Why is it still so hard?

[Lindyjane]

I have done week 6 run 2 twice and am finding it very hard, I managed the 20 min one last week OK but the 2 10 mins seem to take forever and my legs ache so much! I'm going very slowly and can do the 10 mins but can't enjoy it. Is it ever going to get easier?

[laurav33 Graduate]

I found that week really tough too but it does get easier! I still find the first ten mins of any run the most challenging but often it's mental rather than physical. Keep going though, you're doing great!

[Hidden]

Laura is right ^ , it's definitely a mind game! And week 6 is the toughest of the lot I think.

It will get easier eventually, promise! Just stick to going slowly and you will crack it Keep us updated x

[Lindyjane Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for your comments, I didn't know if it was my age ( I'm 48) or because I'm 3 stone over weight! I run with my 18 year old daughter and she is finding it hard as well but she is also over weight!

[Hidden in reply to Lindyjane]

I think after the euphoria of completing the 20 minute run, your mind finds it hard to go back to intervals again! But it's there for a reason and is all about building up slowly

You're doing the right thing by taking it slow, and if you're struggling, you can always slow down even more! Well done for reaching this point, you are doing so well!

[Bazza1234 Graduate]

NO!! IT NEVER GETS EASIER!!

- and that is because - as you get fitter and fitter - lose more and more weight - run longer and longer, faster and faster -- the "EASIER" goalpost keeps on being moved by the running Gremlins!! We can never ever get to that "easier" goalpost - but that doesn't mean that we stop trying!!

[changing-woman Graduate in reply to Bazza1234]

i can so identify with this and i am only on week 2 run 2!

[davelinks Graduate]

It has nothing to do with your age or weight, it does get easier as you go on and the weight starts to come off, well done! Look at what you've achieved already, it's especially tough at that stage, just keep it there and push on, don't worry about the speed.

[changing-woman Graduate in reply to davelinks]

here's hoping!

[Hidden]

Week 6 is tough, lots of people find it hard. Try not to be hard on yourself, you have come so far When it gets hard think of this forum, all the people before you (including myself) who struggled with week 6, slow down and keep going. You will get through it. I personally found w6 r3 the easiest out of the week, so if you are anything like me, yes it does get easier...but you will always have hard runs. Good luck. Let us know how it goes. You can do this. X

[Lindyjane Graduate]

Thank you so much for all your encouragement! I will keep going, it was just some people saying they've enjoyed their run and I wondered if I would ever feel like that, and also if I will ever get faster!

[Hidden]

it would be easy to say yes it does but the challenges change with each run and as we push ourselves further along the way ... some runs feel so good other don't that is just the way ...

don't dwell on it to much , you have come a long way already and should so pleased with yourself use that to continue through the program to graduation .

keep going as you doing great

[Ullyrunner Graduate]

It's a mystery but most people find week 6 really hard. Things should settle down once you are into your longer runs.

[misswobble Graduate]

It's worth doing for your health and well being. You will lose weight if you keep running and eating healthily, so of course it's well worth the effort. Nothing is life is easy unfortunately but with C25k the positives far outweigh the negatives.

Stick with it and you will get fitter and hopefully drop some weight and begin to find that it's more enjoyable. As you get fitter your puff will improve. Keep plodding slowly on and you'll get round. As you tick off each run you will feel so pleased with yourself, you really will

It's ok to enjoy it! Come on. We're right with you!!!!!!

[gary_bart]

On the one hand, you're getting fitter, so you can now do a great deal more than eight one minute runs. On the other hand, you're moving toward even greater fitness, so it stays tough. Good for you for hanging in there. It's just so that some days are hard, and when that happens, you have to work on your survival mode techniques. (And at least it doesn't last forever). Once you've graduated, it actually is a perfectly valid option to decide that from there on it's going to be easy, and just keep on doing 30 minutes 3 times a week from then on. Certainly if you wanted that for a reward for completion (before some next step), that might be the way to go. Just stay at Week 9 until you feel otherwise. See if it doesn't become easier for you.

[Glen53 Graduate]

I found week 6 hard, well the first two runs anyway, found the last run okay. I am now on week 8 and I have found that the first 10 minutes on any run is not easy (gremlins).

I run at a snails pace and follow slow is best ideal lol

Ps I am 53 and just under 4 stone overweight

glen

[AdamB Graduate]

It does get easier. Think back to week 2. If you were to repeat week 2 now you would find it much easier than you did when you tried it a month ago, wouldn't you? You will find that, in time, you will actually enjoy these runs if you keep them up. At the moment you are still climbing the hill. Once you graduate and then consolidate your achievements you will find that will enjoy running on the plateau at the top.

[That will be when you start looking for a bigger hill to climb and move on to 10Ks and half marathons - but we'll not go there yet]

[Hidden]

There's no doubt that week 6 is a tough week, and most people on here will tell you that they had at least one week, or one session that gave them a tough time!

Go as slowly as you need to, but if you have managed to do the 2 x 10 mins as you say then move on and don't worry about it. It will get easier - remember for most people even at this stage their muscles are still getting used to working hard after sometimes years of non-use so keep at it.

A couple more weeks and you will wonder what all the fuss was about!