The start!

[sarahlouisedenton99]

I'm hoping to start this program within the next week! My only concern is, when i have done this previously, I've got to the sprint or faster paced jogging section and then my whole chest burns and it's very painful and I find it very difficult to carry on. Is there anyway I can help this or is it just perseverance?

[Hidden]

hi and welcome , good for you for wanting to start out on this amazing program, not sure where the sprint or faster paced runs are ??

Really each run should be slow and steady ,even paced across the time for that run .... I know Laura says you can speed up for the last minute if you want to but it isn't obligatory ... Just run each timed run as slow as you need to complete it and the run that day

Once you start you will surprise yourself where your determination comes from

Good luck , trust the program, trust and believe in yourself and you will do just fine, good luck

[dottiemay Graduate]

No sprinting required in the NHS plan!

As Rob says, slow and steady is the mantra - if it hurts you're going too fast so slow down, then slow down some more until you're running comfortably. If at the end of a run you feel that you could go a little faster, by all means go for it but trying to run beyond your stamina levels at the beginning, is just going to result in injury.

Take it easy and you'll succeed!

[mfamilias Graduate]

Sprinting? Nah, never did that on C25K - I am proud enough as it is to have added "jog" to my two previous speeds ('stop' and 'start'). Take it one day at a time, and congratulate yourself shamelessly at the end of every outing. You'll get the breathing thing cracked as you build up your fitness - and bear in mind that sticking at it is worth every minute a few weeks into the programme, when you suddenly realize that you are not only running, but you're enjoying it! Yes, it takes perseverance, but it's more a question of being strict with the naysayer in your head than anything else. Keep us posted!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

If you want to learn to run, then forget about sprinting for the time being. If you are doing the NHS C25k plan then just follow laura's instruction and you can't go wrong.

Good luck.

[cFinn]

The trick is to find your comfortable speed for walking and running. It could be substantially less than the speed your capable of running at.

If you can get a comfortable and sustainable pace early on and stick with it through the programme your onto a winner. Going too fast at the start wont help you later in the programme as the run intervals increase in length. I found going too fast (which i was) was not sustainable much past wk4.

Ultimately it's all about completing each run, whatever it takes. Speed and distance can come later.

Best of luck!