Week 8 run 1 - hanging my head in shame

[CheshireCatkin]

14 minutes into my 1st run of wk 8 I just gave up. What happened I don't know. I have been a slave to Laura every run so far -I ran when she said run and walked when she said walk. I have loved C25K so far and all of a sudden I am hurting, tired and mojo has gone and left me without notice! I want this so much, it's the only form of excercise I have kept up and I do love it. Please help I'm really rather lost. X

[maryannlucy]

I am only in wk2 so haven't been here long, but I know that people will post replies to this that will be very useful and empathetic. I can only say that you should be so proud of how far you have come so far, I guess it is normal to lose your mojo, but focus on how far you have come...at the moment I dream of week 8...xx

[greenlegs Graduate]

Yes - entirely normal - you are just fortunate not to have had a run like that before. Horribly off-putting they are too. Chin up!

Don't let it get you down, as you know you can do it. I found the tiredness started to build rather in those last couple of weeks - maybe your body is just telling you it wants an extra day or two of recovery time? (But two is probably enough! ) It's also mentally tough to get through the first part of each run believing that you'll get all the way, but if you've got this far you CAN do it!

Just keep getting out there, and you'll be fine again. Graduation is soooo close!

I am so glad I kept going, and then kept on after graduating too. It really is worth it.

[sheffkezz Graduate]

Hi, I feel exactly the same having done W8R1 on Wednesday. I think greenlegs is right in that I need more than one rest day. My knees are also quite sore so think I am going to have at least 2 if not 3 rest days now. Determine to graduate now and then build up my speed - a slug can run faster than my glorified shuffle!!!!

[LouisaJayne Graduate]

I think every runner has good and bad runs its all part of the process I had the exact same thing not so long ago & ended up walking home ( a mile & a half!) sobbing like a baby & looking like Alice cooper ( note to self wear waterproof mascara) but the next run was amazing more because I had to prove to myself that I could do it and I did

You have come so far & achieved so much already & should be so proud of that

You CAN do this run & the next & the next have a little faith

Xxxx

[Khrissy Graduate]

As Greenlegs said, bad runs are entirely normal, take a rest, recharge your batteries and give it another go in a couple of days. I always found that a good run followed a bad one and even though I've said it, there is no such thing as a bad run, you still moved faster than the couch! Keep at it, you'll be fine

[Hidden]

week8 run1 .... I think you need to remind yourself of your journey so far.

cast your memory back to wk6 which was when you last walked during your sessions...

... or back to wk4 when you learned how to get through 5 minutes of running....

... or even in wk2 when those 90 seconds lasted so so long .....

can you even remember your wk1?

So in 8 short weeks you have come such a long way & you have learned so much about how to run & how to cope with getting yourself through each of Laura's sessions....

.... now you are on week8 & just like all of the other weeks before, you can get through this one week.... it's only 1 week - it's only 3 runs.

slow & steady is what greenlegs says, which is always so right - have a rest day & a proper stretch - then get back out there and smash your W8R1

[Tessietwo Graduate]

Don't worry, I got stuck for weeks on week 6, just couldn't do it. Some runs are good and some are bad, just take a rest and get back out there, you are so close to finishing! I sort of gave up in the pod casts towards the end and just went out and ran, I figured as long as I was getting out there and doing something, it didn't matter too much. You'll get there, just don't give up!

[tantrumbean Graduate]

This happened to me in week 9 - just suddenly couldn't do it anymore, and once you walk, it's so hard not to walk again the next time (which is exactly what I kept doing). I ended up actually taking about 10 days off in the end to clear my head from my sudden "disaster runs" and actually feel like I wanted to go for a run again. It was fine after that, but horrible while it lasted, especially as I had pretty much sailed through the programme and suddenly it felt like a long, painful slog.

[LandRoverMad Graduate]

I see that a lot of folk have left some really helpful comments. But thought I would chip in. Firstly to let you know that I had read your blog. I find that really encouraging that someone has taken the time to read my blog.

Secondly as for myself. When I get to the point of wanting to stop I look ahead and focus on my next landmark. As I do the same route I know more or less where I should be in 5, 10, 20 mins etc. So I concentrate on getting to the next place and so on. It really does work for me. Maybe it might help you to keep going when it gets tough.

Hang on in there. You've only 5 more runs to graduation. Looking forward to seeing your badge.