For just over a week now I’ve really been struggling. The runs are hard work and I’m slower than I was before.
The logical side of my head says that I’m being too hard on myself. Today I ran 5k in a little over 40 minutes. At 2.5k I stopped and almost cried because it was so hard and I am so rubbish and not getting faster. Of course now I know that is rubbish and that some runs are harder than others, and I have come so far in just a few months.
I have my first actual proper race on Sunday. I know I’m not going to win, and that’s not what these kind of races are about, but I want to come away feeling pleased with my performance and wanting to do more races.
So what do I do between is and then? I ran 5k today (Monday). Do I run again Wednesday and Friday, and do I run 5k each time, or make one shorter and one longer? Or do I run just Thursday? Short or long? Anyone any ideas, what would you do?
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E27M14
Graduate10
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I have no advice as to whether you should run 5k or shorter ones ~ sorry 😐 But I just wanted to say continue to believe in yourself, you are doing just great. This running is blinkin' hard work 👊 Someone will be along soon with the advice you're looking for ... 👀
You are being too hard on yourself! It’s hard not to be I know. I ran today and have no idea how I got to 5k it felt really hard! I don’t know the actual answer to your question but if it was me I’d run a 4 or 5k on Thursday and then save myself for Sunday. You will be fine 👍🏻😃
Ooof, these phases of hard work running are tough. As much as we know that as in anything in life, we don’t improve in a continuous smooth upward trajectory, but take steps forward and backward - it’s so hard when it feels harder one day than it did before! I have been running less lately (every 5 days!) and it’s so strange; I had one run that was really difficult run and one that was fantastic. I’m sure athletes with coaches and nutritionists could tell you what you need to do to optimise your performance, but I think we are a bit more haphazard around these parts. Don’t be so hard on yourself... 🤗
I believe that the run before the race before the run should be a bit shorter. Anything you do will be beneficial, just do what you do normally and treat the race as another run. Once you start you’ll get carried by the whole energy of it anyway.
It’s really hard when you a few not so enjoyable runs after graduation. I had a talking to myself and went even slower and didn’t worry too much about stats or anything and I’m back to loving it.
You are a runner, you enjoy running so ignore the non important blitters xx
Awww no, stop beating yourself up and focus on how amazing you are E27M14. Running is fun - yes of course it can be hard - but I bet you couldn’t run at all a few short months ago. Look how far you’ve come. ❤️
The time in which you complete the race is broadly irrelevant (unless you were going all out expecting to win!) You’ll have an amazing time. Pace yourself like you did during C25K, and you’ll be fine. Plus if you do need to walk - who cares? Just enjoy yourself and be proud. 👊👍👏
Maybe have another run tomorrow - another 5k would be ok if you wanted - perhaps a short gentle run on Friday and keep yourself hydrated and well fuelled up on Saturday.
You’ll smash your race. Think of us all cheering you on - and have fun! 😀😀😀
I’d suggest you follow your normal routine between now and the race. Set yourself an achievable goal - plan a 20 minute run and enjoy it. It is more important that you go into the race positive and enjoying the run than completing more miles.
Hi E! You are right to recognise that emotion, and you were also right to realise that it isn’t helpful to stay in that mindset for long. You are doing so well! You’re still new at this running lark too. Some runs are like that - it ebbs and flows and sometimes you think a run will be brilliant and it turns out harder than it should be. Other times, you really don’t feel like stepping outside and then it goes better than you think.
The trick to keeping motivated is finding gears or zones of effort - especially an ‘easy’ pace - not keep going out to match, or be faster, than before. Easy pace feel like jogs - miles on the legs - at whatever pace you feel comfortable conversing at. The faster runners I know (like Emily, or Paul with the sub-20min Parkrun while pushing a buggy!) only really push to race pace for 10-20% of total running time. The rest are ‘commuter runs’ when they can trot along speaking on the phone and perhaps 2 more zones of effort in between that and flat-out sprinting-can’t-gasp-a-word. Distance runners talk of a 5k, 10K, HM, or marathon pace, that are progressively slower, and they’ll use those paces in training on shorter runs. Of course Paul and Emily’s trotting is 9-min mile pace, whereas mine is considerably slower, but that’s not important. At the end of those easy runs you’ll get to 5k and feel refreshed and like there is plenty left in the tank to go further. If not, then it wasn’t an easy pace and you need to slow down next time 😁. Sam and Emily were also talking about feeling completely rubbish for the first 3k on their faster runs too - while their bloodstream catches up with the energy depletion in their leg muscles. They wonder why on earth they even started, and want to quit. So you are in good company! Deep breaths as part of a warm up, and from the very start of the run do help.
I’ve got a short Good Gym run tonight, 3k total with exercises, so I’ll be pushing harder to keep with the 10min mile pace. Then I’ll be doing a couple of ‘easy’ K’s on Thursday with a C25k restarter (W5R3), in order to have fresh legs for Sunday.
On Sunday you may be very surprised how well you’ll do compared with others you think ‘should be’ faster. The field will be very different to the regular parkrun crowd - probably a lot of one-off runners - and the course is different so you can’t compare with a Parkrun time, anyway. So start slow and relax. You’ve been doing all the hard work, so just enjoy the atmosphere, and collect your hard-earned bling!
I think so - I'm down for 10k - but at the moment my arthritic hip is causing a lot of groin pain and as my weight changes on my leg it amplifies. It doesn't hurt too badly when running once I get going, it's just afterward. It's the same injury and complications as Andy Murray had. I have been trying a standing desk today and it is less painful when I then walk about. Don't know what to do!....
Lots of advice on here! Just wanted to say you’re doing brilliantly!!! Please don’t be so hard on yourself, be proud of how well you’re doing.
I think we've all been there. Feeling like crying at how slow we are, how we're not progressing, how we might be the most useless runner that ever existed. So, know you're not alone and don't pay any attention to your thoughts.
Let me tell you what's the best thing about doing a race. You get a couple of rest days beforehand ! If I were running at the weekend, I'd do a 5km on Wednesday or maybe Thursday if the run was on Sunday. Then I have a big dinner the night before, porridge with nuts and seeds and honey for brekkie and then enjoy the day. You'll be surprised how good you'll feel after a rest - at least I do!
We all want to progress and it's so frustrating when it feels like we aren't!. Sounds like what's going on in your head is getting in the way of your body, so find a way to chill out, relax and find things to enjoy in your running. I know I do better when I don't put any pressure on myself (splits/PRs/times/pace/etc.).
In preparation, serious athletes talk about 'tapering' which means running less than their usual/race distance, so don't do more than 3 km two days before your race.
I've read that carb loading is more effective if done at lunchtime on the day before the race, not in the evening.
On race day, use your Garmin to monitor your heart rate and set your pace by it – so slow down if your HR is higher than your usual level and save yourself for the finish. It's so easy to set off too fast and run out of puff/fuel/confidence. And enjoy yourself.
Don't be too hard on yourself! You are running! That's brilliant! I only try to do one fast run a week. When I run with my sister or if I'm going over 5k I just plod along at a slow comfy pace. I enjoy these runs. I definitely don't try to run 5k every run, short runs are good too.
Enjoy your run at the weekend. Looks like Swindon? The Stroke run??
I am! My first non parkrun run too! Running with my sister, her husband and friends of hers. Her mother in law had a stroke a year ago. I live in Marlborough.
Thanks for your support everyone. You were all right there with me when I went for a “gentle run” today. I put a Nike Run Club long run on and headed out slowly...... very slowly. It worked. When coach Bennett told me I had finished the 35 minutes I still had plenty in the tank so decided to up the pace a bit and make it 5k. I finished feeling comfortable and ready for Sunday.
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Gremlins ruining my running
Walking and gremlins 
I hate the gremlins. 
5K - and a ‘Negative Splits’ Gremlin! 😈
Gremlins out in force today...
