Advice needed!!

[Sue4]

At the beginning of August I was one week away from graduating, but since then I haven't run as regularly, holidays, visitors and in particular my old bones, have all got in the way! I've tried to run at least once a week but never for the full 30minutes. Today I did a week six run which I finished but found quite hard. Question: Do I keep doing week 6 until it feels comfortable and then continue? Or should I start again?

Any advice or suggestions would be great as at the moment I'm feeling a bit deflated. Thanks

[JoolieB1 Graduate]

I have graduated and still 30 minutes isn't comfortable but I can make myself do it. I would say if you have run week 6, go onto week 7 and see how that is for you but guessing it is always going to be a challenge and never completely comfortable. Julie

[AdamB Graduate]

As I understand it, you completed the week 6 run, even though it was tough going. In that case, I don't see the point in dropping back all the way to week 1 again. Was it run 1 of week 6, or the final run? Weeks 5 and 6 are linked. They are the transition weeks when you move from run/walk to continuous running. If it was run 1 of week 6 I would be tempted to drop back to week 5, run 1 and repeat that a couple of times until you feel comfortable. Then progress from there. If it was the last run of week 6 which was hard, just drop back until week 6 run 1 and again, repeat until comfortable. Having said all that, we are all different and respond in different ways, so please feel free to ignore me if it doesn't feel right.

You've probably lost a little fitness, but you certainly are not back at week 1 stage again.

[Sue4 in reply to AdamB]

Thanks very much for your advice. I did week 6 run 3. I think I'll follow your advice which confirms what I was thinking. Thanks for taking the time to reply.

[LauraLouP Graduate]

I've just had a week holiday after completing week 6, so I have just done week six again to make sure I was OK before going to week 7 - gulp! Just wanted to prove to myself that I could do it!

[Sandraj39 Graduate]

The only thing I would add is that your fitness will improve if you try and run more often (the programme suggests three times a week if you can?).I know how hard it can be to find the time but it really does pay off.

[the_tea_fairy Graduate]

Start at week 6 run 1 and go from there, but do try to get out more than once a week - it will get easier if you can do that.

[Sue4]

Thanks for all your comments. Until the beginning of August I was running three times a week but pain, holidays etc conspired against me, hopefully I'll now be back to three times a week. I'm going to start at week 6 run 1 and take it from there. Thanks all.