Just completed week 8 (yay!) but still not sure about my fitness...

[Daisy23]

I'm amazed and very happy to have got this far without any major hitches, despite some runs feeling like a struggle. But I've found week 8 very hard and am wondering whether I'll ever really be a runner. The other day I had to run for my bus and it took me a while to get my breath back, which disappointed me as I thought I would be fitter than that by now.

When I run, my legs ache, I'm puffing and panting from early on and I generally feel as though I'm going incredibly slowly, although I have kept going to the end of every run. Is this normal? Does anyone else find it tough going at this stage? Runkeeper said I did 5.79k including the five-minute warm-up walk today (switched it off before the cool-down walk), which doesn't seem too bad at all, but I'm never entirely sure how accurate it is and I reckon I'm jogging only slightly faster than a decent walking pace. Maybe I need to slow down even more?

Anyway, sorry for the essay! Despite the struggles, here I am and that in itself feels good. Eight weeks ago, I could barely contemplate running for one minute, so this is an amazing programme and we are all improving. Here's hoping some of those endorphins might kick in for week 9...

[Tinyrun Graduate]

I feel the same. If I walk up the stairs sometimes I still feel tired, yet I'm managing to go out jogging. Odd. A speed walker could definitely pass me. I also wonder how accurate some of the distances are, but then at least it gives you a rough idea on how you are doing. It also feels nice knowing you are actually building up distances, even if it's not the distances or speeds that other people are covering. Good luck for week 9, you're nearly there.

[Daisy23 Graduate]

Thank you for the encouraging words and it's good to know it's not just me

[Zizzy Graduate]

I know just what you mean. I start Week 8 tomorrow and my progress has been smooth and injury-free but I still puff along. I slowed down yesterday because the run before I had been breathing really hard, so I was only running at 8min/1km which equates to 40 minutes to run 5k. I'm just trusting that if I keep plugging away I will get fitter and that speed will creep up on me in time!

[misswobble Graduate]

Keep going! Any run is better than no run. You're nearly at Graduation and you will make it, you just have to have faith in your capabilities and in the programme. You'll do it, and we'll soon be sharing in your success

Go out there and nail Week 9!

[Daisy23 Graduate]

Thanks for the encouragement and support, everyone. This board is brilliant - it's so good to be able to talk with people who are doing the same thing. I'm feeling much more positive and fired up for my first week 9 run now!

[LSBeech75 Graduate]

I think it sounds like you're doing really well. I did W8 R1 on Monday & it was really hard. I keep telling myself that one day I'll put my trainers on & fly through a run - but that day has definitely not arrived yet!! And it sounds like you're covering a good distance too - I would be proud of myself if I were you

[Daisy23 Graduate in reply to LSBeech75]

Thank you! It really does help to know that other people are having similar experiences. Hopefully getting into the zone is not too far off. Loads of good luck for your next week 8 runs and beyond. We'll soon be graduates

[LSBeech75 Graduate in reply to Daisy23]

Eeeeeeekk!!!

[BoltonJanet21 Graduate]

I feel the same! I can actually walk faster than I am running. But we do put more effort into the running don't we? So I suppose the first goal is to build up the stamina to do that and then once we graduate, we can then think about the speed which I bet will increase our fitness.

[Daisy23 Graduate in reply to BoltonJanet21]

That's a good way to look at it. I've just done my second run of week 9 and will be looking at speed (well, it's all relative :D) after graduating. Good luck with your running!

[BoltonJanet21 Graduate]

Ive just done week 8 run 1. Giving my knee a bit of gyp now. But I wear a support strap. Don't think I will be pushing myself to do longer distances once I graduate. I will just concentrate on 5k.