Warning -ve post ahead! W6R1

[Tombenoly]

That's it I m shattered. My knee is constantly hurting apart from When I run( see very slow shuffle). I m bright red with lots of wobbly bits that are not shifting. Every step is hard work. I can't find " the zone" everyone talks about. It's not getting any easier!

[Bundoodle Graduate]

The Zone is a bugger to find but trust me, it exists. I have been able to locate it at about 15 minutes ( I really, really wanted to find it!). The best advice I had from the Wise Ones on the forum was to up the warm up walk to 10 minutes, that made the first part of the run much less awful than before and I got to the Zone quicker. Keep searching, the Zone is out there.

[Tombenoly Graduate in reply to Bundoodle]

Thanks for that I will send the gremlins out to look for it they may give up

Giving me grief!

[secan Graduate]

I'd say: fist if all, see a doctor and sort out the issue with your knee.

After you've done that, you can start thinking about the rest but remember that:

1. there is nothing you can do about being bright red; it is not a fitness-related issue

2. shifting wobbly bits requires time, patience, exercise and dieting

3. the "zone" everybody talks about is not something you can actively search and find, it is something that "happens" to you when running has become a natural habit

How easy running can get depends on how you tackle it; if you consider it a challenger out have to win or an obstacle you have to overcome, it will hardly become easier. But if you consider it an enjoyable activity you do for yourself, it will become easier and easier pretty quickly.

[Tombenoly Graduate in reply to secan]

Thanks for that. I am going to grab a physio at work in the next few days. It's can't be that serious as it does nt hurt when I walk or run but if I try and flick off my welly it hurts like hell! I was really looking forward to today and do see it as something for me but my routine is out of pattern due to the kids holidays and I m having to run when it's hotter which may be why it feels so hard but I will carry on I think I m a bit panicked by the thought of 25 mins at the end of the week

[secan Graduate in reply to Tombenoly]

If you have 25 minutes at the end of the week I assume you are on W6, which means you've already run the 20 minutes of W5R3.

Now, if you could move from 0 to 20 minutes, do you really think those additional 5 minutes to get to 25 are going to be a challenge?

Anyway do not thing about the end of the week and just tackle one run at the time; you'll be fine and, as soon as you'll have done it, you'll look back and wonder why on earth you were so worried.

[pampaddy Graduate in reply to Tombenoly]

Are you running in wellies?!! That would explain a lot of your problems lol. Don't worry about finding the zone....it will find you. All of a sudden you find everything is in sync, legs, heart, breathing and it feels like you can go forever. It's a wonderful place. Ive found it a couple of times and the rest of the time I'm still searching. Relax, get your knee checked out and then just enjoy running.

[Tombenoly Graduate in reply to pampaddy]

Ahh I knew the welly thing would be an issue! I had a chat with a physio today who said keep moving and I ll make a proper appt. will attempt W6R2 tomorrow just got to find a spare half hoir

[PippiRuns]

I think you are undergoing a violent gremlin attack! They are telling you that you are not built for running, that you are not benefiting from it, that you look stupid when you run and that you are never going to become a proper runner. Why not just give up?

But you ARE going to become a proper runner if you follow the programme and keep at it. Your body CAN do this and you will benefit immensely from it - physically as well as mentally. You may look red and wobbly when you run, but so do many of us, and it really doesn't matter what we look like when we run. And you are not getting any less wobbly by staying on the couch.

You have come so far already! Go back and read some of your previous posts and see that it is not true that it is not getting any easier. It is! You are much fitter now than you were when you started week 1.

That said, your knees shouldn't hurt constantly. I haven't had knee issues myself, so I don't have any good tips for you, except from seeking professional help - I would go see a physiotherapist.

[Tombenoly Graduate in reply to PippiRuns]

I am going to grab a physio at work to get their thoughts it does nt hurt when I run but is uncomfortable at night. I m going to send those gremlins to find the zone so they stop bugging me!

[PippiRuns]

What did the physio say?

I've wrapped a gremlin armour for you🎁. Put it on before your next run, and they won't be able to get to you.

[Tombenoly Graduate in reply to PippiRuns]

She said she usually deals Without people who knees are knackered and to see a proper physio! She said mine are nt knackered and to keeP running I did tell her I was hardly running! Thanks for the armour I m going to take Harry Potters invisibility cloak aswell

[PippiRuns in reply to Tombenoly]

Clever woman. See your GP if it keeps hurting, but keep running. You are giving yourself a gift every time you get out there. Invisibility cloaks would be a bestseller amongst us new, slow runners...