W6R2 Done 😃 (but a bit confused): Just back... - Couch to 5K

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W6R2 Done 😃 (but a bit confused)

Bundoodle profile image
BundoodleGraduate
11 Replies

Just back from W6R2 and soaking wet. Mother Nature decided to give me a shower, before my shower. Walking back from the 5 minute cool down felt really good (I never manage to get it to coincide with my actual arrival back home so it's usually more like a 10 minute walk). Does anyone else find the first section of the runs awful - feeling sick, gasping for breath and feeling that I may die at any moment - and the last bit enjoyable and, while by no means easy, a lot less hard? I would have thought I would get more tired not less 🤔. Still loving the program, I never, ever, thought I could run and now I don't want to stop!

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Bundoodle profile image
Bundoodle
Graduate
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11 Replies
bulgarianlily profile image
bulgarianlilyGraduate

Yes and what is fun, is that the time to settle down into the run seems to be coming down for me, was 10 minutes, now five.

Bundoodle profile image
BundoodleGraduate in reply to bulgarianlily

Hopefully mine will start to come down and one day the whole thing will be enjoyable! Thanks 👍

misswobble profile image
misswobbleGraduate in reply to Bundoodle

The warm up is important. You might need a longer warm up. I know I do.  I like a long lead in before I start running as I am just so slow to get into my stride.  I warm up in the house before I leave for the warm up walk, so I'm really good and sweaty before setting off. It seems to help. I don't see needing a long warm up as a bad thing. We're all different and maybe five minutes just isn't enough for everyone

Bundoodle profile image
BundoodleGraduate in reply to misswobble

Maybe I should start walking to get going a bit before I start the podcast. As I am getting fitter I find that the walking doesn't even start to get me warm. I have tried to walk faster but to no avail as it just means I break into a run. Thanks for answering.

Shivani05 profile image
Shivani05Graduate

The first 5 minutes are always a struggle. It gets easier after you find a rhythm, but for me personally I find it's only after 20 minutes that I feel GOOD about the run. Unfortunately by then it's nearing the end and I have 10 minutes to make the most of it before it's time to stop.

Gasping for breath is not a good sign at any point in the run. Start out very slow and gradually increase your speed once you've got a rhythm with your breath. Good luck!

Bundoodle profile image
BundoodleGraduate in reply to Shivani05

Thankyou! I think the gasping is my asthma letting me know it would rather I didn't try to run. I do use my inhaler before I run so maybe a trip to the asthma clinic may be on the cards.  Once I get going and get a into a rhythm the breathing gets better but is still not easy. I don't seem to be able to synch it with my running though. Something to work on next time out. 

Returning2Run profile image
Returning2RunGraduate

Yep, with you there! Sometimes I feel sick if I haven't drunk enough water the day before the run and if I'm going too fast. I always get a bit nervous before going out and I think it's the adrenaline that makes me a bit speedier than I intend to. I find that a lofnger warm up like MissWobble helps, as does going a lot slower than I need to for the first 10 mins and slowly bring the pace up if things are feeling okay :-) 

if it's getting hotter where you are then that's also something else to think about for hydration and skin protection. I only say that cos last summer I thought I'd be fine without it because it wasn't the hottest part of the day and was for less than an hour but my moles started going funny. All checked out fine now but am much more cautious 

Bundoodle profile image
BundoodleGraduate in reply to Returning2Run

Thanks! I keep forgetting the sunscreen and have got a bit of an inadvertent tan myself. It's interesting what you say about not drinking enough the day before as I didn't drink much yesterday and tried to compensate this morning, having a belly full of water probably doesn't help much. I'm going to try a longer warm up and take it slow and steady. I'll let you all know how it goes.

Lisakcm profile image
Lisakcm

I hate the beginning of a run , I have to really talk myself into keep going 

Bundoodle profile image
BundoodleGraduate in reply to Lisakcm

I think I need to just expect the first bit to be hard and remind myself it gets better and then I get to stop😂 Now I know it's normal to find the beginning hard I don't think it will worry me so much. Thanks 👍

Slowstart profile image
SlowstartGraduate in reply to Bundoodle

When you start to exercise you generate energy without oxygen (anaerobically) and so build up an oxygen deficit, which is when you feel sluggish. When you continue to run your body recovers somewhat, then you feel good. When you stop you continue to breath heavily whilst you repay this oxygen deficit (recovery time). (That's in simple terms) Of course there are other factors, but this explanation has helped me work through the slump. It's not just you, it's natural.

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