Wk 1 completed...: My euphoria at surviving wk... - Couch to 5K

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Wk 1 completed...

MightDieTrying profile image
20 Replies

My euphoria at surviving wk 1 was short lived and fear of what faces me next week has set in.

Already the demons inside me are saying 'just repeat wk1, you aren't ready for wk2'. I'm thinking... Maybe I should just try wk2 and if it's too tough then just do what I can do and build it up over the course of the week and repeat wk 2 if necessary.

Thoughts please...

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MightDieTrying profile image
MightDieTrying
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20 Replies
Trizzy37 profile image
Trizzy37Graduate

Go slow, ignore the demons and give it a go, if its too much you can always take a step back but you won't know if you don't try. Good luck :)

mustgetthin profile image
mustgetthinGraduate

I agree with Trizzy37. Give W2 a go. You might surprise yourself. As you said you could Do your best and repeat if necessary

S X

poppypug profile image
poppypugGraduate

Hi , Personally I would just go for it ! The programme is designed to build up your strength and fitness , and if you've done Week 1 you have already laid the foundations. You can beat those demons , keep calm, take it steady, think positive and get those trainers on and do it ! xx :-)

If you completed week 1 okay then you are ready to move on to week 2. You have done the preparatory work and trained up to this. Give week 2 a try - you will probably surprise yourself. Good luck and best wishes.

no-excuse profile image
no-excuseGraduate

Yes agree with all the above, give it a go, only repeat runs that you can't do, not those you can. Good luck x

agedsnailspace profile image
agedsnailspaceGraduate

Go for it! The demons are always there telling you that you can't - I wouldn't mind betting they were there when you started week1 weren't they? Yet, you did that. If you can do that, you can do this. Try not to look ahead too much. It does seem scary, but trust the program. Everyone who completes the program has been where you are, the demons have whispered in our ears telling us it's too much or too far and that we can't do it. Ignore them, listen to Laura. Go slow (and I mean really slow, running/jogging slower than walking pace is more than acceptable). Just keep putting one foot in front of the other until Laura tells you to stop and in a mere 8 weeks time, you too will be lining up for your graduates badge. Great start - keep it up!

runner56 profile image
runner56Graduate

Go for it!!!!

I found week 2 easier than week 1. As everyone says you have done the preparatory work by SUCCESSFULLY completing the first and hardest week of all.

Shrug off those demons and leave them in your wake!

Debs972 profile image
Debs972

Go for it! I actually found Week 2 easier than Week 1 as my recovery time was getting better and I was less out of breath- best wishes and good luck! :)

paul2014 profile image
paul2014Graduate

Congrats on completing w1. I suppose it's only natural to have doubts about the unknown but, unless you try, you won't know if those doubts are justified. How did you feel after completing w1? Was your body ok? Did you complete w1 fairly easily or did you struggle? If it were me, I would try w2 taking it easy, and then see how I felt. You never know, you may find it an easy step up :) Let us know how you get on.

MightDieTrying profile image
MightDieTrying

Thanks all for taking the time to reply.

General consensus seems to be to go for it, so go for it I will!! Only problem is that I now have to wait till Monday as tomorrow is a rest day!!

Week 1 was tough enough going but I can definitely see an improvement from R1 to 3... Breathing, recovery etc. I even ran an extra 90 seconds at the end of R3 to see if I could. I can!! So I'm now determined to give Wk2 a go... Look out Rio, here I come!!!

Go for W2 ! Also, from personal experience DON'T look ahead in the podcasts to see what is coming up. I have wasted several days in a state of extreme anxiety about upcoming runs, only to find that they were perfectly fine when it came to it.

Miles_Yonder profile image
Miles_YonderGraduate

Definitely give week two a shot! I imagine that everyone here, myself included, has had that voice of doubt about a new week looming. I still get them mid-run, but just push on, trust Laura and the program and you'll be fine. :-) I echo the advice not to look too far ahead at coming weeks; looking at week four or five from week one can seem terrifying, so don't. Tackle them as you get to them and don't worry too much. :-)

Bonniesingh profile image
BonniesinghGraduate

Remember it's only 6 runs, instead of 8, so has to be easier!!!

MightDieTrying profile image
MightDieTrying in reply to Bonniesingh

Oh I'm liking your way of thinking!! My new mantra will be... Only six runs, only six runs...... :-)

Bonniesingh profile image
BonniesinghGraduate in reply to MightDieTrying

i did it today - "only six" really helped!

in reply to MightDieTrying

And, as I recall, the walk break in between each run is two minutes - so a good amount of time to recover before each little run interval. You'll do it okay. Cheers.

MightDieTrying profile image
MightDieTrying in reply to Bonniesingh

I completed wk1 r2 this morning. Your 'only 6 runs' advice really helped. I made it even simpler... I run along a golf course and run part of the way, then turn and come back...I told myself 'only 3 runs till you can turn' and then 'only 3 runs till you are done.' I fell for it!!! :-D

Bonniesingh profile image
BonniesinghGraduate in reply to MightDieTrying

I too often run on a golf course, unless there are people playing golf there- most inconsiderate of them!!! There's not much flat ground though. I did w2r2 there yesterday and the last run was on a bit of an uphill. I nearly gave up but managed to finish, though the last half minute or so was almost going backwards , it was so slow.

aliboo70 profile image
aliboo70

you can do it! give it a try, sure you will do well just take it slowly :)

MightDieTrying profile image
MightDieTrying

Just to say.... I know why you shouldn't look too far ahead. I was getting worried about doing 90 second and 3 min runs next week!! Duh me!!! I had jumped straight to week 3! I can soooo do 90 second runs. Phewww! What a relief!!

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