Dude where's my walk?: Week 7 and clearly this... - Couch to 5K

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Dude where's my walk?

CoachPotato profile image
CoachPotatoGraduate
6 Replies

Week 7 and clearly this sh!t just got real.

I managed 20 mins before I slowed to a brisk walk (for a minute maybe) and the finished per the script

Should I re-do week 6 or carry on like this punctuating the running with slower intervals as needed?

Feels a bit like cheating but I'm still out there and off the couch

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CoachPotato profile image
CoachPotato
Graduate
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6 Replies
Hennith profile image
HennithGraduate

I wouldn't redo Week 6, unless you particularly struggled with it, but I would redo W7R1 and slow things right down. It can also sometimes help to add some variety at this stage. So, run somewhere different for instance. I switched to my own music at this point which certainly helped me overcome the potential boredom of the longer runs. Let us know how you get on!

You're totally off the couch yes! But maybe running much slower would help. I think the idea is to be able to run continuously... I've had to slow down my running to make myself keep going for the longer runs too. Good luck!

AncientMum profile image
AncientMumGraduate

Definitely don't redo w6, unless you couldn't do it exactly as it's scripted. Just keep redoing w7 r1 until you can do the full run without any walking breaks. At this point in the programme, any problems finishing a run are often psychological rather than physical. Those head gremlins start convincing you you can't do it, you have to take a walk break. You know what you have to do, don't you? Of course you do! You slow right down and you slap those gremlins hard. If you could do w6r3 then you're absolutely ready for w7r1. It's just a matter of allowing yourself to believe it. Good luck, you can do it. :)

the_tea_fairy profile image
the_tea_fairyGraduate

Redo w7 r1. Your body has the fitness otherwise you couldn't have completed week 6. Hang onto that knowledge, and then when you're buggered and want to walk, just set yourself the target of running 10 more steps before you make the decision to walk. Normally that's enough to convince me I can do 10 more, and then another 10 - break it up that way if you have to.

And slow right down - jog the lot. But jog it. Don't walk.

And try smiling when you want to stop - this sounds like a ridiculous thing to say, but I discovered that if I could get myself to genuinely grin when I felt spent, it gave me an extra little rush of energy - not in an airy-fairy way, but in a genuinely-having-more-pep-in-my-calves-for-a-minute way. Think it's probably about giving your body 'this situation is really ok' signals and tricking it into submission!

And failing all else, repeat it until you conquer it. Promise you can.

Sarah-A profile image
Sarah-AGraduate

Start out Slooooow. Much slower than you think you should.

As then run progresses, you will most likely speed up slightly as you get a good rhythm.

As has already been said, slow down and then slow down some more! I find it useful to start breathing deeply on your warm up walk, too. And focus on your breathing throughout - you need loads of oxygen when you're running. You can do it! :)

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