Today was my first day of week 7.I found the 25min run awful but made it to the end.Will this get any easier or am I always going to hate it

[A1nsworth]

This is such hard work.Am I expecting too much?

[Maitko2 Graduate]

Yesterday I did the wk 6 - 22 minute run and felt like it was hard and I also kind of hated it!! Hmmmm, so week 7 will probably be worse! Goodjob on doing it though

[A1nsworth Graduate in reply to Maitko2]

Thankyou,but well done for you're run.You might not find it so hard

[Nerdio Graduate]

Am I always going to hate it?

Good question. It was never going to be easy, that is for sure. You will have good days and bad days. But the good days will always prevail, and the satisfaction of finally hitting the 30 minute miletsone (or 5K for that matter) makes it all worth while. When you have done that set yourself some new goals.

Keep at it, you're nearly there.

[A1nsworth Graduate in reply to Nerdio]

Thankyou for you're support.Just feel so tired after my runs,just so exhausting and Dont feel particularly energised after.Probably my age x

[Nerdio Graduate in reply to A1nsworth]

Definitely good run bad run, and a matter of building up. This last part of C25K is really going to develop your stamina. Just stick with it, and maybe ease off a bit. You're doing great.

[Hidden]

The best thing about running for me is getting past the first 5-10 mins and getting intoy stride and not feeling like hell.... Then going that little bit further than I did last time... And the absolute best bit? A hot shower afterwards!

I found it did get easier, but it's always a challenge. I like to run to music, it takes my mind off what I am actually doing!

[Realfoodieclub Graduate]

Hehe I haven't learnt to love my runs yet but I love the before and the after. I know I can't feel either without the middle. I have faith that it will all come together. I am on wk7. I got a rare glimpse on week5 while out on a run I forgot and let myself go it was an amazing feeling. I know that as I get fitter that's what a high percentage of my runs will be and I can't wait. Believe in the program and good luck.

[A1nsworth Graduate in reply to Realfoodieclub]

I love what you say,the before and after is good.You losing weight because I'm not! X

[Realfoodieclub Graduate in reply to A1nsworth]

Still waiting for that one but jeans feel better. They say it gets easier after wk7

[A1nsworth Graduate in reply to Realfoodieclub]

What the run or losing weight? X

[Realfoodieclub Graduate in reply to A1nsworth]

Losing weight x

[A1nsworth Graduate]

Hi I am definitely going to stick with it.If my husband can do it so can I.I have been running up and till now with Laura,but music a bit of a bore.Im a young 62 but I think I will run with The Killers.That will keep me going.I do agree that getting past first 5 to 10 mins helps,and am Deffo going with the hot shower.Thanks folks x

[Maria211081 Graduate]

I try hard to think about anything but the actual act of putting one foot in front of the other: jobs I need to do at home; what needs to go on the shopping list; what I need to do at work the next day. When my mind's engaged elsewhere, my legs switch to auto-pilot.

I'm on Week 7 too and still waiting for it to get easier, but it's not! I do enjoy being out and challenging myself to keep going though.

Good luck!

[Hidden]

I find listening to music help a lot with me.....I think it makes the run go by faster.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

I am sure that running for five minutes would seem pretty easy to you now, but remember what it was like to run for five minutes the very first time you did it. In just a few weeks time the 25 minutes will seem relatively easy, if you can just push on through. All the longer runs of the last few weeks of C25k were quite challenging for me, physically but even more mentally, but the only person making me do it was me and the only person who was going to stop me, was me. Twelve weeks after starting the plan I am now really enjoying my 5k runs and managed 8k at the weekend and could have gone further had I arranged my routes differently.

It will be hard but it is definitely worth it and one day soon you will have that run where it all seems easy. You can do it. Try slowing down a bit. Good luck.

[A1nsworth Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thankyou.That was a great response.You are incredibly positive and it does a huge amount for my self esteem.I think the running will be a life changer for me.How long have you been running?

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to A1nsworth]

I started C25k on June 18th this year and had not run for forty years before that, except for the run that I did without any guidance two days before that, when I discovered that I needed help and stumbled across this wonderful training plan, which is the best thing to have happened to me in years. Running definitely makes me more positive.

Once the course is over, then the increasing demands on your stamina can tail off, if you want them to, and then you will have more opportunities to run for joy and appreciate your new found fitness.

[A1nsworth Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

You have done amazingly well.Do you run regularly now,and how often?

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to A1nsworth]

I aim to run 5k twice during the week and have just started to do a longer run at the weekends. I am aiming for 10k on Saturday, then a lazy Sunday to recover before work on Monday.

[A1nsworth Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

You are obviously enjoying it.hope I do to x

[louisew99 Graduate]

I've just completed week 7 run 1, I also have a bit of a cold so I was particularly slow. I was just pleased to make it to the end. Is it me or was some of the music a bit dire, I find Laura a great help, but may find my own play list for run 2!

[A1nsworth Graduate]

Well done to you.What kind of speed were you going?I was very slow.Yes the music is dire.Im 62but I love rock music.I am going to listen to the Killers.Anything would be better than Laura's music,but I suppose she has to be cross generational.Xx

[louisew99 Graduate in reply to A1nsworth]

I was averaging around 7km per minute, I've been onto jogfm and searched for songs at around 130 -140 bpm that match songs on my iTunes library as this is the speed of the tunes on the c25k week 7 podcast. Ps well done on getting to week 7

[A1nsworth Graduate in reply to louisew99]

So what tunes did you come up with? X

[louisew99 Graduate in reply to A1nsworth]

Here's a link to my eclectic mix,

jog.fm/users/louisew99/work...

If you switch from playlist to music at the top of the page you can search for your favourite artists at the top or you can search for your desired pace on the LHS, does take a while to find tunes you already own!

[Sammijj]

Hi congratulations on getting to week 7. I am on week 2 just done run 1. However in my previous life i ran a lot and at the beginning of every run i always felt uncomfortable bumpy clumpy and not very smooth! But after a while into the run it would settle down and you start to find your rhythm and everything just clicks. Then u will feel on a running high! Trust me this will get better you doing great

[A1nsworth Graduate in reply to Sammijj]

Thankyou so much for encouragement.It means a lot.Why are you starting again.Have you had an injury?

[Sammijj]

No life got in the way and i am now 25 years older!!

[karenmac70 Graduate]

I found the whole course a real challenge and never enjoyed the run but the feeling afterwards made it all worthwhile. I still find the first couple of K's real hard work getting into my style and settling my breathing but if I push myself past this then the stride comes and I settle down. Mixing my routes up a bit, listening to music and setting my mind on to things I need to think about helps keep my mind off how my breathing is, how my legs are etc and my body does it naturally and its then I realise actually I am feeling good today I want to go a bit further. The summer took its toll and put me back a bit as I found my breathing just would not settle so my runs remained short but this is the weather for me so onwards and upwards. I actually found starting this course in February that no rain, snow or sleet can stop me but bring on the heat and I have had it. Hand on heart I am not sure I can say I enjoy the run as you never stop aiming for better but as someone already said the before and after are great and I love being out alone getting rid of the stress and clearing my head and that makes it so worthwhile.

You are doing brilliantly and nearly there so keep it up and once you start going past 5k on some runs you will really appreciate the 5k runs as these will seem like the easy runs!! I am 48 and realise if I keep at it regularly then my fitness improves slowly and have managed 10k but miss a couple of weeks for holiday etc and I have to go through the hard work all over again just to push myself to the 5k as my fitness drops so fast. So keep at it it will become easier!

Happy running!

[A1nsworth Graduate in reply to karenmac70]

Thanks a lot Karen.There have been temptations to miss a day,and I have said to my husband oh I shan't bother today.He pushed me on, and I'm surprised that I have never missed a day since I started nor have I repeated any weeks, so I think that's ok.At least you were honest about it,saying you didn't really enjoy it.I have done the whole thing on a treadmill and have been told I will find it much harder when I head outside.Thats worrying!!I thought I would master the art of running,out of watchful eyes as I feel quite self conscious and also when I started the course it was the very hot weather.Dont know how you ran in that.My daughter did the London 10km run on the hottest day of the year.It was inspirational,but there were people collapsing.Tomorrow is day 2.I will post again.Where are you up to?x

[karenmac70 Graduate in reply to A1nsworth]

I can't run very far on a treadmill as I find it so hard I need to be going somewhere so think your doing brilliantly.

I was really self conscious when I started and my route was changed so often by who was in the park and where as I constantly changed direction so no one would see me....red faced, out of breath and slow but now I don't care and will even stretch in the park!

By not missing days you will be getting into a routine which is half the battle and I think you will enjoy it far more when you have scenery and wildlife to admire as it takes your mind off the running so get outside ( I love the rain as not many others around so an added bonus).

My longest run so far is 10.49k but I often do just 5k runs especially evening runs after work and keep trying to go further on early morning weekend runs. Although I can't say I enjoyed the actually run tonight I came back fully refreshed after a stressful day and work and with a spring in my step and thats what makes it all worthwhile!

So stick at it the good's far outweigh the bad's and now your doing 25 minutes of running which anyone should be proud of anything else is just a bonus!

Happy Running!!!

[Hidden]

You will love it, but remember its only been a few weeks, when you graduate and start to put in the Ks it will become part of your life, 12 weeks to create a new habit I believe I've read. Good luck an enjoy...eventually

[A1nsworth Graduate]

Hi Phil.I had a much better run today,even though I had a pint and a curry last night!I decided not to listen to Laura,as her choice of music wasn,t to my liking.I was greatly spurred on by Brandon Flowers and The Killers.After only one min I thought I would quit!but 5min in things started to improve.Its made me look forward to my next run.Still waiting for my weight to go down but I feel better?Thankyou for support x

[Funkydelia Graduate]

I have a free app called pace dj which sorts your iTunes by speed. You choose the speed you want and it will give you music at that bpm so you can run in time. Helps the OCD music teacher in me immensely!

[A1nsworth Graduate in reply to Funkydelia]

thanks a lot for that.I will check it out.Good luck with you're running x