Will I ever make it?

[Diddidi]

This is my second attempt at JuJu’s plan. The first time I managed to get to week 6 before business travel got in the way and now I’ve got as far as completing week 3 before the flu hit me like a steam train. 🚂 Now entering my second week of this nasty bug with no energy whatsoever and a hacking cough. 🎻 It seems that I am destined to never get to 10k! Feeling very down about it now as I really wanted to prove to myself this time that I can do it! Oh well, third time lucky 🏃‍♀️

[Beachcomber66 Graduate10]

Can be a bit like snakes and ladders, except that there are lots of snakes like flu to slide down and no shortcuts back up to 10k ready!! Very frustrating. I got to 10k on the second attempt, sure it will be third time lucky for you. In any event, just the sheer joy of being able to get out and run is what it is all about. That is permanent; milestones like PBs and 10k are only passing enjoyable features of what we do. Hope you are fit and ready to go soon. When you are, beware of the temptation to rush things; that is definitely another snake! 😊👍

[Diddidi Graduate10 in reply to Beachcomber66]

I like the analogy! Definitely feels like a lot of slippery snakes 🐍 out there at the mo ....but you are right Beachcomber, it’s about getting out in the fresh air and enjoying nature, and do I love those runs. Good for the soul

[Beachcomber66 Graduate10 in reply to Diddidi]

Sadly the analogy is based on experience not imagination!! We have all been there. Lots of real as well as metaphorical snakes up here on the North Yorks Moors!

[Irishprincess Graduate10]

Yes you will make it. The obstacles are not of your own making and you sound as if you really want to do this. When something like this happens just imagine the running gods are playing games with you and taking the p**s and that should make you angry at them and more determined to beat them at their own silly games. Works for me anyway 🙂💪

[Diddidi Graduate10 in reply to Irishprincess]

That made me laugh Irishprincess, thank you!

[Boxcar Graduate10]

Yes, you’ll get there. It’s frustrating when things get in the way. I got there on my second attempt after having to start from scratch again (no running for 3 months after an injury). I know others starting again. Stay determined & get there in your own time. It doesn’t matter how long it takes. You’re out there & running which is better than not. 👍

[Diddidi Graduate10 in reply to Boxcar]

Thank you Boxcar, you’re right it shouldn’t matter how long it takes....I guess i’m Just very impatient by nature

[Deals1 Graduate10]

yep you will do it. Take it easy tho and go out when you feel up to it.

hopefully your board will have no snakes on for round 3, just lovely runs that can be enjoyed with a bonus card (a huge bonus card) of reaching the 10k square at the end of the game

good luck

[Diddidi Graduate10 in reply to Deals1]

Thank you Deals!

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10]

You’ll make it, don’t worry Diddidi. Make sure you’re fully recovered and head out on a gentle short run when you feel ready and the weather is behaving. Honestly, if there was a time to be off running, it’s now. The wind, the rain 💨 💦 😩 ..... but spring is almost here, then you can press your reset button and start heading for 10k again.

We’ll be here to cheer you on don’t forget! 😀

[Diddidi Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Thank you Cheeky....yes, looking forward to the warm spring sunshine and longer days!

[Wimborne]

Ah Diddi I get this. Sometimes life just gets in the way a little too much. I am on and off Ju -Ju’s plan this past 6 weeks. Some weeks go great. Last 3 weeks really rubbish. I keep telling myself there’s no rush. The plan will always be there and when the time is right it will happen. We just need to keep going. What’s important is we keep trying. It will happen. 😀🤞🏃🏼‍♀️

[Diddidi Graduate10]

Thank you Wimborne! Good to know we are not alone

[JonathanP Graduate10]

Sometimes things conspire against you Dididi, but you will get there!

[Elfe5 60minGraduate]

Lots of sympathy winging to you- I am having the same experience at a slightly earlier stage - I keep getting trapped in the “building up after consolidation” loop with assorted illness or injury glitches.

I try to enjoy running “as I can”, rather than “fretting about what I can’t”. .. but as Mr E knows, sometimes the 😡😩🙁 escapes!

Hope you mend soon. Xx

[Diddidi Graduate10 in reply to Elfe5]

Thank you so much Elfe for your kind words.....and good luck with your running journey too!

[LoungeLizaard Graduate10]

That sounds like what happened to me during C25K around week 5 - I was taken out for two weeks by the mother of all man flu. I was assured at the time that you don't lose fitness to much in just a couple of weeks, the important thing was to get back out when I felt able.

My lung / chest capacity was terrible and I just went out and just about did 5 minute intervals with 3 minutes walking to "get back into the groove". In hindsight, this really helped, although it didn't feel great at the time, but the fresh air and just doing "some" activity really helped. Obviously you need to feel up to it first, even if you're walking a 3k route, then adding one or two running intervals, your mindset will be much better and your overall fitness won't have suffered too much.

The crucial part is not to "give up as its been too long". You have absolutely got this in the bag, once you've been out for the first time, it won't feel so bad when you get home

Good luck & hope you feel better soon

[Diddidi Graduate10 in reply to LoungeLizaard]

Thank you LoungeLizaard! The idea of some short intervals once am feeling better sounds like a good one. This particular bout seems to have gone straight to the chest and I was worried about doing anything for a while but some small bursts with longer walks could do the trick. I’ll give it a try

[Katnap Graduate10]

You will get there. What's the longest distance you've managed so far?

[Diddidi Graduate10 in reply to Katnap]

8.5k .....tantalisingly close!

[Katnap Graduate10 in reply to Diddidi]

Excellent! I like to run 'experimental' distances at a much slower pace, just to prove I can do it. I graduated C25k last November, did 10k on Boxing Day but mid December I did 8.5k.

So yeah. You're on course. Keep at it Diddidi 😸 Katnap 😸

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate10]

Hey Diddidi , welcome to the second time around club!! I’m also on my second attempt, I’m about to start week 4...last time I got right up to running 9k, which I enjoyed while I was in France on my holiday last year, it was idyllic running on those long, lonely country roads in the Dordogne...seems a distant memory now. I fell off my sons bunkbed ladders when I was on mummy duty during the middle of the night and that put a stop to that! So, for a while I just enjoyed running just because I could...no pressure, just messing around, then my mojo decided to take herself off on the run up to Christmas, but came back with a spring in her step so then I felt I needed a goal again so here I am on week 4...some runs it feels like I’m never going to get there too...but I had a lovely 7k run on Sunday morning and that’s made me feel like I really can do this. And so can you...my advice to you would be to, at the moment while you’re not feeling 100% is to keep it bubbling away...if you feel like you can spare some energy, just go for a little run...even if it’s just 1k? Just to keep you going....and before you know it you’ll be feeling ready to tackle week 4...be kind to yourself...flu is dreadful.

[Diddidi Graduate10 in reply to Mummycav]

Thank you Mummycav for sharing your story. You are right, it’s all about telling yourself that it’s ok to do shorter runs. I guess i’m a bit competitive with myself and so I need the structure of the plans to keep progressing. But then there is reality to contend with...daily life and illness get in the way. I’ll start some short runs once the chest clears up. And good luck with your journey to 10k too, 🏃‍♀️

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Diddidi]

It’s def ok...especially when you’re under the weather. It doesn’t matter at all how long it takes you to get to that magic 10k...you will do it. X