Negative post alert! Feel like I want to give up - on week 6

Really struggling to run for 8 minutes.   Also the nights when I go running I don't sleep well, heavy legs and temperature all over the place.   

[GoogleMe Graduate]

It sounds as though it may be time to acquaint yourself with morning running. It seems insane but if you get up at 5.30 or so you will not be alone in C25K land. At any rate, perhaps earlier in the day whenever you can shoehorn it in. On the plus side, even if you have no choice about when you run it is likely that the symptoms will subside as you get more used to running. You may need to work out a good 'settling down' routine for post-run.

You can absolutely run for 8 minutes but... wait for it.... here comes the most oft used phrase on this forum... you are almost certainly going too fast. It only needs to be a running *motion* not a particular speed.

You do have my sympathies - those symptoms are grim when you are trying to sleep.

[Hidden in reply to GoogleMe]

Thank you.  My running group is on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings after work so a bit tied to the group runs at the moment.   I don't think I'm going too fast - I'm usually at the back of the group - can't keep up with the younger, fitter ones!

[JaySeeSkinny Graduate in reply to Hidden]

If you're new to this you might still be going too fast. Some of us are not much faster than walking. It puts you under a lot of pressure if you're always at the back - must be quite depressing. Ever thought of going it alone?

[GoogleMe Graduate in reply to Hidden]

You are going too fast for *you* (I'll repeat... it is a running motion that you can sustain for 30 minutes that you're after... not about managing to hang onto the back of a group of younger, fitter (?ruder) people and not necessarily even as fast as you can walk)

It may be worth thinking about how you do the programme... you would not be the first person who has initially found a group approach helpful but had to ditch it either permanently or for a while. You have no flexibility in your current strategy. If you are seriously thinking you might give up (rather than just having a bit of a wobble), then it really isn't working for you!

My brother is a seriously fit good runner but he went out with a local club for the first time and he was at the back and felt it. He doesn't go out with those people any more.

[aligra Graduate]

Not sure why, but when I run at night, I always lie on the bed with my feet high on the wall for a bit after my shower.  I just feel it gets rid of that heavy feeling in my legs.

[Hidden]

maybe I'm just having a wobble?   I don't know.  I'm fed up with not sleeping on running evenings.  It could be my age - female aged 51!!

[GoogleMe Graduate in reply to Hidden]

That could be a factor but it is not unusual for more vigorous exercise too close to a bedtime to cause sleep difficulties. The suggestion from aligra is a great one and you might find some evening yoga generally helpful for winding down (I can recommend looking up Ekhart Yoga on YouTube for short practices). 

I have a whole pile of pillows for raising my feet on or putting between my knees. It does also mean I can keep swapping around for a cooler spot for my feet or face.

Sometimes too there's a bit of a rebelliousness bubbling up as running starts to take hold of our lives!

[Hidden]

Are you sure you stretch and warm up well? Maybe allow yourself a break and start over with week 6 when you're ready. Don't force yourself too much cause you can end up injured and deprived. Good luck!