What's going on? Completed week 6 fine, did the first run of week 7, was feeling great. Then I seem to have failed ever since. Twice tried week 7 run 2 and twice failed it. My calves just ache SO much.
Any suggestions\thoughts?
Crumbled.: What's going on? Completed week... - Couch to 5K
Crumbled.
Written by
notarunner23
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7 Replies
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sizexmGraduate
If this is any consolation, I really struggled with Week7, too. It was when I gave up last year. After starting again this year, I managed everything fine until Week 7 (1st run ok, 2nd terrible, 3rd: had to stop with calf pain). After a break of 3 weeks I managed to continue the programme and graduate. What might help is some rest, gentle stretching and massageing your calfs and reducing your speed. Good luck!
Hi notarunner23, sorry to hear you're struggling. Broadly speaking, unless you've had some sort of injury or illness in the intervening couple of days, if you can run Week 6, you can run Week 7 - trust the programme.
Try taking a day off, doing some other sort of exercise if you feel like it and come back to W7R2 fresh and convinced that you *can* do it.
Oh, and if you're like 90% of people who get stuck at some point on C25K, you're probably going too fast - slow down and enjoy it.
IannodaTruffeMentor
Are you stretching after every run? nhs.uk/Livewell/c25k/Pages/... These are a good basic set of stretches. An extra day or two between runs may also help.
UllyrunnerGraduate
Mmm, I was going to say make sure you are stretching after runs. Maybe you need to take a couple of rest days between each run to allow your muscles to recover?
You know you can do the distance - just slow down and plod along. It's probably become a bit of a mental battle now - try a different route so you don't get to a point where you think ' oh, this is where I normally have to give up'
It's not a fail, it's just taking a little while to get past this one. You are doing so well, don't be disheartened!
CoddfishGraduate
For me, week 7 was the hardest. Weeks 5 and 6 have the 2 interval runs, and you can almost treat the 3rd continuous run as something to endure and get past. By week 7 there's no hiding, the body has to work harder and the mind gremlins are to the fore. The advice from others on stretching and varying your route is sound. You might also need to plan in extra rest days now you have this level of impact. I managed 3 runs a week during the programme (when I never ran more than 3-3.5k per run). Now I have stepped up to a longer distance I need a minimum 72 hours between runs and I often have tight muscles after a run despite stretching (in my case hip abductor not calf). Finally, take a look at whether you need to change shoes as it might be gait/posture related.
Thank you all for your advice. You are such a supportive lot! I have a new route planned and hubby has offered to help me pace my next run so here's to the next one. X
Dunder2004Graduate
Can only suggest stretching out those calf muscles every day as well as after each run.
