Week 3 done but when does it start to feel good?! - Couch to 5K

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Week 3 done but when does it start to feel good?!

Pepsi10 profile image
13 Replies

Plodding along (literally!). Got it done - and not one run in the rain this week but when do you start to enjoy it? Can't say I'm looking forward to week 4 - took a sneaky peak and it looks like a lot of running ( I like the walking bits ).

Any tips to help me keep going?

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Pepsi10 profile image
Pepsi10
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13 Replies
rich_wolves profile image
rich_wolvesGraduate

I leave bigger gaps between run days, every 3 days for me rather than every other.. it definitely helps with making the runs easier for me. And, I just had a 2 week holiday with no exercise and came back and did my longest run to date and felt brilliant.. you will get beyond that feeling of abject misery on your runs, I know that for a fact!

Pepsi10 profile image
Pepsi10 in reply to rich_wolves

I think leaving another rest day may well help me - I always feel a little more comfortable running after my 2 days off.

gary_bart profile image
gary_bart

Don't wait for Laura to tell you to go. Let your legs pretend they're too keen to wait, and jump the gun ... er ... slowly (how does one jump slowly?). Then at the end, don't slam on brakes, stop a bit reluctantly.

If the gait you're managing now feels clumsy, awkward, cumbersome, and adjectives like that, maybe you should even reverse a bit? Really. The previous week, done Faster, is still a good challenge to get that circulation going, and it might be just what you need. This is what I did on one of my earlier attempts (starting to forget which). As soon as I had enough "speed" (and really I think "balance" would be a better word), I felt more comfortable running, and I enjoyed it more.

Then there's the difficult "mind over matter" aspect. I don't think I've ever disliked doing this. In fact even though that plod I was managing was uncomfortable, I'm pretty sure I enjoyed shuffling along cumbrously to some degree. Why? It might be because you don't have to hate feeling uncomfortable. It's a choice, not some property of discomfort. And the strangest thing is you can like being the right kind of uncomfortable, too. (Maybe treat it as feedback that you're "putting in enough effort" or something like that). No I don't have any special techniques for mindset alteration. All I can do is point out that most of the time how you feel is a choice. We let our "default emotion" push us around too much, and it's quite possible to overrule it. So this would be a good thing to google (searching for a needle of practicality in a haystack of theoretical waffle, though) and reflect on. Devise yourself small, Doable experiments based on the idea of deliberately choosing some slight attitude set, and maybe that will help you along (somehow you need to move it out of the realm of words, and into the world of actions).

I hope you find the joy of running sooner rather than later, but well done for just gritting it out for the time being. Struggling is just a different way to achieve the goal, then.

Pepsi10 profile image
Pepsi10 in reply to gary_bart

Good advice about the mindset - I will endeavour to work on that.

I can't say that I always enjoy my runs, but I do remember when I first did a long enough run for my breathing to settle into a regular rhythm (probably 10 minutes) getting a surge of euphoria. Also I suggest finding different running routes- running away from home often adds to my enjoyment.

Good luck and well done for persevering through the tricky early weeks of the programme.

Ullyrunner profile image
UllyrunnerGraduate

For a long time for me, the real enjoyment only came from the sense of achievement at completing the runs. The actual running was hard - still is sometimes! The breakthrough was learning to take it slowly enough to make it manageable and enjoyable. It will suddenly click and you will find yourself addicted - but don't expect that runner's high every outing.

I am still amazed and delighted every time that I can do this!

Golddust profile image
GolddustGraduate in reply to Ullyrunner

Ullyrunner has completely summed it up :)

poppypug profile image
poppypugGraduate

Yes ^^^ This ^^^ you describe it perfectly, Ully ! :-) xxx

that's a difficult one, it is different for everyone , firstly congratulations on completing week 3 , you have done great so far and that says a lot despite not "enjoying" it

the early weeks can feel hard and a plod but hopefully as you progress further not only will your fitness improve but your confidence in your ability to run ...

keep at it and it will get better , believe in yourself and the program, it works , it really does :D

eunhwa profile image
eunhwa

The endorphins will hit at some point, don't worry.

Make sure you're not going to fast and that you're rested enough. Sometimes I love it so much I'm sad when it's over and sometimes once I've hit my time, I'm relieved. It depends on a lot of things, like what I ate the day before.

dottiemay profile image
dottiemayGraduate

All of the above ^^^^ But also... POSTURE!!

I know I bang on about it but I really do believe that it makes such a difference, especially with breathing. Try breathing when you're slouched and then when you're standing tall and see how much easier it is. It's not a magic bullet, but it will certainly help!

JoolieB1 profile image
JoolieB1Graduate

It feels very good during week 5 and then in week 6 although it is still a challenge, it feels more fun. Once the leg pain is gone and you have a reasonable pace and breathing is good, it is really good. Mwhatever are you running, maybe vary where you run to keep it interesting? Julie

AdamB profile image
AdamBGraduate

Everyone is different, but just stick at it, and you'll get there eventually. Just take it slowly and don't worry about the distance. Your aim at this stage is to be able to build up how long you can run for at a single stint. If you don't see the faintest glimpse of a light at the end of the tunnel, it probably means that you are trying to push too hard. Slow down.

I still have the occasional bad run, but they are few and far between. I have highlights (e.g. beating my footballing/tennis playing son by 2 minutes at parkrun and clocking in a half marathon in under 2 hours) that I can look back on with pride now and I'm glad I continued through the dark days.

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