Stopping when running

[Scobs]

On wk 12 now, but I feel like a failure. I had to stop once and walk.on both runs. I’m missing not hearing Laura giving me instructions telling me how long left, is anyone else doing the same

[Empem Graduate10]

I've just been listening to Laura again!I like the little technique tips and reminders about duration and I actually quite like the audio fuel music of the C25K+ podcasts.Look them up if you haven't used them before.Stepping Stones is the best place to start .Stamina is a killer but I nailed it this morning!

[misswobble Graduate10 in reply to Empem]

A stop for a breather is fine. It saves your ass! Quite why you class it as a failure I dunno 🤷‍♀️

It’s how we make progress 👍💪😃

[Flyingred Graduate10]

12 weeks is not very long and maybe you're expecting too much from your body? If you stop it's because there's a reason – out of breath, short of energy (fuel), dehydrated, etc. It proves that your body is working properly, which is not failure!

If it's breathlessness, then slow your pace down a tad to build your cardiovascular engine. Stick at it and get more miles into your legs and you'll be fine.

Running and walking is a proven strategy for marathon runners to get through the distance because the walk breaks allow recovery of tired muscles. Plus, 'interval training' which is alternate fast and slow runs (or walks) is a well-proven way of building fitness quickly. The top athletes include walking in their interval training programmes – if you can't beat them, join 'em!

[Scobs in reply to Flyingred]

Thank you. Guess I’m trying to do to much to soon 🙁

[Flyingred Graduate10 in reply to Scobs]

It's a good thing to want to progress – most of the posts here are about overcoming barriers and improving our running. But just relax, do what it takes to enjoy each moment of your runs and let the magic happen by itself!

[Sqkr]

I stop all the time on training runs. Sometimes to take photos, or stroke a cat, other times because there are huge hills round here and if I don't stop I might die. In fact, my Garmin much prefers it when I do stop/start! It's good to do a run non stop periodically, partly to remind yourself you can and partly to prevent developing a stopping habit, but don't ever think that a run where you stop is no good. They all count!

[GoogleMe Graduate10 in reply to Sqkr]

I really agree with the importance of maintaining that hard won continuous running skill... and stopping to take photos and stroke cats. I paused one C25K run to discuss the whereabouts of a rare crossbill with a chap I met in the woods.