Newbie about to start week 2

[Titch121]

Hello everyone. Newbie here. Completed week 1 - sailed through runs 1 and 2 but found run 3 disappointingly hard and because of that Im putting off starting week 2 as its knocked my confidence a bit. Any tips would be gratefully received.

[RainbowC Graduate]

Some runs do just feel harder than others. Sometimes there's an obvious reason - eaten too much too recently, dehydrated, had a tiring day, weather too hot etc. - but sometimes that's just how it is, inexplicably.

If you found the first two easy, did you perhaps push too hard on run 3 and go a bit faster than you had previously? Don't worry about moving on - if you managed all three runs in the week, then you'll be fine for the next one.

Happy running!

[runswithdogs Graduate]

Don't worry about it. Some are tougher than others. Could be a long day at work, ate something different, too outside, ran faster, lots of walking the days before etc.

As long as you finished the runs, move on. You're ready.

[Titch121]

Ah thank you, glad its not only me it happens too. By the way runswithdogs do you really run with dogs. I have a dog and it would kill two birds with one stone if I took her with me.

[RainbowC Graduate in reply to Titch121]

I don't know about runswithdogs but I run with one of mine (usually). Tiny Terrier doesn't like going more than about 5 mins without a break, but Troublesome Tilly enjoys it. And - bonus - is quiet and tired the rest of the evening!

[Titch121 in reply to RainbowC]

I may give it a try although my dog would definitely not need a break after 5 mins. Left to her own devices she would run for about 30 mins without stopping to come up for air. The advantage would be however worn out I am she would drag me around. Maybe I should get a few more runs under my belt before I start becoming too adventurous.

[RainbowC Graduate in reply to Titch121]

I've taken mine out since the start of the programme usually - hence finding Tiny Terrier's limit. Troublesome Tilly is good at dragging me around once she remembers what we're doing(!), and I am generally slightly quicker with her than without! The hands-free lead should have arrived today, so I think I'll have to try it out tonight... I'm a big fan generally of running with dogs - Old Boy (our gorgeous gsd x collie who came with me when I started this whole running thing a few years ago) was lovely - just trotted along gently with me at whatever pace I was going. Still miss him.

[Titch121 in reply to RainbowC]

Mine is a 7 month Borador (Lab/Border Collie) and she would love nothing more than to run with me. I'll give it a go. See if its a help or a hinderance.

[RainbowC Graduate in reply to Titch121]

Go for it! The general recommendation is that until they're 12 months old, pups shouldn't do structured running, but in another few months I bet she'll love it!

[runswithdogs Graduate in reply to Titch121]

I started with them. It wasn't for one of them, and the other preferred the intervals - he stopped coming after the first attempt at week 5 run 3. We kept doing intervals occasionally after graduation, it's great fun. I've been meaning to write a post about how we can't run together anymore. Perhaps later tonight. You should definitely try it - even for just one run a week

[poppypug Graduate]

if you've completed the 3 runs Titch, youre ready to move on

Yes, some runs feel harder than others , but I think that's perfectly normal , tbh .

I think we all felt a bit apprehensive stepping up to the next week , but the runs you have already done ,have laid the foundations for the next week ahead .

You can do this, you really can !

Good Luck ! xxx

[davelinks Graduate]

Hello, well done! But you've completed all 3 run's! Some do feel harder than others, reasons already been explained. But remember, if you feel like that again bring the speed down more, to run only just above your walking speed and say to yourself I'm OK just take it easy.. and make sure you are properly hydrated, if warm and uncomfy take some water with you to sip, but don't have too much or you'll be needing a loo.. come on now, you can do it! You know you can! Believe it!😊

[Irish-John Graduate]

LOL - if you had only seen how many stages and how many times I repeated them you would not worry in the least Hell - I thought I was about to literally be rushed to the ER on Day ONE Now I am at where I ran twenty minutes without stopping yesterday and eager for more tomorrow.

I only attempted this programme to begin with because I happened to glimpse a post where some young lady posted after her Graduation run 'I DID IT! Sure my heart felt like it was going to explode in the first few weeks and I had to repeat several runs and I often thought I could not succeed but I DID IT!'

Well that was honest! - and it told me that this is not a 'Magic Wand' instantly turning us into Runners or one of those '10 ways YOU can be a Runner!' click bait things.

. So - knowing then that I was not 'terminally unique' in my inability to run without sheer suffering and curious after reading many more posts who started pretty much the same as where I was mentally if not physically - I set off June 1st 'just to see' if I could do that one day. I idly figured it would probably take me two to three months if I were audacious enough to try and do week ONE back then!

NOT a pretty sight that morning in the park. Dogs ran howling, young children barked at me, strong men tried to hide behind the young kids barking and fine ladies overtook the running howling dogs as I lurched and gasped and trundled around the Park leaning forward from the waist at a ninety degree angle and praying for that first one minute run to END.

Lest you think I'm exaggerating (well - if their had been anyone to see me I would not be ) - my whole unlikely beginning is in my earlier posts (Man - it's hard to even REMEMBER that guy now! )

The MOST IMPORTANT advice I EVER I used is 'When it feels too tough slow down...and then SLOW DOWN SOME MORE'

It's sounds like the opposite of 'running' doesn't it? And therein lies the rub - we start from scratch and along with that is a kind of mental quirk that relates 'running' to 'fast'. So - we unconciously wear ourselves out without even realising that we are asking far too much of our body at far too early a stage in its development by sprinting when we honeslty feel we are crawling.

Ask a Marathon runner to sprint and they feel it 'dissapointingly hard'

This programme is about stamina - not strength or speed. My son can bench press hundreds of pounds weight and has muscles on his muscles, but ten minutes running is all he can do at best at ANY speed. And as for my own speed - I got a bit dispirited at one stage because I thought I was running at a literally farcical 'waste of time' pace, but when I checked it objectively I was taken aback at how much faster I was running than I ever thought I was - or could do .

Nowadays I don't worry about it anyway because speed will come later if I want it to - and I'm having a Ball in the meantime going out into the 'real world' and watching those minutes add on to my run times, while my weight and tendency to Depression deducts

Take it slow, take it sure, trust the programme and say 'no' when you find you are being your own worst critic - This works and is working for a heck of a lot of people and will work for you.

I can promise that sincerely.

[Titch121]

Oh my god I did it. I can't believe it but I did it. I listened intently to Laura on my iPhone and put my heel down first like she said and counted four breaths in and then four breaths out and I kept going. 90 seconds running and 2 mins walking

Not bad for a 58 year old who smoked for 35 years before seeing the light 5 years ago and quitting.

I'm so chuffed

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to Titch121]

Irish John whispers 'told you so' Seriously though - Well done you If this were 'easy' EVERYONE would do it, however you are doing it so again, well done you!

[RunningGeek Graduate in reply to Titch121]

Excellent news & now you know that you can keep going

[Ucandothis Graduate in reply to Titch121]

You'll get to week 9 and wonder how you ever found week 2 hard! The programme just glides you through and before you know, you're a real runner. I am 56 and also an ex long term smoker. It feels great, doesn't it? I had never done anything before this and have now done 8 5k parkruns - and I only started in December! So go for it and good luck, keep me posted!

[poppypug Graduate]

Woo Hoo Titch ! Well done to you ! Yup there's loads of us over fifty former Fag Ash Lil's on here

I smoked for yonks too ! Packing in the fags and doing this programme are the best things I've ever done .

Good Luck , keep going, you're doing great ! xxx

[Hidden]

Good for you Titch121 see you are a runner

[90ldfinch Graduate]

Well done Titch121 - I reckon the first week is definitely the toughest. And well done with the gaspers- been there, done that- running is so much rewarding

[Titch121]

And after yesterdays euphoria I have to confess that today the aches and pains have set in. Will that put me off. Definitely not.

[McFitty Graduate in reply to Titch121]

That's the spirit. You keep on going Titch. Remember you can take an extra rest day to give the aches a chance to wear off. You're going great guns. Well done

[Titch121 in reply to McFitty]

Thanks Mc-not-Fatty (cant bring myself to call you McFitty ) I wont get a chance to do my next run until Saturday as no way could I do it today and Im out straight from work tomorrow for a friends birthday so should be OK again by then.