Am I taking too long to move on?

[Igglepiggle]

I started running about 6 weeks ago and got a real shock how unfit I was. Have stayed on week 1 for 4 weeks and now on second week of running week 2 but still not confident to move on yet is this ok?

[nettyk]

In the beginning I too was shocked at how out of breath I was, after just a minute or so of running! But I didn't let it deter me, and I have moved on with the program week by week, and I continually shock myself when I find out that I can manage it...

What I would say is don't feel frightened to move on, give the next step a try you may surprise yourself If you then feel it's too much take one step back and re-do the previous week.

I have been continually surprised at how well I can cope with the changes week by week, the program is designed to be gradual, not a 'throw you in at the deep end' type of approach.

Give it a go, you may too be surprised Nothing ventured nothing gained... Good luck x

[Igglepiggle]

Thank you for those thoughts. I am running tonight but will give week 3 a go on Sunday! Thank you for the encouragement! Will take on Friday with extra energy now!! X

[TryingSoHard Graduate]

I never once felt ready to move on to the next week.

At the beginning of each week I thought "I'll give Run 1 a go, and then when I fail (when, not if) I'll go back and repeat last week.

To my amazement, not once did I fail. Somehow you find the energy from somewhere, and before you know it you're at the end of the following week.

And the sense of achievement is fantastic!

Go on, give it a go, I dare you!

[LillyBeth in reply to TryingSoHard]

^ Ditto. I've not yet felt comfortable to move on to the next week but have done...and am now on week 5 run 2.

[pineapple81 in reply to TryingSoHard]

Me also - at the end of each week I KNEW for a FACT that there was NO WAY I could do the next week's podcast. So at the start of every week I set out for the warm up walk knowing that when I'd proved Laura wrong I could go back to last week.

However, when I started running, somehow it wasn't harder than last week, and somehow I did it. Haven't failed a run yet and I'm half way through week 8.

My conclusion? Clearly Laura knows better than I do

I say, go for it - there's nothing to lose and everything to gain

[Hidden]

You will probably find its just your mind telling you you cant do it, if you ignore the voices and give it a go you'll be surprised how your body copes. I struggled with week 1 and on my run 3 I played the week 2 podcast by mistake but I carried on a did it and I found it easier! Take each new week slowly, try the first run and if at first you dont suceed try again. Good luck

[poweron Graduate]

OK. I think you are doing fine. Stay on week 2 as long as you like and drink plenty of water before hand. You body will need this and this also stopped my stitch in week 4. Cut down on fat foods if not already done so - This helped me. When Laura says "OK - slow down and walk to recover for the few minutes", just try and keep running for another 10 seconds so you are priming yourself to move on. Take your time and don't give up but stick with it. Good luck.

[Kimmiijay Graduate]

I am a bit of a lazy person, if I allow myself any leaway I will take it...I would do week 3 (my fave so far) everyweek if I wasn't strict with myself. So I have The Rules

Try each run at between 8 and 9.5 kmh (8.5 is the aim, but every now and then I get cocky). In emergency go down to 7. If you make it to the end of the podcast without breaking the rules move on. If you need to break the rules then repeat that podcast until you get through. You are not allowed to go backwards.

Despite having "The Plan" I've not had to repeat a run yet. I'm on Week 5, but I like having the contingency. That way I know if I screw up the upcoming 8 or 20 minute runs I just repeat them. I think it'd be better for my confidence to repeat the ones I failed then go back, because otherwise I would never have the guts to move onto the next one.