Help to get going again

[Sisteract5]

I graduate a while ago and went on to do about 13 ish consolidation runs of 30 mins. Had a cold and then found I had to stop during run. Keep an eye on these posts and on one, someone was saying they stop now during run and someone said ‘it’s ok, you’ve graduated, so you’re now a runner and you can stop’. That seems to have set off a green light in my brain and ever since, about two months ago, have done 25 mins one but, generally not much more than 15 mins ☹️ I wanted to try and do 5k by my bday in three weeks but, for my speed, that would be about 40 mins. Just had another cold and got wheezy chest so, thinking not wise to attempt run at moment. Do I need to go back to the drawing board and start again??

[Ian5K Graduate10]

The “it’s all right to stop” you’re referring to sounds like the technique called “Jeffing” or Run-Walk, although you don’t literally stop but walk a little bit to recover, then run again. A bit like the early weeks on C25k!

A 5k in 40 minutes is okay. I don’t think you’ll need to go right back to the beginning. Do some shorter runs and see how it goes - run slowly and/or Run-walk.

Have fun! 🙂

[Sisteract5 in reply to Ian5K]

Ahh thank you - I’ll give it a go and report back 😊

[Irishprincess Graduate10]

You’re right not to run with a wheezy chest. I think a cold can really take it out of us, more than we realise, so ease back when you’re feeling ready. Maybe try a run/walk to begin with to see how you feel. Your body will tell you how much to do. You might try a two minute run followed by a walk until your get your breath back and then check how you’re feeling.

You’ve got plenty of time to get back to 30 minutes and as already mentioned, you can walk parts of it.

Hope you feel better soon 🤞

[Sisteract5]

Thank you - some good ideas. I need to find the focus for my mind again too - I miss having Michael Johnson urging me on but, need to get back on here, like I used to before each run and take inspiration from reading how others are doing. Really helped. Thank you .

[erin1090 Graduate10]

I graduated years ago, then gave up, then graduated again, so I know that self-talk you're describing! What works for me is going straight back to the C25K audio when I'm struggling. There's something psychologically comforting to me about listening to it, because I've done it before so often that I know for a fact it's possible, plus in my case I have Sarah Millican cheering me on. I do a few nice slow runs with my C25K security blanket, and once I'm feeling confident again I eventually go back to distance/time run tracking apps.

[Sisteract5 in reply to erin1090]

That’s a good plan of action - thank you 😊

[Sisteract5 in reply to erin1090]

Good to know - thank you. I had Michael Johnson and I found him so inspiring - he’s left, (I was too much of a challenge for him 🤣🤣) and now have Denise Lewis - not quite gelled yet but, sure I will - thank you

[nowster Graduate10]

I would definitely not run with a wheezy chest. A head cold, probably, but a chest cold, nope.