Is it bad to repeat week one if you don't feel ready?

[funschine]

Hi. Just completed week 1

Is it bad to repeat week 1 if I don't feel ready for a tougher run?

[MarkyD Graduate]

No, it is not bad. It is absolutely the best thing to do. If you find a week challenging, or you do not complete each run to your satisfaction, then simply repeat the week. 

BUT

You completed Week 1. So why not give Week 2 a go and see how you get on?? That is the feature of C25K... each week seems a challenge, but your body is gradually adapting to running for a long period. Go on, "You can do this".

[plop Graduate]

Try week 2 it's not much harder. I didn't think I could move up but I did, then week 3 seems daunting but it's OK. Week 4 next argh.

[Paul46-ipswich Graduate]

not at all, you will learn over time that every run/walk is a win, it all leads to the same destination, some just get there a bit quicker and some of us (me included) take a little longer. ask yourself who would you take your hat off to...the person that flies through c25k without missing a beat and finds it easy or the person that takes a few extra weeks and has to fight for every step of the way? you just keep getting out there, the rest will fall into place

[PippiRuns]

Totally agree with MarkyD . The next week always looks daunting, even impossible. But if you actually completed the previous week, then your body is ready. It is your mind playing tricks on you. So give week 2 a shot. If it is too much, repeat week 1. 

[ancientrunner Graduate]

Wise words from MarkyD.

[ADH94]

I'd say its not bad at all if your not read your not ready don't go pushing yourself too much otherwise you may not enjoy it that way .... I haven't even done a full week 1 yet and I started about a month ago I'm overweight and have asthma so it gets tough so I just take it at my own pace (hoping to finish week 1 properly this week) and you should do the same just take it at your own pace (this may be cliche or ironic but its a Marathon not a sprint :-D) 

[Katie204 Graduate]

As the others have said, you can repeat bits of the course - but I would suggest, at worst, repeating just one run rather than the whole week.

But the runs in W2 are only a few seconds longer than those in W1 - and there are only 6 runs per session, rather than 8! It's worth having a go. You can do it - honestly.

[GoogleMe Graduate]

Listen up.... it took me something between 12 and 18 attempts to complete Week 1... I never needed to do an extra session of any of the other podcasts. This was four years ago... I've tried and failed once or twice with Week 1 since graduating... I keep telling myself that I know so much more now (and I've run 12kms), I should give it another go... but I'm a teeny bit scared (and no, Rignold, it's not the music because Week 1 makes me cry in a happy way)

You have almost certainly been running too fast and maybe even walking too fast.

It's not 'bad', as in morally dubious or harmful to do extra runs you don't actually need to because you've completed the 3 sessions, and there is no rush to get to the end of the programme... it is about building an exercise habit after all.  But it is a bit fannying about...

"Past performance is not a guide to future returns"

[JoolieB1 Graduate]

It is completely up to you,M repeat it if you want to.  Mind you, you will never feel ready for next week but surprisingly the programme is doable!!

[Anniemurph Graduate]

It took me 50 runs rather than the standard 27 to graduate.  I still graduated   Sometimes I repeated just one run, sometimes I repeated whole weeks.  Now, I'm the sort of person who 'has' to complete something 'properly' otherwise it doesn't count, so that was only to my personal standards, but there were times when I just could not complete a run.  So I did it again.  Also, there were times when I though there was no way I was ready to attempt the next run - but I had a go, because if you never push yourself you'll never know.  And of those times, sometimes it was brilliant, and the next run was great, and sometimes I had to repeat it because I couldn't complete it.  But every time I was out there running.

So give it a go.  If you really can't, then repeat it.  But if it was okay, try the next one.  Happy running

[Terrorrun Graduate]

I was always, always, always tempted to repeat the week I had just done because I didn't feel ready for the following week.  But I only ever repeated a run if I had not completed it.  By doing that I stayed on track and let the program do it's thing.  MarkyD  put it perfectly, you completed week 1 - Brilliant.  Give week 2 a go, you know you can do it    

[funschine]

Thank you for all ur kind and inspirational comments. I was in Ireland for a week and the weather was just too hot so I haven't run since my post until today. I tried day 1 of week 2 and did it! Was on the treadmill which I find easier then the pavement but I did it despite a week off! Thank you all

[PippiRuns in reply to funschine]

There you go! Brilliant.

[hannah141 Graduate in reply to funschine]

Well done! But do remember, that you're never going to find a run 'easy'. Your ability to do week 1 will improve greatly if you move onto week 2 (progress will be slower if you repeat runs over and over). Likewise with W2 and W3. The programme is designed so that you're always on the edge of your limitations to improve fitness and endurance. If you can complete the 3rd run of each week - go onto the next one and you'll surprise yourself every time - your body is ready for it!

One thing I would say is that I've realised it's never my body that can't do it - only my mind. I've been able to do it every time when I thought I wouldn't be able to. By about week 5 you'll start believing that you can do it as opposed to can't!