W4 R3 - disaster! W5 R1 - Brilliant! - Couch to 5K

Couch to 5K

132,331 members158,508 posts

W4 R3 - disaster! W5 R1 - Brilliant!

decemberboy profile image
4 Replies

Hi everyone,

I completed the first two runs of week 4 without any problems so on Friday I was looking forward to getting the third run out of the way. I only work a half-day on Fridays so I went out at just before 1pm. I felt great, no aches in my legs, the streets would be quiet, I chose my music and route... and then I started the run. From the beginning everything felt wrong. Even the warm up walk felt sluggish. I got through the first three runs but throughout I was thinking 'I'm really struggling here'. I carried on but with a minute to go on run 4 I had to stop. I was gutted. The first time I haven't finished a run. I couldn't pin down what had happened, struggling on the first run of a week is understandable but the third one? It should be the easiest one, right?

I was debating whether to do W4 R3 again this morning rather than move on to W5 but in the end I decided I would give W5 a go and if I struggled I would stop and come home and go back to W4 in a day or two. So this morning at 07:30 I went out,  and I not only finished it, I really enjoyed it too! Got through each 5 minute run easily and at the end I felt I could do more.

With all the progress I've made I felt deflated on Friday and could've easily dodged today's run but I'm so glad I got up and ran. I feel right back on track. I'm still not sure what happened on Friday but I guess sometimes these things just happen and there's no explanation.

Written by
decemberboy profile image
decemberboy
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
4 Replies

You are right, it just happens, well done on getting back out there and completing the run 😊

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate

Sometimes it works.. sometimes it does not! Well done for getting onto this journey again..keep at it..keep posting, we are all right behind you... pushing gently :)

AnnieW55 profile image
AnnieW55

That's the problem with being human 😄 

Randomness of good vs bad run can hit anywhere, anytime - experience has nothing to do with it. The trick is to accept the bad ones and move on. Every  run has the potential to be a disaster / triumph / at least I did it.

Well done on getting back out there. Running Addiction won't be far behind 😀

Rhedwr profile image
RhedwrGraduate

Even on "bad run" days, you're still not on your butt on the settee. It all counts towards your overall progress, and no matter how much of a struggle it feels, the next run could always potentially be your best ever. Just keep pushing forward, and when you have a bad day, just say "that was a bad day" and let it go.

Well done on getting this far- for me it sort of got easier when I reached this point, because I'd figured out it was about my head, not my legs. Good luck with the rest of W5 and beyond!! 🏃👏😊

You may also like...

W5 R3. Bit of a disaster

dissapointed. I managed 14 minutes then felt as if someone had taken my batteries out. I decided to...

W4 R3 - Made it, but very worried about W5

through the 5 minute runs but kept going. I am really worried that this time next week I'm supposed...

W4 sorted.. W5 next GULP

to push me on. By the time I got to the last half of the second 5 min run they were actually...

W5 R1 done and dusted😀

runs, it's only 15 minutes running, 1 minute less than last week so get out there and do it👍 I...

W5 R3 - actually did it!

scary Week 5 Run 3 hurdle! I was a lot sweatier at the end than at the end of any previous run with...