W7R2 can’t feel any improvement

[Sarararara]

Feel a bit disheartened that I’m not finding these 25 minute runs any easier yet. Not sure how to improve my ‘technique’ or how to speed up as pooped by the end of it. Any suggestions?

[Rammy75]

You’ve reached this far so you’ve improved!

Forget speeding up, conquer the time running first, then build from there.

You’re already doing so much more than those who haven’t got off the couch!

[Bazza1234 Graduate]

At this stage, you won't find the 25 mins getting easier by speeding up - try slowing down a little to find it easier

[Jen58]

You are told to speed up if you feel comfortable

If you don’t feel comfortable don’t speed up .... stay at a pace you happy with 😊

Could you run 25 minutes before you started this program ?? 🙄

[Hidden]

Oh you have just said what I went through, I thought at this stage I’d be able to both run faster and for longer distances. It’s pretty much impossible for you to do both at this stage as you are still a newbie. I think it was Irishprincess who said that it takes a year to build your running legs.

Don’t forget too at this stage, you have been increasing your kms and the stress on your bod. Cumulatively it mounts up, so don’t be scared to take an extra day of rest if you need it. That often helps get you back up a gear.

You’re doing fab, and everything you feel is quite normal, including being ‘pooped’.

Speed can come post graduation, at this time slow running is cool running. Cool running is your friend and will get you to graduation.

Happy running

[KevinJCrawley]

For me there was a plateau at week 7 but I just kept at a steady speed throughout - everyone is different but I think just to keep going regardless of speed is the key. That way, at the very least, you'll get the reward of having completed the week. It was about week 7 before I realised just how much progress I'd made - running a few hundred yards to the cashpoint before going to a Dara O'Briain concert and not being out of breath was a great moment of motivation. Just keep going!

[mcgurranhouse Graduate]

I wouldn't worry about speed - that will come with time. I rarely find any run easy unless I am running a few minutes slower than my normal pace. It is hard but the main thing is you are doing it - and look at how far you have come already! Do you remember when running for a minute was tough? Look at you now! Be very proud of what you have achieved already and the rest will come together in good time. Very well done!

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate]

Hey sararara ...don’t feel disheartened, there’s no need & that’s sapping all your energy while your out there & turning it into negative energy instead of positive energy...& that’s what your head, legs & lungs need....it will get easier, but it takes time & practice & that’s exactly what you’re doing, practicing...& practice makes perfect doesn’t it???? Your legs, lungs, head, heart etc are all new to this...don’t expect too much too soon, just concentrate on getting through the programme, if it were easy we wouldn’t have to push ourselves & it wouldn’t work....you’re doing just fine, slow & steady is the key

[Notsobigdoug]

Like many have said when you started 7 weeks ago did you think you would be running for 25mins non stop as I know I didn’t. Every week every run I would have that little bit of doubt in my head saying I can’t do this. I’m now one run from finishing the program and il let you in to a little secret I feel tired after every run. The point is that you are building stamina and just being able to run for the 25 minutes is FANTASTIC. The main problem with c25k is in the name it should be called couch to 30min runner. I know that I’m a lot fitter then I was at week 1 as I would never been able to fun for 5 minutes let alone 25. So keep going as you are and in time it will get easier and your be able to run longer and faster anyway good luck and Remember slow and steady wins the race🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏁🏁🏁🏁🏁🏁🏁👍💪💪💪💪💪💪

[runningphobe_no_more Graduate]

Wot they all said - Don't speed up - slow down. These 9 weeks are all about increasing the amount of time you can keep going. Speed doesn't matter. Sometimes I take Laura's challenge to run a bit faster for the last 60 seconds - and sometimes I can't face even that, and I graduated three years ago, but I'm still getting out there. I've had another sick break recently and I'm back to Week 6 again, at the moment, but I know I can do it all again and get back up to 30 mins soon, and when I do - that's when 25 mins will seem easy.

[Sarararara Graduate]

Thank you everyone- I think being overtaken on my last 2 sessions, by super fit runners in smart running gear, made me forget that I hadn’t run a step at Christmas!

Patience, perseverance and no more whingeing.

[mergirl101 Graduate]

Howdy, I'm just back from W7R2 and it felt like the hardest yet. Especially the first couple of minutes, just wanted to stop and go home! But take heart from the comments above, I too hung in there and finished, probably was the slowest yet. But we did it and we can and will get better from here!

[Sarararara Graduate in reply to mergirl101]

Yay, well done for today! I’m taking an extra rest day in the hope that I’ll feel energised tomorrow....onwards and upwards!

[Sarararara Graduate]

Biggydoug is so right about the name as my 30 mins won’t equal 5k with the best will in the world!

Gonna aim to do a non-stop 30-min-marathon over the next few weeks. (Not 27 miles of course but I like alliteration!)