When's it start to get easier : My god I've just... - Couch to 5K

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When's it start to get easier

Chris9R profile image
Chris9RGraduate
20 Replies

My god I've just done run 3 of week 7 and it's just not getting any easier. I started off really slowly and I do mean slowly yet 15 mins in and my shins are killing me by 20 mins I had to walk for 2 mins then carried on running.

I feel like I'm doing something wrong some how. I really think I'm going to repeat this week it seems like every other run is really hard

Help ☹️

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Chris9R profile image
Chris9R
Graduate
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20 Replies
SueKen profile image
SueKenGraduate

But you were out there running so well done👍. It's really hot and humid today, were you hydrated enough? Just remember, good runs, not so good runs - you'll get there 🙂

Chris9R profile image
Chris9RGraduate in reply toSueKen

I drink water like a fish 🐟 now 👍🏻

Hey just checked your run out on Strava. Don't be so hard on yourself! How much rest are you having between runs? I found tonight's pretty hideous felt like I couldn't get air into my lungs and had a niggling stitch. I think it's all mental at this stage just focus on what you have done. Not on what's ahead. I don't stop because the thought of repeating a week does not fill me with any enthusiasm. Have you tried running at different times of the day? What about using one of these foam rollers that people talk of on your muscles?

I don't think it should feel easier if you are pushing yourself each week. Try a week five run for fun and blitz it! Get that motivation back and know how far you've come.

Chris9R profile image
Chris9RGraduate in reply to

I have a roller from hell lol

I had 3 days rest since the last run, I know I can do better. I've tried morning running and early evening running even late evening running and I really don't like the early runs, mid morning seems best

Chris9R profile image
Chris9RGraduate

Oh I make sure I drink 3 litres of water everyday. Just wish I'd have more great and good runs 🤞🏻

Maddee_6333 profile image
Maddee_6333Graduate

May I humbly suggest giving yourself a couple of days off?

And if your shins are hurting on every run, you may have shin splints? I've not had them myself but a couple of my friends have and it sounds very painful.

Chris9R profile image
Chris9RGraduate in reply toMaddee_6333

Maybe I'll have a few extra days rest and see how things go. I'm not sure what shin splints are but I'm sure google will and hopefully have the answer on how to get shot of them?

Maddee_6333 profile image
Maddee_6333Graduate in reply toChris9R

If google doesn't, someone in here probably will. Good luck sorting it out whatever it is.

linda9389 profile image
linda9389Graduate

Love how you are sticking at this despite all the aches and pains. Real endurance stuff!

Not sure it really does get any easier in the 9 weeks - you're constantly pushing the boundaries to improve. If anything, I have found the breathing has become easier (maybe I slowed down?) but my legs have become tireder and more sore especially as I moved to the longer runs of week 7 onwards. I keep telling myself the pain is a good pain - it's muscles getting stronger so I can become a 'real runner' rather than simply the 'runner' that Sarah tells me I am now!

Shin splints are nasty and don't disappear overnight. Maybe you're being too hard on yourself. Every run is progress, don't lose sight of that. Hang on in there.

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate

Slow down some more... there is always slower:)

Maybe also, try to land lightly...even at this stage, the concentration of just running and getting through can make us stomp our feet down... if the shin pain is always there and really bad you need to maybe ease back.. there is some basic info here..see how your issue matches up?

nhs.uk/conditions/shin-spli...

Things is, if you are following the programme and keeping it very slow and steady, there is no wrong way, other than pushing too hard...)

You are doing well, so be kind to yourself, take an extra rest day..some massage maybe and when you head out, think snail on a go slow and try to kiss the ground with your feet! :)

Chris9R profile image
Chris9RGraduate

Thanks. I really am going slowly and if I go any slower I will stop. I'll try the kissingvtne ground with my feet. I've read extra calcium in my diet may help and a few days taking ibuprofen to help with the swelling.

So I'm not going to run until Tuesday, eat extra amounts of yogurt and take ibuprofen for a few days and see how week 8 run 1 turns out.

I know I can do this and I will. It's just getting through these shin splints oh and becoming friends with that foam roller! 🤣

Rbecks profile image
RbecksGraduate

Sounds like you are having a tough time, but at least you are still here - thinking about how to carry on. I wonder if you have tried a gait analysis to get trainers expertly fitted. This may be an investment, but who knows it could be that more specifically chosen footwear could help? I am only on week 6 but I'm thinking that having got shoes correctly fitted has helped me.

Chris9R profile image
Chris9RGraduate in reply toRbecks

By the end of week 2 I decided I needed gait analysis to help with the pain in the shins and it helped a lot. Now I'm on the longer runs the shin pains have come back 😟

Rbecks profile image
RbecksGraduate in reply toChris9R

Oh damn. I was hoping that might help you. Hmm keep looking at posts on here. People seem to come up with all sorts of ideas. Good luck!

Rignold profile image
Rignold

Is it not getting any easier? Is it as hard to run 60 seconds as it was in W1? As hard to run 3 mins as it was in W3?

The whole nature of progressive overload is that it never gets easier but you get stronger.

Chris9R profile image
Chris9RGraduate in reply toRignold

Rig, that makes sense. I would really like to be in less pain. But your right I can run 25 times more than I could in week 1 so things are getting better. I just want to do better sooner, run faster and longer. I'm just impatient I know I am. I guess I'm just expecting to much to soon.

Bluebirdrunner profile image
BluebirdrunnerGraduate

Hi Chris, I used to get stiff calves and ankles (not the same as your shin issue), but found doing some toe lifts and gentle heel drops on the stair when I was still warm from exercising helped.

Hope you get this sorted...good luck next run.

Chris9R profile image
Chris9RGraduate

I'll give them a go. Thanks 👍🏻

Liz777eric profile image
Liz777eric

I'm on week 7, run 1. The running is as hard as it was in week one, but I'm meeting every new challenge. I just don't seem to be toning up/ losing weight 😭

Bonkersbrit profile image
BonkersbritGraduate

Congrats Chris👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🏃🏻🏃🏻🏃🏻🥇

Completing the third run of week 7 means you have now run for 300 minutes!! ( More, if you have repeated runs) Now , that is something to celebrate! No one can take that away from you, you may take a break, miss runs due to injury, sore shins etc, but you have 300 in the bank and every time you go out running, that number grows. It's clear from your posts that determination is not something you are short of, just add a pinch of patience and I'm sure you will rock this.👍🏼🐢🏃🏻😀

Bonkersbrit- Wk 10, 564mins into my running journey!

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