Hanging on in there (by a thread!)

[MrsB1962]

Managed 4th wk 1 run this morning after enforced 8 day snow / ice break. Still a hard slog so sticking with W1 for now. Wonder whether its better to go for a 1 day break, (from 2 days) rather than trying to move onto W2. Any advice? I'm 55 and only interested in fitness not smashing goals! Thank you!

[pinkaardvark Graduate]

If you have managed to run for the prescribed times in the podcast/app there is no benefit in repeating other than helping you put off moving onwards. If you struggled and didn't run for the alloted times then repeating is a great option.

[MrsB1962 in reply to pinkaardvark]

Thank you Pinkaardvark. Have managed the W1 runs - but needed to 'dig deep' to complete. Think I need to be brave and give week 2 a shot on a 'best effort' basis - don't want to knock my confidence now after coming this far. Deep breath... Thanks for the encouragement / nudge on!

[pinkaardvark Graduate in reply to MrsB1962]

Sorry if my response sounded a bit harsh. I think you understood that I meant, if you can do wk1, you can try wk2. Looking back myself I found those early weeks hellish and as I had a 2 yr break in between attempt 1 and 2 it seems long ago and easy to forget how hard it was slogging around a damp football pitch in the dark for 90 seconds at a time.

In time you will look back though and be proud you got through it though. There are no failures, its all good no matter how far you run each time and it's better to keep getting out the door and doing it the way you find it easiest.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Well done.

There is nothing wrong with sticking to a particular run, especially if you have had a break, but how do you know you can't do the next week unless you try it?

You will probably surprise yourself. The carefully structured program prepares you for the next run, so give it a go.

You only fail at this plan if you go back to the sofa for good. If you don't complete a run then there is no shame in repeating it, you have just found the level that you need to be working at, not some earlier run.

Have you read the guide to the plan? healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

[MrsB1962 in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thanks IannofaTruffe - think I will try another week 1run with just 1 days rest then have a go with W2 and a 'best effort' approach! Slowly building confidence and getting to know my new limits. It's hard / daunting pushing limits after so long. Couch no longer an option though, and I'm dead proud of managing week 1 runs - even at a snail's pace. Thanks again.

[GoogleMe Graduate]

There is nothing but nothing in the NHS Couch to 5K harder than week 1...

[MrsB1962]

Thank you google me, at least I'm off the couch now!

[Elfe5 Graduate]

Hi Karen, you have completed W1, dug deep and done brilliantly. 😃

You can move on to W2 - and you probably will surprise yourself with what you can do. Just go really slow & slower so you pace yourself gently. .. Oh & did I say?? Slower!! Snails rock! 🐌 🐌 😀

[MrsB1962]

Who'd have thought!

Did W2 R1 this morning (after 5 W1 runs!) Can't quite believe it! Needed to find a 'new slow' for last couple of 90 sec runs, but hey ho - I kept going! Just hope the legs hold out. Thank you for all the encouragement given to give it a go - I'm such a wuz!