Hello, and week 1

[MK974]

Welp, I'm still on week 1 after having the app for 3 weeks. Goodness. In my defense, I have a health condition that comes with periodic fatigue so some of the time I physically and mentally "can't" run. I like to think I'm a pretty active person, but I can rarely finish a workout in one try. Is that common for beginners? 

[Hidden]

It took me two weeks to get week 1 done . I'm a complete beginner. I would just say go at your own pace and don't worry what others are achieving. And also run slow and then slower than you think. !!!  I

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Slow is good, slower is better, and slowest is best! 

As long as you have the all clear to run.. you can do this. Take it very steadily indeed.. think a tired, lazy snail !

Your mind is so clever, it can talk you out of anything...just make the decision and go for it!

As Confucius said, "...it does not matter how slowly you go, as long as you do not stop."

[Rhedwr Graduate]

Hi.  Standard operation for all beginners!  I also suffer from fatigue alongside a chronic health condition, and had to stop running just after i graduated last September.  4 months of fatigue later, and I started from Week 1 again, just to be sure I wasn't pushing myself too hard.  I'm due to finish Week 8 tomorrow (28 minutes running).  The best advice you'll ever get here is "Slow and Steady".  Listen to your body, make sure you keep well hydrated, and stretch after running.  Oh, and by the way, totally ignore the voices that say "You can't do this", because you absolutely CAN!!

[boptillyoudrop49 Graduate]

It is no problem at all to repeat weeks, especially if you are feeling fatigued. Your legs are strengthening if you do week 1 over and over just as surely as if you had moved on to week 2. Take your time and enjoy how you feel after your runs and the progress as you make it. The 9 weeks is more like 9 stages. How long you take to complete them doesn't matter at all.

[MK974]

Thanks all! After being sick for a week I just ran/walked for 18 minutes, so about 3/4 of the workout. That's pretty good for me. I'll have to finish the other 11 mins tomorrow!

I feel like such a wimp, haha! But it feels super good to exercise and run again.

[kirstyfbates in reply to MK974]

Don't worry -- when I attempted W1R1, I also walked for 18 minutes! Plus, I wouldn't even call the other 2 minutes "running", more like "awkward shuffling"! I've just completed W1R3 this afternoon, but I already know I will attempt the week more than once before I move onto Week 2. It's about what you feel comfortable with.

Regardless though, the second you even attempt this challenges means that by default, you are the exact opposite of a wimp! This challenge is about you, and your limits -- not about anyone else's! 

I have a friend who just this weekend completed a 10k run like it was no effort at all, because she's forever been athletic. She's a gymnast and a dancer and and light on her feet. I, on the contrary, am none of those things. I never have been, so for me, running 2 minutes is an enormous achievement -- even if my friend could manage it without even breaking a sweat!

I think one of the most important things to remember while you're tackling the C25K is to do the best you can with the circumstances you're given. Everyone's journey is unique to them. It doesn't matter if you can manage to run 1k, 5k, or 100k -- if it's an achievement for you then you have the right to be proud of it.

Good luck with the rest of your running!

[MK974 in reply to kirstyfbates]

Thank you so much! That was such an inspiring post I'm finishing W1R3 today, I got through 15 minutes of it yesterday. 

Haha I can relate to the athletic family/friend. My cousin runs cross country and has these lovely strong arms because she weight lifts every day. Meanwhile here I am running a minute at a time and struggling to lift 15 pounds with one hand. 

But that's OK,  because it's where I'm at in my fitness journey.

Good luck on starting week 2!!!

They say the first week is the hardest.