Still Struggling - Advice Please

Hi. As some of you will know I have been struggling recently.

To be fair, it is my own fault as I only ran about once a week over the winter due to the lack of light where I live and available time.

Now the light is back and having recovered from a stomach bug and cold I restarted the JuJu plan. However I am really struggling this time round. I completed week 1 and did the 6k of week 2 today but I am regularly stopping to walk!! I am so frustrated because I didn’t walk at all when I did my two 10k runs

What would you suggest, should I

1 - keep going as my fitness will improve and therefore I will walk less.

2 - go back to C25k

3 - follow the Geoff Galloway training plan on my Garmin watch.

4 - ???

I have a 10k on 10 May a 15k in Sept and then the GSR in October. So lots of goals.

I am keeping hydrated although when I run my mouth and throat do feel dry. I’m doing a few minutes yoga and strength exercises most days. Doing a 1min plank when I get up... Maybe it’s just time and perseverance?

Apologies for the long post but any advice would be most welcome.

Hope you’re all having a great weekend and that Park Run was fun for those who did it today.

[Annieapple]

Don’t be put off. Keep running 3x week to regain fitness & strength in your legs. However don’t move on in Ju Ju until you are fit otherwise you risk injury. I would repeat week 1 to give your body a chance & take away the pressure. It will definitely all come back!! Enjoy doing what you can happily manage this week & the magic will happen next week! 🤗

[Hidden in reply to Annieapple]

Thanks Annie. That’s a good plan which I had meant to do but then forgot and did the 6k today!! I will do the other two runs and then repeat next week.

Very disheartening when you have done so well. I started in June last year and complete the JuJu plan on 14 December so I am a bit cross with myself but I just didn’t feel safe running around where I live in the dark.

Never mind, as you say, my fitness will come back and October is ages away. Better to take it slowly and avoid injury. M

Thank you.

[Annieapple in reply to Hidden]

👍🏃‍♀️😊

[Debston Graduate10]

I think that as the weather improves (!) you'll find your mojo again. I reckon running three times a week is the key to building up stamina, whether you stick with the magic plan or just run how you feel each time. You have two months to feel ready for the 10km race. If you have run 8k by then, I think you'll be able to do the 10. Good luck with it all, and don't be too hard on yourself, you're still going!

[Hidden in reply to Debston]

Thanks Debston. I think you’re definitely right about running three times a week. I think you feel more motivated as well as you have to tick them off.

I bought a diary this week because although I track all my runs on a planner in the kitchen I wanted to write down each day what other activities I had done like yoga, planks etc.

I think a visual motivation is good too and getting stronger will help the running.

[Debston Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

I write mine in a little diary too. ☺

[Annieapple in reply to Debston]

Rainbow66 and Debston I love the diary idea 💡 Going to implement that now as I am very lazy when it comes to S&F and planking!!

[Hidden in reply to Annieapple]

I find it really helps as with the wall chart. You can see what you have or have not done 😊

[Grannyhugs Graduate10]

All the advice given is great. I would also suggest to take the pressure completely off, how about Choosing somewhere nice and just going for a run, forget any plan, distance, speed for that run and just enjoy the running itself. Whatever you manage it will be a win not a fail to restore your confidence and love for running. Then go back to planned runs. Happy running 🤗

[Hidden in reply to Grannyhugs]

Thanks Grannyhugs that is such a nice idea. Every run I have ever done has been part of a plan. I fancy going to a country park or somewhere by the sea. I shall do some research. Thank you.

[Grannyhugs Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

I hope you have a great run somewhere beautiful 🤗

[Hidden in reply to Grannyhugs]

Thanks

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate10]

Hi Hidden ...I absolutely get where you’re coming from...I really do....running is hard and it hasn’t got any easier for me either, but I still go...and I have to push myself, all the time...some days , like yesterday, I really couldn’t be bothered doing the run that was due (I’m doing a Garmin 10k plan) but once I got out there I had one of the best runs ever...what I’m saying is I think it’s mind over matter, sounds like you already think the run is going to be hard before you even set off??? If I were you I wouldn’t follow a plan at the moment, I would just run for as long as you can once a week with a couple of short runs on the other run days...that way you should end all your runs in a high instead of aiming for something you know (or think) you cannot achieve, just for now. By the time your 10k comes around you should be back to your normal running self, you know you can do it, you just have remind yourself...good luck and don’t be too hard on yourself x

[Hidden in reply to Mummycav]

Thanks Mummycav. It’s a weird thing really. I could have carried on further than 6k today as it was a lovely day it’s just the urge to take walking breaks.

As you say, I do know I can do it, so maybe I just need to accept the walking breaks for now and just work on that urge. I’m sure now I’m back to running 3 times a week my fitness will improve. I just need to take it slowly and not be disheartened.

After the GSR I will be running just for me and probably no further than 5k. I am so looking forward to running just because I want to with no pressure.

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

its hard to resist the temptation when you’re a lone runner as there’s no one to keep you going so once that thought is there it’s what you do with it ..now, I tend to break my time into 5 minute sections if it happens...but, even with walk breaks, you’re still running and sometimes those walk breaks mean you can run for longer 😉

[Hidden in reply to Mummycav]

Very true!

[Notobleeptests]

I agree with the respondent that suggested forgetting plans for some runs and just enjoying them... however if you have a specific date for a race/run and do want a plan to follow, I recently tried some of the Nike Running Club (NRC) app training programmes and they’re pretty good. Contain a mix of shorter speed, recovery, timed and longer runs, all working towards your race/run date. The app is pretty good.

[Hidden in reply to Notobleeptests]

Thanks that’s really helpful. My aim in all of this is the GSR as I’m doing it for charity so I think I just won’t stress about the May date. I will definitely be able to run the 10k but it might be using the Jeffing technique.

I don’t know what people’s views are on that but his half marathon plan sounds really good. I will take a look at the NRC plans as well thank you.

I am going to try some runs with nothing particular in mind. I think I did it once before and really enjoyed it. 😊

[Notobleeptests in reply to Hidden]

I know lots of friends that really rate Jeffing, especially for the longer runs (over 10K!) and it’s actually improved their times as well as their enjoyment, albeit that sounds counterintuitive.

[Hidden in reply to Notobleeptests]

I think I might try the Jeffing half marathon plan as that would end in June and then I can consolidate and improve for my 10 miles in October.

Also he will have me doing a variety of paces, hills etc. which I don’t do at the moment.

Thanks for your help.

[Noodle1991 Graduate10]

I would say don’t beat yourself up so much. Why did you start running in the first place. Was it to punish yourself or enjoy the sense of achievement it gives you. There is nothing wrong with breaking it up with short walks. If you aim to enjoy, the distances will happen.

[Hidden in reply to Noodle1991]

Thanks Noodle1991. I actually started C25k to support my cousin’s boyfriend who was nervous but he gave up on the second run!!! I then decided to carry on as I couldn’t believe I was so unfit.

After that I did the JuJu plan because I wanted to find a challenge to raise money for Motor Neuron and decided on the Great South Run.

From what everyone has been saying I realise that all my runs have been with a goal in mind and never to run just to enjoy it and see what happens. It certainly sounds quite freeing.

I am going to try a couple and then follow the Geoff Galloway half marathon plan. Not that I plan to do one but feel it will be good training for my 10 miles and I can have legitimate walking breaks until I don’t feel I need them any more. After that I will consolidate until October and the GSR.

Next year will be running because I want to not have to 😊

[Noodle1991 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

That’s great. I completed couch25k in December and am now training for a 10K. I’ve done 10 Park runs now and every time, I want to be faster and better. Fortunately my running buddy reminds me to enjoy and not always be pushing myself. Good luck with your training and future running.

[Hidden in reply to Noodle1991]

Thanks, you too. Fortunately I’m not worried about time so that at least is one pressure I don’t have. 😊

The JuJu plan is great if that’s what you’re doing.

[ktsok]

Hi Rainbow. I feel you! The urge to walk is so strong and I still don’t know if ignoring it or listening to it is the right thing. Perhaps sometimes it’s gremlins; at other times it is the sensible thing?

I’m compromising; I’ll check the watch and keep going to the next km marker, or have a fixed point in the distance to get to. I might feel better by then and keep going, or I can walk for a bit. I feel then as if I am learning to ‘push through’ the barrier without the run becoming torturous.

The amount of recovery from just 15 seconds of walking always surprises me and makes Jeffing seem a good idea.

It is hard not to feel disheartened, like you have failed, or given up, particularly when you have run that distance before. Maybe that’s the real battle; learning to be kind to ourselves - and realistic, if we have been running sporadically - whilst waiting for stamina to return.

[Hidden in reply to ktsok]

Hi ktsok. Yes it is frustrating and I will get back there, I think I just need to accept some walk breaks until my fitness is back up.

Like you, on my run yesterday, when I wanted to walk I just pushed myself on to the next lamppost, hedge etc. and I did manage to push on further by doing this. 15 seconds walking does indeed make a huge difference which is really surprising.

Thanks for the support and happy running.