I did complete this 2nd run of week 5 but boy did I struggle! I was feeling quietly confident before I started but that was definitely without a doubt my worse run of the c25k plan so far. Soon after I started the 2nd 5 minute running section, I felt that sensation (in the large muscle behind the knee that stretches up to your bottom) in my left leg that you get just before you get cramp. I was expecting to get cramp at any moment. Luckily it didn't happen, but my legs felt heavier than at any time before and I even found myself panting and sweating again! Not as much as I had done during week 1, but still I didn't take it as a good sign.
I was determined to successfully complete the run, and I did...but only by making a real effort to go at snails pace! But I really struggled with it and I must say that it has now dented my confidence a fair bit because if I *really* struggled to do just 15 minutes with 2 long walks in it to break it up, how on earth am I going to manage to do 20 minutes non-stop!!!? The only plus point is the fact that I did recover quickly after I finished.
I did the run along the estuary in Hayle again and it was a lovely day. I am going to try and attach one of the photos that I took. You can view the whole album I took today, here: flickr.com/photos/lee-337/a...
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Lee337
Graduate
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What beautiful photos I really must find some more scenic routes!! Now back to this running🏃😊🏃😊believe in yourself and we all have come such a long way since our first day remember how hard a run 60secs was!! Well it was for me😀😀 I think we all have bad days I had my 2days back to back in week 7 & I was so deflated times were slower than ever before I so struggled to finish the runs!! Trust me I was so close to giving up but I came back on here for support & ideas to get me motivated and last run was week 8 run 1 and I ran slowly👆🐢🐢for 28mins & added 2mins more just to prove I could finish this programme!!!! Stubborn & determined springs to mind ha ha!!! Now this 20 mins run if you look on my previous comments I' was exactly where you are!! I so feared that continuous runs REALLY SCARED ME!!! But guess what I did it and SO WILL YOU mines was really slow but still ran. Believe in yourself stretch before hand and I always have a long soak in the bath after my runs!! Now all my runs are continuous & scary but I am so far still doing them 5 more to graduation😊😊you will soon be here and close to end!! Keep going & run over these gremlins🏃🏃🏃😄Phyllis
Yes, it's a lovely setting to go running but I am not sure any encouragement will actually help me if my body is not up to it! Don't get me wrong, I will certainly be giving it a good try. So we will see, eh?
Lee, believe me - if you made it this far it's not your body that will stop you. If you don't believe me, read the early posts of some of us "oldies" when we started our "impossible" quest You had a not-great run, it will happen again even when you are a Graduate. However - you kept going so you ARE graduate material, never fear. If this running lark were easy, no need for a programme and everyone would be doing it
Cheers John! I guess you're right, and it's simply a matter of time before I will succeed. It's just that I feel my body is trying to tell me that my time isn't quite here yet!
There is no real rush to complete. The 9 and 5 are really arbitrary numbers in the name. Hardly anyone does it with 5k in 9 weeks. It's all about building stamina, the speed and distance thereby covered comes later.
What a wonderful place to run, the photo is lovely.
Slow is good, slower - even better! It really helps to control our breathing and build up stamina as the weeks go by. You are doing a grand job, your head just has to believe it too!
Look how far you have come + and as you said you are recovering more quickly + yay + happy you. A difficult run is just that + and you finished + yay! All those plus points ✨✨✨✨✨
Tuck this run under your belt - great progress - on you go, look forward to hearing about the next run.
I love the location, I should have been at the the Oyster festival in Falmouth this month, but couldn't make it so it has cheered me up seeing your pics, we always go for a walk along the estuary🙋🏼🙋🏼.
Yeah, it's a far better location than an industrial estate in south Staffordshire, that's for sure! Well, I am certainly going to attempt the 20 minute run but I'm not in any way as confident as I was before starting yesterday's run. I didn't think I would have too much trouble doing 5 minutes, but as I really struggled so badly in doing so I really can't see me completing 20!!!
I'm actually thinking about giving myself an extra rest day before attempting it, which is something I have not done before. Only downside with doing that is the fact that I will be back home on Monday so will be running around an industrial estate again!
Sounds like a plan. That's the beauty of C25K - your adventure, your way.......
Step, step, breathe, breathe, slow and steady. It always takes me ten minutes to settle down. I just could not believe that I would ever get to ten minutes and beyond and it did happen!!! I just slowed down so much I felt hedgehogs would overtake me!!
Well, I will be attempting my non-stop 20 minutes on Monday by the looks of it, so I will take everyone's advice and go as slow as I possibly can and hopefully I will surprise myself. I really can't see it happening to be honest, but I'll give it go anyway!
I've only just finished week 4, but I think you've done brilliantly to complete week 5 run 2. It seems to me that it is a big jump in terms of effort and endurance from week 4, so I don't think that you should feel disappointed. You are determined and did complete the run. Give yourself a pat on the back and don't be so hard on yourself. You're doing really well.
Cheers for that Flossie, but I think I've reached that point where my body says 'hold on a mo, don't try and run before you can walk!' I just think that 20 minutes non-stop is beyond my capability as it stands at the moment given that I really really struggled to do 5!!!
I would ... rest up and start it without any bias either way if you can ... it's just a run, it can be as slow as you like and the world won't end if you don't complete it ... but ... you can do this, a less than positive run dents the confidence but did you ever think you'd be where you are now a few months ago? I didn't and I know many if not most of the others here didn't either and we ALL doubted that 20 minutes was possible! So, take it easy, face it head on and just get as far as you can without guilt trips or beating yourself up ... one minute at a time, count down, count up whatever is easiest but you'll do it your own way and we'll be here to give you the round of applause you deserve
Hi i did do that after my 2 bad runs & felt better of it! Take your time its not a race & nothing wrong with repeating a few runs till your ready! Mind my runs are slow🐢🐢🐢
Just slow down and smell the good air? Just really follow the forum mantra, slow and slower... time to up speed or distance does come later.. it does. if you wish it to.
I have just celebrated my first Runniversary and have just reached 10K. I have taken it steady and slow for most of my journey, after Graduation, last Christmas, I tried C25K+ podcasts... intervals, strides, sprint/burst.. all manner of sensible and very silly things., ( running backwards..)
Always taking advice from those on here, who are in the know. But always, always balanced with slow and steady sustained runs too.
You are doing really well and making great progress....the programme is so structured, you can achieve the 20 minutes... but do not push yourself too hard.
One of my favourite quotes?
"Whether it is a 14 minute mile, or a four minute mile....It is still a mile ."
Thanks floss, I am certainly going to give it a damn good go I can tell you, and I hope you're right in as much as I have completed all the previous weeks/runs without any injuries or problems, so I hope my poor old body will survive it!
I am seriously contemplating having an extra rest day before my attempt at run 3 on Monday instead of doing it tomorrow as I'm on a rest day today.
Yeah, I think I'm going to add another rest day tomorrow before attempting my next run. Give my poor 'clapped out' old body a bit more time to heal itself from the exertion yesterday!
I'm not from the town but I've been living in Tamworth for the past couple of years (I got a job there) but I'm currently at my sisters near Hayle in Cornwall at the moment. I've been here for nearly 2 weeks now. (My mom & 2 sisters live down here and I'm between jobs atm).
Lovely photo and you have reached the best part of the programme Go out with a smile on your face and telling yourself you can do it. I think that is half the battle won already. It may feel quite easy, it may be hard in parts but you can do it.
Thanks for that, but although my mind has has been saying, 'yeah this is tough but you have it in you to do it' my body is saying, 'what the hell are you thinking? you ain't no spring chicken anymore mate!'
Come on Lee337 , you have so got this! Take that extra rest day then remember we all have good runs and practice runs. You will rock your next run, I just know it! Make sure you post to share the good news with us😃🏃🏻
Very jealous of such a lovely scenic route. I live in an Industrial Estate in China and there is only so much you can do to make that pretty! Good luck with the rest of the runs.
Like everyone else's are saying what beautiful scenery If only my local was that beautiful. You should be proud of yourself that you've completed that run you gave it your all.
Please don't be down hearted most of us has gone through the same thing pushing ourselves too hard trying to see the end of each run. It's great that you slowed your pace and listened to your body, Laura always reminds us that it's just a slight jog which she means go slow so you do not tire yourself the aim is to finish each run without being exhausted at the end of the run. Perhaps have that extra days rest it does help big time for the next run sometimes one rest day is not enough especially if you've had a bad run.
Most of us has encounter problems with running the podcast for me before I ran W5R2, I felt distracted by what I was reading on here from those who had ran W5R3 talking about the sudden step up of w5r3, 20 minutes running non stop with that in mind I couldn't concentrate running w5r2 thinking if the others were having a joke we couldn't be possibly be ask to run 20 minutes non stop after the 8 minutes run from the the last bit it was. I struggled with w5r2 I decided then to take extra rest day when I need it.
The c25k do not have restricted time limits that you must follow everyone will tackle it their own way, everyone will finish the 9 weeks in their own time. I think I took almost 18 weeks to finish the podcast, you're half way through not long now the following runs will be much easier. I started to enjoy the podcast from week7 and managed to have a few good runs.
Have those extra rest days and listen to your body.
You will feel better for it. You can do it just prepare yourself, drink plenty water beforehand so not to get stitches, lots of stretches before you start keep calm, relax and enjoy the run Laura is very good she'll prepare you for the run.
Thanks again! Yes, I've decided that now I'm getting into the serious stuff I need to give more time for my body to recover, so from now on I will be having 2 rest days between runs instead of just 1 that I was having before. (Luckily, I haven't had any problems with regards to stitch).
Hi Lee, loved the photos. What a beautiful spot to run! Sorry about the muscle aches. I have taken a two day rest every time between weeks, so run Monday Wednesday and Saturday, as changing this messes with the times I have available to run, but I think its worked for me. My poor ankle now feels fine, but woke up this morning with the pain in my hip, and its Week 5 Run 1 today. Not feeling too bad at the moment, but think I'll wait for dusk again. We have beautiful scenery but also steep hills, and i'm not up to that at the moment. Keep the faith. Even if 20 mins is too hard, which I suspect it won't be, think how far we have come. Even putting on running shoes was more exercise than I had been getting. Good luck for the next run!
Just got some new running gear to help with the psychology. Starting Pilates too next week to try to help the aches and pains. Off to run as soon as my phones charged. Couldn't do without Laura
Don't let it upset you. We all have bad days. I sometimes have a fantastic run and think I am going forward 👍 then cannot repeat it for a few weeks 👎. It is frustrating but can't be helped. It will be better next time. (My mantra).
Hi..I'm a week and a bit behind you, I think. I have just done three run days with only one day between each, and I really noticed how much harder it was by the time I got to run 3. I normally do Monday, Thursday, Saturday.. So I previous got a two day rest before starting a new week on the Saturday.
This time I did Saturday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday... And Friday's run was really hard..which I wasn't expecting, given the previous two had been really good, and it "should" have been a repeat.
I got that almost going to cramp thing, too. Have never in my life had that happen while I was moving. Not nice!
So..I am going back to my previous pattern after this week. I think your idea of taking an extra day to rest is a good one, our bodies sometimes need slightly more rest before they are ready to go out again!
Hi Raven2016 and thanks for that. It was most informative.
Like you I have not had that onset of cramp feeling before while I was actually in motion and I'm so glad I didn't actually get it too. As you so rightly say, it's not a nice feeling!
Yeah, I have decided to give myself 2 rest days between my runs from now on. I think just having 1 rest day is fine for the early weeks when you're not running for long, but now I'm into the serious stuff, I really need to give my poor old decrepit body some decent rest time! lol
Yes good idea, take a couple of rest days, it will do you good .
If its any consolation , I always found R2 of the weeks hard going . Run 1 is all new and exciting, a new week. Run 3 is the end of the week and youre pleased because you've got that far, but Run 2 for me was always a bit meh
Try not to worry too much, easier said than done I know . You've got this far , you are physically perfectly capable of doing this run, just you've got to convince yourself . If you don't manage to complete it first time, its not the end of the world. Cut yourself a bit of slack here Lee.
That's absolutely fantastic! Well done for completing it..and beautiful photos btw..what a lovely place to run
Week 5 run 3 does seem an odd one because the first two runs of week 6 look easier. I've been doing three runs a week with a two day rest period from Thursday to Sunday. It is amazing how long we can run for now compared to week 1. Back then I could never imagine running for 5 minutes but we have! Reading graduates posts about completing weeks is so inspiring and I bet you can do it too! Good luck!
I'm with you all the way. I've just completed run 2 as well and the thought of running 20 minutes without a break seems too unreal to me and the moment. Will repeat run 2 a couple of times I think then give it a go! Good luck.
Oh wow! Yeah, it seems an absolutely massive jump in time if you ask me and if we didn't have this forum to discuss it on I would've sworn that it was a mistake! lol Anyway, good luck with your run 3.
Hi, Lee337 . Extra rest days, taking it really really slowly and telling yourself with every step that you can do it and in no time you'll be flying. I have just graduated, never thought it would be possible and truly thought every run was going to kill me, so I am so pleased that I just kept on with it. See, I have lived to tell the tale There are so many wonderful supportive people on here keeping us all going. You can do it!
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You had a not-great run, it will happen again even when you are a Graduate. However - you kept going so you ARE graduate material, never fear. If this running lark were easy, no need for a programme and everyone would be doing it 
W5R2
W5R2 - does it count
W5R2, done!
W5R2 completed 
