Oh my jesus, the fatigue. : Nowhere did I read... - Couch to 5K

Couch to 5K

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Oh my jesus, the fatigue.

jamsammich profile image
jamsammichGraduate
14 Replies

Nowhere did I read that at the end of week one you will need a loooooooong nap and refuse to even try to do more exercise.

I have had so much get up and go since I started and it's got up and gone! I can't move, not in pain just really really sluggish. Is it normal?

I still managed to traipse in my 10000 steps but other than going to the kitchen for more watermelon and to look longingly at the cheese in the ambient fridge light (that's later when everyone's in bed) im at 'I don't think I could make it to the loo if I had the runs' kind of slow.

Tell me it will pass!

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jamsammich profile image
jamsammich
Graduate
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14 Replies
ViaM profile image
ViaMGraduate

It will! Make sure you drink plenty of water :-)

jamsammich profile image
jamsammichGraduate in reply to ViaM

Thank you for the reassurance :) I will remember to drink more water!

Bazza1234 profile image
Bazza1234Graduate

It is common to be fatigued after exercise -- especially in the early days -- but even after you become an "athlete" :), long hard workouts will still tire you.

I read somewhere once that it had something to do with blood sugars being used up ??

I watched an over weight friend do a 20 minute workout on a treadmill once. It was really too much for him - and immediately afterwards, he had an absolutely ravenous hunger and then wanted to sleep!!! The blood sugar thing made sense to me after seeing that.

Jase44 profile image
Jase44Graduate

It will. Drink plenty of water. I usually have a half pint before I run and eat plenty of good food. You need to keep your energy up. As for early starts I always run at night which makes me sleep well. Good luck and keep it up. As before it will pass and become enjoyable :) J

Running101 profile image
Running101 in reply to Jase44

I agree Jase! Running at night definitely helps put me out like a light! :D And personally, I tend to have more energy during the run when I do it in the evening. AND it's nice and cool then too :)

misswobble profile image
misswobbleGraduate

Make sure you eat a healthy diet. You are what you eat at the end of the day and being sluggish is not on the agenda. Improvements to the diet usually results in feeling much more alert and springy. When I stopped boozing I suddenly found I could sleep for England. When I got plenty of sleep I felt miles better

You've only just started, and it's all new, so your body has to adjust. It's tiring this running lark. Just take things steady. Slow is fine. No hurry!

Anaverageman profile image
AnaveragemanGraduate

Zzzzzzzzz sorry what was that? Just nodded off there. . *stretches* yawn... Mmm you've done exercise.. And you are tired? Well i think its because.... Just Becau.. Zzzzxz

Prune profile image
Prune in reply to Anaverageman

Just read this and it made me laugh out loud :)

AncientMum profile image
AncientMumGraduate

Yep, I was just the same. It does get better, honest!! :)

tsflaxie profile image
tsflaxieGraduate

Same here - I was freaking out at first. Now I am full of energy and feeling much better. Hang in there by the 3rd week I was back to feeling normal.

jamsammich profile image
jamsammichGraduate

It's good to know I'm not the only one!

I expected to be able to cope with any tiredness with the thought that 'it's just half an hour in the morning' then a weekend day came along and I had no schedule to keep to with kids being off school and it hit me like a ton of bricks.

Thanks for the help :)

Running101 profile image
Running101

It sounds like you are trying to make changes to your diet too? ("going to the kitchen for more watermelon and to look longingly at the cheese in the ambient fridge light") Maybe you are going too hard on yourself? Remember you need to eat well to fuel your body for exercise and to make sure you build muscle and recover after your workout! You might do better eating the same as you always have, or even slightly more so that you can workout with good form. You will burn calories on your runs anyways.

Also, perhaps you are running too fast at the stages of the podcast when you are supposed to run/jog. Remember what Laura says - "it's only a light jog". The most important thing is getting into a rhythm that you can keep up. You want to be able to maintain your pace and motivation so that you can keep progressing and get better and fitter each week!! :D

Welldone for getting the first week done!! Keep it up and it'll be worth it! There's definitely a great feeling of achievement as you keep progressing! :D

jamsammich profile image
jamsammichGraduate in reply to Running101

I've been on 1200 calories and doing 10000- 20000 steps a day for about 3 months in an effort to lose a little weight but all I've done is maintain it so maybe you're right, I don't want to go back to my bad habits though so I will just gradually increase my calories with extra portions of fruit and veg or Google some meal plans.

The nhs C25k app hasn't been working for me so I got the zen labs c25k app which has no advice but to start running or walking. It wasn't until I ran both apps together to see if they were the same (post an nhs c25k update) that I figured out running meant jogging.

I should have just used the podcasts even with the dodgy music.

I'm on to week 3 now and that go slow advice definitely got me through the first 3 minute run! 😀

Heti profile image
HetiGraduate

Of course, it will pass. Your post made me chuckle so much. For your information, I started my C25K journey back in July and having re-run weeks for a long time, I’m hoping to run W8 for the first time tomorrow!! 🤣🙏

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