Reflecting back, week 7 was HARD!

[proud-mum]

Having never exercised in my life, I started the programme age 41 at the end of August with my 9 and 11 year olds after we all ate and rested too much during the summer! I kept rigidly to the plan and graduated at the end of 9 weeks, with my final run being my first 5K in about 32 minutes. I'm still running 5K three times a week taking 30 mins on a good day. No plans at the moment to try and get faster or run for longer, just pleased my heart is getting a workout for the first time since school. I am posting in week 7 because I found it such a difficult week of the programme and reading that other people felt the same helped me put one foot in front of the other. Adrenaline and the challenge of W6r3 got me round with a sense of pride but during week 7 the absence of any walk reward and the voice saying in my head saying 'oh right, so this is it now, just running followed by longer runs' was mentally challenging for me. I gave up after about 22 minutes during w7r1 - it was the only run during the whole programme when I didn't do exactly what Laura told me to. But during w7r2 I just pretended this hadn't happened and I managed ok from then on. So well done everyone for getting this far, and if you're finding week 7 your c25K nemesis, please know that you are far from alone - plough on, even though w8 and 9 are longer it really did get easier for me. Good luck.

[Tomas Graduate]

Hear hear! You're absolutely right. That first "oh my gawd, am I meant to run all the time now?"-feeling was tough.

[Hidden]

I remember that week too, what a feeling when you do the runs

[RunningBoo Graduate]

Thanks so much for this inspiring post. I did W7R1 today and, although I did get through it, I had those 'oh gawd, is this it from now on?' thoughts you described. I'm so relieved to know it can get better. I've been concentrating on my breathing which helps!

[ViaM Graduate]

That's a fab post, many thanks! I have just completed W6R3 and that's exactly what I was thinking. So good to hear that I am not the only one with these kind of thoughts!