I am in my late forties, 1 stone overweight, reasonably healthy (apart from high blood pressure controlled by meds) although physically not fit or active enough.
I don't know what's happened to me: I managed to get this far, done the week's 6, run 2 (10 minutes twice with walking interval) (only just!)... but when I tried the much dreaded 25 minutes I struggled so much, even getting through the first 3 minutes! I was really struggling, feeling I could barely lift my feet off the ground on each step! Seemed such a disproportionate effort! My legs felt a bit tired, middle of the calve particularly. I stopped running, brisk walked instead for a bit, hoping to turn it around, then attempted again with an even slower run interval, but ended up giving up again. It felt a failure... I don't feel able to overcome that hurdle!
Help! Am I just terrified of the idea of no walking intervals any more? Or are my legs truly needing a rest and have shut down in protest?
Written by
nowonder
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Everyone dreads the no walking part of the programme but it is really enjoyable when you achieve it. I can’t imagine walking in a run now!! It is all mind over matter believe you can do it and you will. Those pesky head gremlins will do everything they can to make you think you can’t do it and need to stop but if you ignore them you will achieve it and will get such a brilliant sense of achievement. I had a horrendous run for week 9 Run 1 where 20 mins in my legs suddenly went like lead and my whole energy drained and I had to walk home. But I think I was coming down with a virus and didn’t realise it. I was ill for a week after but completed the programme comfortably when I was better. Good luck you can do this 👍😀
Thank you so much for your encouragement! And yes! what you describe from your W9 experience sounds so like it: my legs felt dead and felt all my energy drained! I don't feel I am coming down with anything, apart from probably my period next week!? Maybe it's a hormonal thing, I am starting to wonder? It really did caught me by surprise...
I didn’t feel unwell or like I was ill or coming down with something that day and was actually having and enjoying my best run until 20 minutes in and I was like a battery powered toy that had just drained completely in one second. Maybe a hormonal thing it was my first day of period also on that bad run so who knows? Don’t dwell on it or worry about it I’m sure your next run will be fine. 😀
How did you get on with the 20 minute run at the end of week 5? Also, make sure you fuel and hydrate properly beforehand. I find it fascinating that my performance varies so much depending on nutrition and time of day.
Running is all in the head - you did Week 5 Run 3 so this is just a wee bit further just slow it down a bit and stop looking at your watch, phone etc, just zone into the run and let it happen
I am 52 and 3 stone over weight and have high blood pressure. I am very similar to you, what I did was to run really slowly when I felt tired 💤 instead of walking. It is hard to push through but I visualised the happy feeling of telling my family that I had managed it when I got home. I did it and now on week 7 and ran in the snow today..⛄️⛄️🎅❄️❄️
I'm stuck on the same run. Tried it yesterday and had to stop after 10 or 15 minutes. I am not over my illness and thought I was, but like you it's made me doubt myself. But we will both do it. After all we managed 20 minutes at the end of week 5, so it's only five minutes longer.
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week 5, run 3 - no point, I can't do it.
Week 6 run 3 - I couldn't do it, feeling really disappointed
Week 6 run 3 in the bag!
Week 6 Run 3. Second time's the charm!
Preparing for week 6 run 3.. last run I struggled! 
