My las t run was Wednesday last week, it was W7R2. I missed my Friday run thinking I could reschedule it for Saturday, but on Saturday I woke up with a cold and didn't do it in the end.
I've spent the whole weekend at home, and this morning, although I wasn't completely recovered I decided to go out and start W7 all over again. After 12 minutes I had to stop, I was out of breath, my heart was pounding and my head ached.
I have a terrible feeling I could have lost momentum, and now I won't be able to finish the plan! Does anyone have some encouraging words for me? I really need them today.
Written by
yaskas
Graduate
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You have a cold, take some more rest and try again when you feel better.
Then, I suggest you keep to your schedule and do day 2, so you don't feel like you're taking a step backwards BUT tell yourself that you are just going to take it really really easily (and ideally pick a day when the weather's not too bad). If you feel breathless slow down, but I bet you will be able to carry on because you did it once already! You can do it
It's not a failure, just a "medically-induced pause". If you had to stop that quickly you clearly haven't recovered sufficiently so take a little more time, keep going out for brisk walks and assess how you feel. Nothing to do with momentum, just a stutter, and you'll be back on track when your body is ready.
Colds and flu affect you for a couple of days even if the symptoms have disappeared. Being fully recovered is the only thing that matters at this point.
You won't lose any aerobic fitness even with a week or ten days between runs so don't worry at all about losing 'momentum'. Give yourself time to recover and I am sure you will be fine next time.
Running before you feel completely better, is sometimes not a great plan. Sometimes we do run things off, but at other times, it makes it worse.
So, firstly get yourself well, secondly, forget that 'f' word.. as davelinks says. That is a word we don't use on here.
You don't lose fitness that fast and we will keep supporting you.. many of us have had periods on the IC after this winter.. and it is a struggle to get out there..but we all help each other.
Chin up, keep warm, take painkillers and lots of liquids.. and feel better soon x
Eerrrm, excuse me, exactly how is that the 'f' word? You have started the programme, made it through to week 7, been unwell and now you think because your body is saying, 'hang on just a bit, I'm not quite 100%', you think that's you finished?
I don't think so, look after your body, allow yourself to get better, we're far too impatient! Then just go for a run/walk, do what you feel, don't feel you have to complete a specific run, just relax and go where it takes you - then if you feel ready get back on the programme - remember it's just a guide....and it will wait for you.....
If you are not well yet then its usually best to rest for a couple of days. Once you are well again you will be able to pick it up where you left off. You won't lose much of your fitness in a week. If when you run again it is really hard then slow down as much as you can. But don't be downhearted we all suffer little setbacks but you will get there.
Now, you've already said you're not completely recovered, yet you still managed 12 minutes? That's absolutely fine not a failure😊
Rest yourself properly and make sure you're fully recovered. Sometimes the pressure to perform is quite overwhelming but you don't need to. Take a few fun runarounds with no goal and then pick up again. You'll be fine...☺
Be kind to yourself and listen to your body. If you weren't well over the weekend, your body obviously isn't quite ready for that amount of strain. It doesn't mean you have lost momentum. I've had to have gaps due to moving house and illness and you do get back to it. Just rest until your body is completely ready otherwise you might make yourself ill again.
Well I am going to be harsher than all the others (although I agree totally with their sentiments). You obviously haven't paid enough attention to instructions. Not managing to complete a run, means that the next step is simply to wait at least a day and then repeat it. There is no mention of failing, if having to repeat.
You have learned that recovery from colds takes longer than you think, when strenuous exercise comes into the equation, so take the positives, make sure you are fully recovered and move on towards graduation, repeating as many times as you need to.
Thank you all for your messages, they made my day. I'll wait until Wednesday for my next run, make sure I'm feeling completely recovered. I'll let you know how it goes. And sorry for mentioning the f word...
I'm sure you'll find all is well when you have your first post-recovery run, whenever that is.
I've been running for a year but had the cold last week. I thought I was better, like you, and went out with a view to doing a longish (by my standards) run but had to cut it very short as I felt so rubbish. I had all the same negative thoughts as you did, Probably more so as I was being a total drama queen! It turns out, though, that my running "career" was not over after all, and looking back my negativity seems a bit of an overreaction.
*le gasp!* you used the f-word! Not only that, but you titled your post with it! For shame! We do not use such dirty language on this forum, go and wash your mouth out with soap!
Done that? Good. Now then. the serious stuff: you've been unwell and your body's recovering, this was just a practice run, there's no shame in that. You need to be really well before you get back out there (I know, because I hit the wall not too long ago, trying to run after a heavy cold) You can do this, you haven't lost your momentum, you've just delayed your next run a bit, cut yourself some slack
Ass all before me wrote: we DO NOT use the f-word in here or anywhere. We are learning, we are improving, we are having ups and downs, and then we are back on track
You were ill, so it is perfectly normal that your stamina is lower. You've learnt that you need a little bit of rest and than the first run after illness is a weaker than before it.
Just go for a brisk walk. When you rest more, go for it and repeat your run. If you have to, go back to the W6R3. You completed 7 weeks of running!!! That is impressive!!! Embrace your journey and your improvement! You will get to your graduation day! Just keep listening to your body and be kind to yourself!
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