Meh running

[Gthants]

I've finished Week 3 of the NRC plan to get to 10k. I did a fiddly-pace run on Saturday and a 6k run on Monday. The 6k in 43 minutes was fine, a there and back run with an extra mini-loop, but it felt as though there was plenty in the tank.

Today I started Week 4 with a 30 minute "recovery" run - 4.5k in 33 minutes and it was distinctly meh. After 12 minutes I was ready to throw in the towel and by 19 minutes I had decided to give up running altogether; that idea made me feel much better! 🤣

An off day? A cold/bug/Covid? (The two chiddlers both have a long-standing cough and now have colds too; how I have avoided this is a total mystery. My lady had a meal last week with someone who got a text message at the end confirming a Covid diagnosis.)

I am utterly adrift with the pacing; I know I am running too fast, but I find it enormously difficult to run more slowly. The one run each week when I have to mix the paces is like trying to hold separate conversations in Swahili, Finnish and Greek - though it might as well ALL be Greek (or double-Dutch!) as I have zero clue what I am doing.

I'm also thrown because I looked ahead to the 6 runs in this week's plan (last week I did 4 out of 6; the previous week I did 3/6) I saw that the final run is ... 8k. 😬🫣

8 flaming k!

That's just bonkers! I have only run for about 45 minutes before. Not sure what my longest distance is, but it will likely be less than 6.5k. So that seems like way too big a jump.

I may just hop off this plan and pick up with the plan that's often posted on here (if anyone reads this and has the link, that would be excellent.) I need to be realistic and work around a very busy week too - I'm in London for shows Friday/Sunday/Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday! In theory I could run on the intermediate days, but I'll have to see how late nights impact my energy levels...

Happy (😵‍💫) running, folks!

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10]

We all have times when running feels like this. It’s not a fun place to be. Adapting the plan to run 7k , then 8k is absolutely a sensible thing to do, but maybe it’s time to say you gave the plan a good go but you’re better off parting company on good terms. That’s not in any way a bad thing. You’ve still got all those runs in your legs. You’re just recognising that this doesn’t have you running in a way that you enjoy! You never need to listen to Coach Bennett again if you don’t want to.

This is the plan you’re talking about.

healthunlocked.com/bridgeto...

I did the distance based version just listening to music podcasts and really enjoyed it.

Is it worth stripping things back and just running for a bit without any pressure for particular paces or distances? You could repeat some runs you’ve previously enjoyed. Try out some new routes. Take walking breaks. Just do what you like and see where that lands you in a couple of weeks?

Good luck with whatever comes next for you.❤️

[Gthants 60minGraduate in reply to MissUnderstanding]

Thank you so much for the link and the kind words.

I have it in my mind that I would like to get to 10k, but I have gone from 4 x 6k enjoyable runs before I started this plan, to some miserable times. I know from the last year that some runs are purely for the reason I started running in the first place: my health; but many others have been actual (whisper it) fun.

I certainly ought to step back from the idea that any walking at all is VERBOTEN when I am "supposed" to be running.

A looser approach will put me in charge and reduce the "must/must/must" feeling of rule-following.

I think I may print out the plan and do my own thing very loosely based on it; maybe with the aim of getting to 10k ... this year, rather than in 6 weeks. Food for thought.

Thanks again!

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Gthants]

Running is absolutely supposed to be fun! Yes, we all have some duffers but if every run is feeling rubbish, it seems like a good time to reevaluate,

I love a plan but I also love rebelling again a plan!!! That helps me to feel in control. I’m following the NRC plan but I’m not doing all the runs and I’m switching out some I’ve before for ones I like better, or just a podcast, or whatever my Garmin suggests that I like the look of better. Usually I’ve got three I’m vaguely looking at and mixing into something that suits me. As long as you’re careful about not adding big increases in time of intensity week on week, you can pretty much do what you like!

I remember that you used to post about how much you enjoyed your runs and that seems absent lately. It’ll absolutely come back, and you’ll absolutely get to 10k. It’s more about finding a way you can do that with a smile now! Fun is not a dirty word. It’s the most important thing if you want to keep running long term. Have a play around with the runs and get rid of all the pressure you’ve put yourself under!

[Gthants 60minGraduate in reply to MissUnderstanding]

I'm going you in the rebel camp!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

Fun is a terrific word... just as the word , enjoy is... xxx

[Sax64 Graduate10]

Well done for sticking to it and getting the runs done, but I'm with you on the jump from 6 to 8k. Here's Juju's plan and it works. I did the 60 minutes plan first which was very comfortable. Then I picked up the 10k plan from the distance I achieved in 60 minutes. This meant again, it was all very doable. In the end each week I was doing a 4k with intervals, a 5k and my longer run, sometimes with a guided run, sometimes a podcast. Highly recommended from me anyway. Good luck

Juju's magic plan

[Gthants 60minGraduate in reply to Sax64]

Thank you!

[Cmoi Graduate10]

I have absolutely zero experience of NRC as I dislike audio-coached runs and training plans in general. I struggle with out-of-context one-size-fits-all instructions, and invariably feel a failure when I don't manage to do what I'm supposed to when I'm supposed to.

However, I found the Magic Plan (linked in MissUnderstanding 's reply) brilliant for getting to 10K: just three runs a week, done in any order, on the days that suit you.

Re pacing: I run by effort, not min/km pacing, because I live in a hilly area (even my shortest runs from home involve 90m vertical) and prefer trails to road running.

And as for walking during run, yes, I do that too. So shoot me. Admittedly I use walking when it's safer or a more effective use of energy, and I won't walk when I'm capable of running, but there's no way I'd have got through the Trail du Gévaudan (see profile) if I hadn't walked some of it.

Why not give yourself credit for all you've already achieved, and reset things as they suit you?

[Gthants 60minGraduate in reply to Cmoi]

Thank you. Yup, re-set definitely coming up!

The credit part is particularly tough; but if I look back to a year ago when I was probably just starting C25K having previously been unable to walk the length of the garden, THAT is vertiginous compared to getting from 6 to 10k!

I have printed out the plan, but will (try to😬) focus on simply running rather than planning. (We'll see how that goes ...)

And thanks for the kind offer, but I won't be doing any shooting, and may be doing some walking of my own! 🫣🤣

[Cmoi Graduate10 in reply to Gthants]

Hunting season closes here tomorrow evening anyway! 😉😂

(I'm the one in bright kit and a fluo cap who changes her routes depending on where the baying of hounds and sound of gunshots is coming from. Not actually joking.)

[Leotigris Graduate10]

Another vote from me for JuJu's magic plan. It worked for me exactly the same way as Sax64 described.

[Gthants 60minGraduate in reply to Leotigris]

Good to know!

[Fiadh79 Graduate10]

It sounds like it isn't for you, or maybe just not the right time. Like many others, I did the magic plan (time based) and really enjoyed it.

I'm taking things relatively easy at the moment. Running three times a week - one 5k, one 3.5k and one 20 minute hill session. But it is super flexible. So some weeks I might only do 2 runs, or if I'm in a rush I'll shorten one of the runs slightly. I'm doing this just in a gap before I start a formal plan in a couple of months. So it's just a suggestion as to a different option (it's similar to the consolidation that's recommended in the C25k forum here after graduation).

Good luck with it, I'm sure you'll find something that suits you. Running should definitely be at least a fun!

[Gthants 60minGraduate in reply to Fiadh79]

Yes! The lack of fun is telling at the moment!

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10]

Regarding the jump from 6k to 8k, a couple of years back I started the Nike HM plan. Very similar to the 10k plan with the same jump in distance. 8 km was daunting but once I actually set off it was fine. I didn't get any further but about 6 months later decided I'd like to try my local 10k. I only had about 4 weeks to prepare, got to 8k again, almost changed my mind but decided I'd just do my best and to my surprise I managed it

So don't underestimate yourself! But equally don't get there in away you don't enjoy.