First failure :(: I've just had a two day break... - Couch to 5K

Couch to 5K

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First failure :(

secretlemon profile image
secretlemonGraduate
15 Replies

I've just had a two day break and just went out to attempt week 4 run 1 and failed miserably. I didn't even manage to do the first five minute run.

I did the five minute warm up walk, three minutes run 60 seconds walk then attempted the five minutes and gave up at three minutes in. My shins were killing me from the start (during the five minute walk!) I hurt my right leg at the start of week three and it's not gone away yet (I can't tell if its a muscle or something else). I feel so pathetic and such a bloody failure and just feel like I want to pack in the whole thing all together! Urgh. Is it best to try it again tomorrow? I'm scared I'll be thrown back to square one again if I have a longer rest :(

Oh and I know this isn't a place for personal problems but I broke up with my boyfriend yesterday because we're both heading off to UNI - I have absolutely no energy and I'm almost in tears again right now. :( did anyone else have this much of a problem on week 4? I didn't even get to 4 minutes! Devastated with myself right now.

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secretlemon profile image
secretlemon
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15 Replies
scotsheather profile image
scotsheatherGraduate

Aww, you're not a failure at all, you've had a bad run and are just having an all round crap time!! If you feel your leg is ok why not go back a run. I can guarantee that everyone has a rubbish run at some time, just have to chalk it up to experience and go forward. We'll all be right there with you and if you want support for personal things - we can do that too!! Sending you big hugs xx

Honorsmum profile image
Honorsmum

Sounds like you need a big hug. ((( ))).

Unsurprisingly, your head wasn't up for running, by the sounds of it. You won't lose your progress if you take another day or 2 to take it easy and get yourself together. The stuff with your boyfriend sounds like it's knocked your confidence and your mood, so go easy on yourself and don't put any pressure on yourself to get back out there before you're ready.

You'll get there, promise.xxx

IannodaTruffe profile image
IannodaTruffeMentor

Rest the legs if you need to, but don't give up. You didn't fail, you had a setback. Our ability to cope with any stress is down to our personal mental space. C25k can produce stress, but honestly, I can say that for me it is the best stress buster that I know. It puts you back in charge of an important aspect of your life and can boost your mood and give you a renewed zest for life. Take it steady, no need to rush, and enjoy the achievement when it comes.

Good luck and keep us posted.

TheBoyWhoRun profile image
TheBoyWhoRunGraduate

Hey Stop beating up yourself about it. I know for me when I think about the run I can never finish it. Remembering the first time I did week 4 I started thinking all sorts of crazy thoughts of me collapsing on the floor and having the ambulance coming to pick me. What I am trying to say is that your mind is a powerful tool. If your mind is not ready to do something i.e your run, it will make you think all sorts of stuff and before you know it your body is responding to the negative instruction from your mind. My advice would be not to see it as a failure but as a glitch. Stay focus and '' Run That X out of your life '' no pun intended.

secretlemon profile image
secretlemonGraduate in reply to TheBoyWhoRun

Thank you for making me laugh and you're right I slightly set myself out for failure by telling myself that I could no way do five minutes before I'd even tried.

I've decided I'm going to give it another go tomorrow, thank you to everyone who has replied I know I can do this no matter how many times I have to repeat this damn run. Feeling shitty in yourself sure does not help, but I do know that if I hadn't given up tonight I would have been feeling happy with myself if I completed it and I'll be thinking this on my run tomorrow to tackle that 5 minutes!

TheBoyWhoRun profile image
TheBoyWhoRunGraduate in reply to secretlemon

Keep us posted on how you get on....

louisew99 profile image
louisew99Graduate in reply to secretlemon

I've just completed week 4:2, I was really worried about the step up to week 4, for my 1st attempt I slowed the pace right down and I made it! Knowing I could do it helped hugely with my 2nd run and was able to improve my pace. Good luck.

IannodaTruffe profile image
IannodaTruffeMentor in reply to secretlemon

Go for it girl!!!

A1nsworth profile image
A1nsworthGraduate

Hiya. As the previous posts have said,you have to be in the right mental space.All in your head.I am 62 and midway through week 4.I never thought I could do it.I am looking forward to my next run.You are young and you can do it.It really boosts you're self esteem and you have support from all the great people on this ste.Good luck and keep us posted xx

Kreesh profile image
Kreesh

You WILL do it!! I have believed so many times on this plan that I wouldn't make it (especially if i looked ahead to the next week!) but somehow I kept going and dare I say it, even enjoyed it! I'm on week 7 now! :O

I'm sorry to hear about your recent sad situation; :( that, and the anticipation of uni are contributing to you feeling a bit anxious, stressed and low. I hope you start to feel better soon. You will have a lot of new things to occupy you!

One very positive thing is that by taking up C25K, you are already en route to feeling so much healthier and happier in general! I am speaking as someone who suffers from generalised anxiety disorder and i have found that running has really helped to combat my negative thoughts and anxiety.

I wish you all the best for your next running adventure and starting uni! X

secretlemon profile image
secretlemonGraduate

I did it guys!!! I am so happy!!

louisew99 profile image
louisew99Graduate in reply to secretlemon

Fantastic job, well done enjoy the moment! Thanks for keeping us posted. Just completed week 4 this morning, am quite looking forward to week 5 run 1 as it's actually less running than week 4.

secretlemon profile image
secretlemonGraduate in reply to louisew99

Thank you so much for the support, I took your advice and did it very slowly and was able to do it. Good luck with week 5!!

IannodaTruffe profile image
IannodaTruffeMentor in reply to secretlemon

Brilliant. Well done with mind over matter.

secretlemon profile image
secretlemonGraduate in reply to IannodaTruffe

Thank you!

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