Getting back to running after nearly 9 months. Where do I start? I thought week 3

[motheroffour]

My confidence has always been my number one enemy so really worried that I'll bomb first time and it'll put me off

[helcl Graduate]

If it were me, I'd try week 1 and see how you go from there, but that's because I was incredibly unfit when I started, and worry that I would lose too much. I'd rather do week 1 and think 'hey, this is a breeze' than do week 3 and be discouraged. - but that is because I know how difficult I found it first time round.

[motheroffour Graduate in reply to helcl]

Thanks for that. Starting at week1 it is! Now to try to be brave,get on the trainers and just do it!!

[helcl Graduate in reply to motheroffour]

Let us know how you get on

[motheroffour Graduate in reply to helcl]

Did week 1 today...not easy(running is never easy for me) but managed it no problem. Will go straight to week 2 next run. Thanks for advice. Confidence levels already risen

[helcl Graduate in reply to motheroffour]

Fabulous. You'll fly through it I'm sure.

[Rockette]

I was out of action for 9 wk & started back at wk 1 personally I'm glad I did because there's no way I could have done it any other way , try wk 3 , see how you feel & if it's tough drop back a bit every one is different so do what feels best for you .

[nrg_girl Graduate]

If your confidence is a concern, why not try week 1? If it's a breeze, you don't have to do three repeats you can move on to week 2 for the next run. I think it's better to start slower with something you're likely to do easily than a level you might not be able to do and then feel discouraged. Give yourself a break, you're coming back after all, don't make it too hard too soon : )

Let us know how it goes!

[runningnearbeirut Graduate in reply to nrg_girl]

I think this is very sound advice. You can just do weeks 1-4 once (or twice) each if you really find them easy, but if there's no deadline then just work through the programme at the normal pace and you'll probably feel the benefit of improving your stamina that way. At least if you've done it before then you know you CAN do it, so keep that in mind and enjoy your running

[motheroffour Graduate]

Thanks to all. Managed week 1 run today without killing myself so confident to progress onto week 2 next run. Felt good to be back out there strapped into my Shock absorber.

[nrg_girl Graduate in reply to motheroffour]

Yea! Glad it went well.

[gaterunner Graduate]

I was like you and wondered what to do. I thought I'ld try week 3 and if I struggled I'ld go back to the start. Anyway I found my body still remembered and I managed it so since then I have followed the programme, doing all three runs of each week. I'm now on week 7 run3 and determined to finish and this time go on running. At least this time we know we have done it before. Good luck and here's to "graduating" for the second time

[paul2014 Graduate]

That's something I considered when starting and I must admit the first three weeks haven't really been that taxing so maybe I could have jumped ahead. However, I'm not in any great hurry and decided to do all the runs as set out and not risk any injuries.

[motheroffour Graduate]

Just to update this...Have just finished week 6 run 3. My butt muscles are still burning but I did it! Thanks for all your advice. Starting at week 1 was the right thing to do as my confidence was restored with how achievable it was. And it doesn't take long to build it up again. Thanks again. Week 7 here I come!