W7R2 done - after an ugly start!

[JoP61]

Just completed my second run of Week 7. Man it was ugly at the start - ragged breathing and feeling exhausted after 5 minutes! Things picked up a bit for the rest of the run and I finished with a bit of a sprint. However, am not sure why the runs seem to be getting harder - the last 3 runs have been 25 minutes each, but have felt successively harder.

Have just read that back - what a whiner I am! A few weeks ago I couldn't have dreamt of running for 5 minutes, never mind 25! We're never satisfied are we? Sorry, will shut up now..........😀

[Elfe5 Graduate]

...but you still did it! Well done! Sounds like you need to slow down a bit. You can work on pace a bit later if you want to. 😄

[JoP61 Graduate in reply to Elfe5]

Thank you! And you're probably right - I think I went off too fast and suffered for it! Slow and steady.........😀

[RainbowC Graduate]

lol, yes, it's easy to get caught up in our expectations and to forget just how far we've come!

Well done on keeping on going past those first horrible minutes - it won't help much, but I also always find the first five minutes or so just uncomfortable and wondering why on earth I'm doing this. Fortunately it gets better after that, so I know to just grit my teeth and get through that point, and then I can start to enjoy it. (Hmm, enjoy? ) Keep on going - you've got this!

[JoP61 Graduate in reply to RainbowC]

Hi RainbowC

Thank you - good to know other people have the same issue! I did have to grit my teeth this morning, and once I'd got to 10 minutes it seemed to get a bit easier. Don't actually enjoy it at the time (yet), but feel more comfortable once I've been going for a while. Thanks for the encouragement! 😀

[triumphbabe Graduate]

I felt exactly the same as you but I did run 3 this morning and it was so much better than the others! I think some days are just better than others for no apparent reason. Slow and steady for run 3 and . I'm sure you'll have no problems.

[JoP61 Graduate in reply to triumphbabe]

Thanks! I will definitely follow that advice. See you in Week 8 soon, hopefully. x

[Loudrury Graduate]

Hey JoP61,

It is so fantastic that you have got this far. I ran wk 7 run 1 today - first five minutes my ankle ached, my nose itched, a muscle tweaked - I realised it was just one of those many doubting voices in my head giving me reasons to stop as felt a little daunted by the 25 mins. However, pushed on through as you have done and here we are at the end of another amazing run!

Wk7 run 2 on Thursday....lets see what the head gremlins have to say then!

[JoP61 Graduate in reply to Loudrury]

Yay! Well done you! Those doubting voices don't stand a chance! Good luck on Thursday. 😀💪

[Loudrury Graduate in reply to JoP61]

Ha ha too right! Thank you - I am following in your footsteps so please keep going - no pressure xx

[JoP61 Graduate in reply to Loudrury]

Aaaaaagh!! I think you're going to catch me up! Better keep running! 😀😀

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate]

😂🤣😂🤣 in six weeks you'll be complaining that running for 45 mins is sooooo hard!!!!

You're doing great. Your body will adjust. It's just a slight shock to the system so far. 👍😉

[JoP61 Graduate in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Blimey, there's a thought! Thanks for the encouragement. My body probably doesn't know what's hit it - not having been asked to run for a number of decades!! 😀😀

[Melo_smiles Graduate]

I felt the same with Wk7 R1 and it took me by surprise after the elation of running for 25mins at the end of Wk6. Today R2 was much more enjoyable...every run can be so different 😉

Take pride in the fact you did it! Absolutely amazing to think how far you are now running 😀

[JoP61 Graduate in reply to Melo_smiles]

Thank you! Every run is different, as you say. I think you mean "Absolutely amazing to think how far we are now running"! It's great that there's a bunch of us all at about the same stage - really helps to know how others are getting on. Happy running! 😀

[Melo_smiles Graduate]

We will both be on cloud nine in a couple of weeks when we both graduate 😁 Love this forum and support everyone has for each other. Happy running to you too! 😀

[Hidden]

You’re doing fab and don’t worry about the mini whine - I think we all have done at least one! It’s a rite of passage and some of the best are exactly like yours when you’ve come such a long distance from the start.

Well done you, take an extra day or so of rest at this stage if you think you need it, as cumulatively your bod has taken quite a few kms now.

Happy running you runner

[JoP61 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

I'm going to frame that last comment!! Thanks so much for the wise words and encouragement - this forum and the interchange of comments, advice and encouragement is as important as the programme in getting me to this stage. I am feeling the effects of the last 3 runs - not in a bad way, but a little tired, so an extra day of rest in the near future is probably a good idea. Thank you! 😀