Anybody there starting again?: I feel a bit... - Couch to 5K

Couch to 5K

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Anybody there starting again?

IgaT profile image
IgaTGraduate
39 Replies

I feel a bit lonely in the field of back to W1R1 after IC, and not finishing C25K before. I got to week 7. I don't share the fears of the beginners, my lungs and muscles remember something. For me it's mental challenge not to jump into week 4 (or so) and let my body adjust and get used to running again, go slow and steady (oh thank you Oldfloss for our mantra). On the other hand, I haven't finished the programme and wasn't running 3x per week in 7 continuous weeks, so I don't feel really confident in my running regime.

Is here anybody in similar situation?

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IgaT profile image
IgaT
Graduate
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39 Replies
dandydemon profile image
dandydemonGraduate

Quite a few times! Completed 3 times in all, plus various times stopped and gone back a few weeks. Graduated most recently and for the first time consolidated, and happily comfortably running 45 minutes. However now have a knee injury so back on the injury couch! Sure its frustrating, but I know I will be out there again soon. Life, bodies, they all get in the way, but no matter what week you are on, or what your stats are, you are getting out there, enjoying the amazing positive benefits. Graduation day will be even sweeter, but like christmas, its only one day of your new running career. Wishing you the best in your journey!

IgaT profile image
IgaTGraduate in reply todandydemon

Thanks forso many good words. Sorry to hear your on IC :( Hope you will have speedy recovery and you will be out there again soon.

Pc59 profile image
Pc59Graduate

O you are not alone 😊ive just completed c25k for the second time & trust me you will be standing tall on that podium before you know it! This time round you are already aware of all the support available to you the trusted mantras from oldfloss slow & steady & slower still if need be!! Believe in yourself & the program as you can do this postive thinking for the new year😊. I can safely say i enjoyed it better the second time round & now aiming to keep going 3 times a week & like you keep posting it helps us all!! Now go girl go🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️& enjoy😊

IgaT profile image
IgaTGraduate in reply toPc59

I know I will be going out there again and again. I lost track how many times I've heard 'this time you will get there'. I am enjoying too much running and my running family to stop. I believe in the programme, but I started to think that it may not be for me. Maybe I should go out and do what my body tells me to. During past year (or already more), I've learnt to go slow & steady & even slower, progess gradually, enjoy the path, not the goal. Maybe I'm just created to different times / distances. Or maybe one day in future I will complete my firat 5k...

pinkaardvark profile image
pinkaardvarkGraduate

I stopped at w9r2 and then spent a couple of years getting fat before getting back on it. I found returning to it I went through the programme a lot easier than I did the first time so hopefully some level of fitness remains. If you got to wk7 you were almost there and the extra bit of time really isn't that much to conquer :) You'll do great.

IgaT profile image
IgaTGraduate in reply topinkaardvark

I think our bodies learn to breath and run again, and this stays with us. Only muscles and stamina needs some time to improve ;)

Millsie-J profile image
Millsie-JGraduate

You can do this Iga. Keep going, no need for repeats this time if you finish a run. You are with friends on this forum so you will not run alone!

IgaT profile image
IgaTGraduate in reply toMillsie-J

Thank you! I know I can do this, and I will ;) I know I have my family over here. I was just feeling lonely in those feelings of neverending repeates and 'this time you get there'.

Come on IgaT 👍🏃🏾‍♀️🐌 just think, this time the longer runs will coincide with lengthening days and make it much easier to fit this in your crazy schedule. You can definitely do this!

IgaT profile image
IgaTGraduate in reply to

Thanks :) I know, I will keep going. It's just annoying that so many times something is happening when I am so close to the finish line.

But it's New Year, new opportunities, and this time I will do it no matter what (almost), as my wedding day is getting closer and closer ;) I want to be fit, feel confident, and when I will pit the dress on, even my own jaw will drop causing earthquake :P I'm sorry for any inconvenience caused by this in 5 months time.

in reply toIgaT

Well your wedding is a big incentive! you will be able to jog down the isle to your partner :)

IgaT profile image
IgaTGraduate in reply to

Hehehe, that's a funny idea ;)

Rickne profile image
RickneGraduate

I was going to start again but then realised i'd be extremely frustrated having to stop at 5 minutes. Ive been on a slippery slope the past few months. I havent been really active since the summer. This morning I ran 5k + and im super happy .

GoogleMe profile image
GoogleMeGraduate in reply toRickne

Yes, the programme is teaching you a skill, not just about building fitness (some people start having all the fitness but none of the skill!) You don't lose the skill that easily.

Rickne profile image
RickneGraduate in reply toGoogleMe

I did a couple days just testing myself with shorter 20 minute runs. This morning I went for it and was pleasantly surprised. One thing C25K is great at teaching you is that you are capable of MUCH more than you think.

IgaT profile image
IgaTGraduate in reply toRickne

I'm happy for you! Sometimes it's good to score a big time :)

I hope that you will not overdo it too quickly, as it may cause an injury. My first run was definitely too fast, but I needed it. Now, I'm going back to slow & steady progress, not to overload my joints, especially that my chiropractor told me to start the programme from the beginning.

I think i will be starting again after a month off with a sinus infection & then flu over xmas 😕 i had just started week 5

Rickne profile image
RickneGraduate in reply to

why not just try week 4 day 3 again and if thats too much take another step back?

IgaT profile image
IgaTGraduate in reply to

I agree with Rickne. You don't have to go back to week 1. Try going back only 1 week back. Couple of times it was enough for me, and once I was able to do only 1 step back, not even the whole week :)

ju-ju- profile image
ju-ju-Graduate

You can do it.... take each week at a time and rather than see the weeks as hurdles , see them as continuing your journey... one run at a time. Keep posting :)

IgaT profile image
IgaTGraduate in reply toju-ju-

Thanks, I will.

I am too addicted to running benefits and my running family on this forum ;)

AngeScott profile image
AngeScottGraduate

IgaT, I’m in almost the same situation.

I have been on the IC for over 3 months. I am back at Week 2. When I’m out there it feels fab and just to be running is amazing after being patient on the IC. I know I could move on to week 3 or 4 but want to build up slowly as I fear injuring my knee again.

I did Graduate in August but the week after hurt my knee. So I know I can get to the end of the programme but don’t know about life after Couch to 5k and a running regime of my own.

We can do this! I’m sure of it!

Keep me posted!

IgaT profile image
IgaTGraduate in reply toAngeScott

I'm sorry to hear aboit your IC, but I am very glad that I am not alone. We know, we will keep running, and progress. It's just repeating the process from scratch and doing something that feels too little / too slow / too short is kind of annoying. This thing that I believe I could jump into week 3 or 4 easily, when I know that smart move is to keep it slow and steady ;)

We will do it! Go us!

AngeScott profile image
AngeScottGraduate in reply toIgaT

I am glad too!

Yes I’m hearing you. Week 1 was very easy. Week 2 made me a little more sweaty! I think that was more to do with all the layers I was wearing because it was too cold. There is no point in jumping forward though, I didn’t like being on the IC & so i need to build up slowly. I will enjoy the easier runs whilst I can! 😁

IgaT profile image
IgaTGraduate in reply toAngeScott

That's true. Let's enjoy the easiness while it's last. Soon bigger challenges will come ;)

SlowLoris profile image
SlowLoris

I had to go back to Week 1 and start again. I stayed on Week 2 for weeks until I was confident of being injury free. I look on the plan as 9 stages rather than 9 weeks. There is no rush to get to Week 9. All the training is doing you good and making you stronger.

You know you love it. That's why you're here.

IgaT profile image
IgaTGraduate in reply toSlowLoris

I love the idea of 9 stages instead of week! It's awesome!!!

Happy running!

EmmaC73 profile image
EmmaC73 in reply toSlowLoris

Love the 9 stages idea. 👌👍

Sadie-runs profile image
Sadie-runsGraduate

Hi IgaT

First off, big hug! You are not alone, you have us to cheer you on! Secondly, I am going to do C25K again from the start soon, to ease me back in after a lingering injury. Have only run 4 times in the last 6 weeks, and I think I need to take 2 more no-run weeks to heal.

So, pretty soon, I will be nipping at your heels! Let's cheer each other on, okay?

Sadie-runs x

IgaT profile image
IgaTGraduate in reply toSadie-runs

Have a proper rest and give yourself time to heal. I had additional 2 weeks of healing, just to be sure I am ready.

Big hugs to you too! IC sucks :( but it ends eventually ;)

Sadie-runs profile image
Sadie-runsGraduate in reply toIgaT

Thanks IgaT, wise words. I had a little run last week as it felt much better, but it has since started aching a lot, so now I am being strict - NO RUNNING AT ALL for at least two weeks. Sigh. But I know it is the best thing to do now. I am so pleased to hear that you are off the IC - hurray!

Thank you for your sympathy! Let's get excited about doing the programme again - it is so good, after all. 😀

IgaT profile image
IgaTGraduate in reply toSadie-runs

Go for a walks. Check how you feel after walking 5k or for 30min. If ok, you can increase the pace ;)

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate

Lovely to have you back, up and running :)

IgaT profile image
IgaTGraduate in reply toOldfloss

Thanks, it's great to be back running :)

Mummycav profile image
MummycavAdministratorGraduate

Don’t be lonely IgaT ...you’re never alone, you know that, I was only thinking today of going back to week 3 or 4 because I have lost the ability, mentally, to run for 30 mins constantly...but, I’m never disappointed with any of my runs because, even though I walk/run the majority is running, I’m finding at the moment that I can’t get past the ‘toxic ten’ maybe it’s the cold, maybe it’s in my head I don’t know...lots of the others that I graduated with have come on leaps & bounds, some are running 8-10kms, but I’m not...i feel happy that they can do that but not sad that I can’t because we are all running our own journey, we forget that at first, I used to be really hard on myself but now I just get out there & do my own thing, theain thing is that I don’t put any pressure on myself....I’ve signed up for a 5k in April & I should be running that already by now but I’m not...I don’t feel lonely because I have all the support I need on here...the encouragement, advice, hugs, kicks, pushes & friendliness on here keeps me going..I know I will get to 5k in 30 mind eventually it’s just taking me longer for some reason....you’ll be fine, you have all of us looking out for you...if I were nearer I’d love to run with you & we could get to 5 k together...come on, chin up, shoulders back & enjoy it xxxx

IgaT profile image
IgaTGraduate in reply toMummycav

I am enjoying it, I know I'm never lonely. Not with my running family. Just need to adjust that I am back to week 1, which is hard to swallow.

I'm already further that I would think I'd ever be. My 'hate running' to love the feeling afterwards, all calmness, oxygen in my brain, de-stressed ;)

I will go out there, run, smile, enjoy, share, sometimes need a kick or a push, but ai know you're here :)

Thank you

Fishypieface profile image
FishypiefaceGraduate

So glad you've had loads of replies from people in a similar situation. Hope that gives you the confidence in yourself to try and to see where you are - you may be pleasantly surprised at being further ahead than you think. But wherever you are, you will always have the extra support of this forum to egg you on and help you through. We want you to do it!! And you most definitely can :)

IgaT profile image
IgaTGraduate in reply toFishypieface

I'm happy to see that there are people in similar situation that we can share our fight and happiness. But I've always knew I have all of my running family behind me, wherever on your running path you are :)

I just wanted to create small support group for all us re-doers, re-runners, finally of IC-ers ;)

Grumpypete profile image
GrumpypeteGraduate

Want to start again! 9 months into an achilles problem and its still niggly and painful. Anyone else taken this long? I am 69 but .... running out of time LOL! Anyone run "out of pain"?

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