Try, try again

Hi all! Decided to give this running business (another) shot.

Made a start last night. Didn't go out with any real plan, just wanted to see where I'm at. Ran just under 1km and needed to stop - burning sensation in my chest was too much. Probably needed to slow down my pace a bit.

Went back out this evening with the C25K plan, slowed down a bit, and honestly? Still found it really, really difficult. But I know, Rome wasn't built in a day and all that. Here's hoping the sessions get easier and I can begin to enjoy them!

[Richard7 Graduate]

Hi Zellly - I promise they get easier. I started out 9 weeks ago (ish) and really could not do week 1 run 1. Through the week it gradually got easier as mind and body started to work together. Then week 2 seemed to be a problem again for run 1 ... but hey it then got better. Each run does a prep for the next and then for the next. Just keep things slow - don't go off too fast and trust the programme - it really does work.

[SC1472 Graduate]

Well done for getting out there. The important things to remember are to take each run slow and steady and to make sure you take your rest days. Trust the programme as it works, things will gradually settle down with the running but each week will push you and will build your stamina. Long term it does work - I stated week one at the beginning of March and have just gone out and run 9k this week!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Well done.

You should be able to hold a conversation while you run, not just gasp out an odd word. If you can't, you are running too fast.

Make sure you take your rest days, they are when muscles repair and strengthen.

Enjoy the journey.

[Hidden in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Hi, thanks for the reply

Should I be able to hold a conversation even at these early stages? I ran very slowly today but don't think I could have held one even at that pace.

Is 3 days too long a gap to leave between runs? I'm working 8-8 the next three days and would be very tired after work.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to Hidden]

Counter intuitively, running endurance is built more efficiently by running slowly than by running fast and at this stage in your running career, slow, probably much slower than you expect is absolutely fine. If you can't breathe easily, you are going too fast.

To start with the breathing may seem difficult, but just carry on breathing normally. You will be given some tips on breathing in the app/podcasts and if they work for you, fine, but a large proportion of C25K runners, myself included, could not manage timed breathing and just carried on breathing as normal, which again, is absolutely fine.

Three days between runs won't make any difference. You will notice improvement in your breathing and recovery times in just a few runs.........the rewards start to come quickly.

Relax, relish the challenge and keep us posted.