Total beginner ...worried about week 2

[Nat26]

I'm 54 and unfit but have completed week one (3 runs). I'm worried I won't be able to run for 90 seconds in week 2. Did anyone else feel this?

[ClarriePan Graduate]

Well done on completing week 1😄. Don’t be worried about week 2 you can do it😉. Just keep it slow and steady and slow down if you need to. You can’t go too slowly, as long as you’re running not a walking. Some people walk faster than they run - that’s ok. Good luck with your C25K journey 👍.

[Tasha99 Graduate in reply to ClarriePan]

I worried about every week but now I’m on 28 minutes! Trust the program. It works.

[Ambr456 Graduate]

Hi Nat26, I am 55 and am currently doing W2. You will be fine! If you can run for 60s you can run for 90s. I find listening to a podcast distracts me. I download stories and plays from the BBC radio app. I find this works better than music for me at the moment.

It's W3 that I'm dreading 😁

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Ambr456]

Delight not dread.. nor sun is to be feared..just follow on, slow and steady

[Melo_smiles Graduate]

You will be absolutely fine and I bet everyone who’s started C25K felt the same way at the end of Wk1...I certainly did 😳 Best advice I took on board was to keep it “slow and steady” and that became my mantra I kept saying over and over to myself as each run got longing.

Trust in the plan and you will be fine 😊

[Jullaly Graduate]

Don’t worry I was scared stiff doing week 1 then completed it, if I was scared for week 1 I was worried sick for week 2 but did it, I’ve now completed week 3 and nailed it! Just take one run at a time, go really really slow, trust yourself, trust the programme and your confidence will build. I’m looking forward to hearing how you get on x

[Ambr456 Graduate in reply to Jullaly]

I like reading that you are a week ahead of me. Your words are very encouraging, thank you 😀

[Jullaly Graduate in reply to Ambr456]

We 55 year olds need to look out for each other 😂 😂 we will do this x

[Nat26 in reply to Jullaly]

Thank you!

[Hidden]

I'm in the same boat! About to start week 2 on Sunday - I'm 53 - We'll be fine - we got this.

[Jullaly Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Go Welshwitch looking forward to hearing about your week 2

[Hidden]

The plan builds you up slowly, if you did W1 you can do W2. And if you can’t do it straight away then just repeat a run until you can. Most of us don’t do C25K in the 9 weeks! But I’m sure you will. Believe and take it slow and steady - think glacial and you’ll be fab

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

Check this out and welcome to the forum

Keep it slow and steady.. do not fret about what is ahead.. you will be ready for each and every run to follow. Exercise on rest days will be helpful too, to build up your strength and stamina... non impact though...so no running

Well done for beginning this great programme.

[Bridget007 Graduate]

At the beginning of every week I think it but somehow it all goes to plan 😀 you definitely can do it ... no doubt whatsoever 😃😃

[notoutofbreath Graduate]

"Did anyone else feel this?"

Every. Single. One of us.

Then like Tasha99 said, pretty much most of us continued to think that every time the run was increased!

It's because our minds are stuck in "this isn't me, I'm unfit". Well the programme's designed for exactly us, it just takes a while before we realise it and have blind faith in it. So don't worry, you're not alone. You will manage it. Just keep it slow like all the previous commenters have said.

Personally, I deliberately didn't look ahead as to what was happening each run. I did it with the podcasts and would just find out when I pressed play to start running. Meant it didn't have the time to psych myself out... And the locals got to enjoy my horrified swearing

[Nat26 in reply to notoutofbreath]

Thank you. Will let you know how it goes

[ToniCR Graduate]

Yes to what everyone else said. I worried. But every week, despite my worry, I was able to do the runs. I thought, no way, I can't do that, and then I did. Even on my very last run, graduation run, when I had already run for 30 minutes twice, I was still worried I wouldn't be able to do it.

Our brains are so silly. Running is a mental battle just as much as physical. I tell my brain to shut up and then just go out there and do it!