What happened?

[notoldyet]

I'm feeling really defeated today. Week 8 run 2 and so far it's all gone really well. But today I just couldn't do it. I had no energy at all and only managed 15 minutes, I don't know if it was a combination of not having eaten much today and the hotter weather. Has this happened to anyone else? I'm so disappointed in myself!

[Rignold]

It's hotter weather. Perhaps you hadn't eaten today? Perhaps any one of a hundred other factors. It happens. We all have bad run days. They make no difference at all in the greater scheme of things. Training is a process, not the events of one day.

Onwards, upwards, per ardua ad astra!

[AllieG Graduate]

Yeah, don't worry. Everyone has an off day. It's okay to be disappointed, we've all been there but just get out there another day and have another go. Try and vary your route a bit too, maybe find one with some shade and take some water too. I ran today in the middle of the day and it was too hot for me and I had a bit of a rubbish run. But much better than no run at all.

[notoldyet Graduate in reply to AllieG]

I'm running on a treadmill in my garage, maybe the hotter weather is my signal to get outside. I haven't really managed it yet (apart from last week on holiday) as I have the seemingly-common horror of being seen looking like a fool by people I know. Time to get over myself?

[AllieG Graduate in reply to notoldyet]

Once you've done it a few times you'll be used to it. I guess it's like anything new... A bit nerve-wracking but once you have a few outdoors runs under your belt you might find you like it more!

[Coddfish Graduate]

Some work, some don't, next time doesn't need to be the same as last time. When you try again it will probably be fine. And please don't worry about looking a fool outside, the fools are those who won't get off their coaches. In my experience you rarely get anything other than respect from other runners and active people, no matter how slow / red in face / ungainly in style / large in girth you are. C25k took me from running round a small park in the dark so no-one could see me to being the proud owner of a lot of brightly coloured tightly fitting running gear.

[Dunder2004 Graduate]

Just a bad day 'at the office'. They can happen with no rhyme or reason.

Try not to dwell on it and be as positive as possible for the next one.

[misswobble Graduate]

I think it's marvellous how we go from being shrinking violets - skulking about in woodland or in the dark, in black clothing to avoid being seen, to wearing day-glo running gear in full view. Proof positive that a change has deffo taken place.

[grahammargaret Graduate in reply to misswobble]

Love this as so starting to recognise myself in it

[mfamilias Graduate]

Hey, we all have off days. So file it away, and move on I recommend running outside - I bet you're getting bored of the view in your garage now. If you're worried about being seen by people you know (you shouldn't be, because a) you're out running and they're not and b) you're doing this for yourself and they have no right to influence that) then jump in the car and go to run somewhere else - forest track, park, beach, anywhere!

[hilbean Graduate]

Agree with what everyone else says. Happens to us all from time to time and often seemingly without any rhyme or reason. Put it behind you and move on x

[secretjogger Graduate]

It happened to me too , exactly on Week8 Run2! This is my second time doing the program, I finished it last summer and am doing it again now. Despite all the other runs going OK so far, I had a day last week when it felt too hard and I just had to walk stretches. However when I tracked my run, it was nearly the same distance as the previous one and about same time so maybe I ran too fast for once... Now just done Week9 Run2 and 4.7km...pushing 60yrs old... so don't give up! If you have a bad run, repeat it when you are ready, but choose another route, another time of day for it, with no association of the previous one.

[Hidden]

Agree with everything everyone else has said and I had a similar experience myself. Last week just could not complete W8R2, ran at a different time of day and ended it walking for lots of the time. However managed to complete it two days later running at my now normal time of 6.30am. There are few others around at this time and I feel energised for the day. I'm sure you will succeed next time, don't be downhearted. You have done so well to get this far, keep going!

[nrg_girl Graduate]

The best thing to do after a "bad" run is to run again. There will be a good one eventually and you'll know next time that you can put a bad run behind you. It's all part of the process, I think. A year in I have bad and good runs, and they are extremely random. But I never regret running. Good luck on the runs to come!