop energised me and my legs felt fresh for a few mins.

I am sure it was Bassa1234, sorry Bazza if it was not you but he started to walk/ run and started to find he was losing ability to run for 5 mins straight. I do not want to do that but maybe at the moment be best for me until I can get my head sorted out.

My wife did make the point that perhaps I am not a natural runner and being a 70 year old old boiler that 30 mins could be my limit and only jogging. Do not like to think that but perhaps she is right? I feel |I am going backwards rather than forwards, so fru

strating.

[JaySeeSkinny Graduate10]

At 70 you're doing brilliantly! And if you're getting out there 3 times a week and running for 30-40 mins you are doing great things for your health. You might need longer to get to 5k, but if you keep getting out there you will achieve it.

There are also a lot of people who do run/walk and achieve excellent results. If you don't want to lose the ability to run continuously why don't you do one continuous run and the other 2 run/walk? I do my "shorter" runs mid-week non-stop, but my longer one at the weekend is nearly always run/walk. And I also have problems keeping my heart rate down. But it is possible if I slow down.

So stick with it, you will see results soon!

[misswobble Graduate10]

Jogging is fine though isn’t it?

Jogging takes you places and will get you to 5k. Slow down, take a breather when you need to, and you’ll nail it.

You have to be patient. Rome wasn’t built in a day, nor were running legs 😃👍🏃‍♂️

[Duddles]

I'm slightly older than you, and had this problem a few years ago while I was race-walking and training. Sometimes I had a problem, for no obvious reason, but most times I was able to proceed without problems. One day I sort of collapsed and after about two years of investigation was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. I have found this is quite common amongst endurance athletes. Pills helped over the next few years and I carried on competing, but always worried. Eventually I went to a heart hospital for a procedure, where they burn away 'misfiring' fibres that were sort of short circuiting and putting my heart rhythm 'out of synch'. Since that operation I am back to normal, still worried, but doing personal bests at times in excess of when I was in my early sixties. That may not be what you have - but it is a) safer to check it out and b) can be sorted. I still occasionally go 'out of synch' and the secret seems to be warming up gradually, rather than my normal bull in a china shop method. There are loads of sites and articles by athletes about atrial fibrillation, may be worth having a look - and I hope that is NOT what you have, it could just be you are out of sorts at the moment.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10]

Well! First off.. well done.. and second.. slow down?

Be kind to yourself.. you are are a relatively new Graduate and as misswobble says, Rome was not built in a day!

Are you running outside now or inside..? ( Inside.. cat in garage..) Because maybe outside, you could vary your routes.. do some short runs and some longer; take it steady and slow and walk when you felt like it and just enjoy the journey?

Perhaps, being outside would help you to not focus on the heart rate too much... so much to see and you would find, maybe, you relaxed into the runs more...

[GoogleMe Graduate10]

Hard to know if the anxiety and overthinking is being produced by a physiological issue or whether the physiological issue is the result of anxiety

The language you use and the support around you (and your own hunches) are clues though that it starts with anxiety. Why call what you are doing 'jogging'? I reckon you do it because you think you are doing something 'less' than running. Anyone who refers to me as 'jogging' gets a Paddington bear stare - they can jog on! Definitions of 'running pace' are for other people and places and not useful for my purposes.

Comments about not being a natural runner are not helpful either.

If a shift in perspective doesn't help then it might be worth a check with your GP. It might be worth trying the effect of two runs a week (alongside walks)

[ju-ju- Graduate10]

I think you are doing brilliantly, carry on persevering and it will pay off. In the meantime perhaps have a check up with your GP just to make sure you are A ok? 😎

[LisaGuy-Cowes]

well done for trying, you could see your GP or nurse and get a check up make sure all ok? Just went round the park, very cold and found that hard work, somedays just like that. but you've got to listen to your body, everyone different !