Its not going well

[Sarah52]

I’ve stupidly signed up to do a 5k Pretty Muddy in June 30th

I thought I was doing ok until I got to W5.

I got to this stage last year when I started the couch to 5k, and I stopped due to a knee injury.

I just can’t do the first run of W5, it seems so hard !!

I’m also having breathing problems, I seem to get emotional and then I have, what feels like a panic attack, and I can’t breath. This happens when ever I do strenuous exercise. I climbed Pen Y Ghent last week and had to keep stopping to get my breath and to stop crying !!! What is going on with me ??

I’m 52 and I don’t think I’m too old but at the moment I’m feeling ancient 😟

[lagatachocolate Graduate]

If you're feeling anxious and emotional I would suggest going to see your GP.

As for 'not being able to do the run ... has anything happened between week 4 and week 5? I generally find that if I tell myself often enough that I can't do something I usually prove myself right :o)

[Sarah52 in reply to lagatachocolate]

Yes I think it’s a mental barrier rather than a physical issue. I want to do this but I’m finding it so hard to think positive thoughts

[oldwheezer69 Graduate]

I am no expert having only done week one so far, but I am just wondering if the added pressure of doing the muddy run in June is helping or hindering? Would it be worth you repeating week 4 to really consolidate that, before trying week 5 again, and taking it at your body's speed rather than worrying about a big run which - through mud - will be a lot tougher than running on the flat? Keep us posted... We're all rooting for you!

[Sarah52 in reply to oldwheezer69]

That’s a good point 👍🏻 i think I will repeat W4 to give some confidence if nothing else 🙂

Thank you

[RainbowC Graduate]

If you're struggling with your breathing, my first thought is that you're probably going too quickly. Slow down your pace, and see if that helps at all - no matter how slowly you think you're going, or whether you feel that walking would actually be quicker. That's not important at this point in the plan. The only thing that matters is learning to keep a steady, sustainable pace. The best way to check your pace is to try talking as you run. If you have a running buddy, have a conversation with them; if you don't, then talk to the dog, the coach in the app, yourself, us lot here - whatever! As long as you can speak in sentences, your pace is fine - if you're gasping and restricted to as few words as possible, you're going too quickly.

Keep going - you can do this. Put the end of June out of your mind - it's aaaaaages away yet! Take it one run at a time, and you'll get there, honest.

[Sarah52 in reply to RainbowC]

Thank you so much, I’ll try and slow down, to a quick walk 😂

I thought I was going slow but I’ll take your advice and give it a go 👍🏻 Thank you

[RainbowC Graduate in reply to Sarah52]

It's important to keep running, rather than walking - but shorter strides, and slower pace is absolutely fine if that's what's needed for you to be able to sustain it.

[Sarah52 in reply to RainbowC]

Yes I’ll look at my stride. I see so many runners who look effortless and then there’s me 😂 I’m sure we all have start somewhere

[RainbowC Graduate in reply to Sarah52]

I know - I see those runners going past when I'm walking to work - they're striding along effortlessly, barely breaking a sweat while going at least twice as fast as me. I so want to think that's what I look like. Then I see the middle-aged, slightly overweight woman plodding along uncomfortably, and think yeah, that's what the rest of the world sees when I run. So far I've managed to restrain myself from cheering on the 'me-runners'... but I know how they feel!

[Sarah52 in reply to RainbowC]

The beauty of this group is that I don’t feel alone. I ‘run’ on my own so I only have my voice to listen too. I listen to music as well, but I need to change my mind set.

There’s more to this running malarkey than just running ?!?

[WildflowerJo]

This running lark is completely mental!!!! We are all self sabotaging! Please complete a week over and over until it feels ok to move on! Put that June date out of your mind as it’s putting on too much pressure! Don’t cancel it though as I’m pretty sure you’ll be ready as it’s ages away! Believe in yourself - I know it’s hard but you CAN do it! SLOWLY is the key word!

[Sarah52 in reply to WildflowerJo]

Thank you 🙏🏻 x

[davelinks Graduate]

Sarah, try not worry or overthink it, it is only running at the end of the day.. have a look at this link for some great tips..

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

[Sarah52 in reply to davelinks]

You’re so right 😂 sometimes it’s good when someone else points out the bleeding obvious 👍🏻😂😂 thank you

I’ll have a look at the link 🙂 much appreciated

[RainbowC Graduate in reply to davelinks]

That is going to have to be my new pre-run mantra: 'it's only running, at the end of the day'. One of the reasons I've not run since last Wednesday is that my next run has built up into the equivalent of climbing Everest in my mind, rather than doing a run which I've already completed twice without any issues! So yeah. That's me told!

[davelinks Graduate in reply to RainbowC]

Come in rainbow! Get out there relax and enjoy in the great weather..😊

[RainbowC Graduate in reply to davelinks]

Not too convinced by the greatness of the grey clouds here - but tonight has to be the night to take my new Mizunos for their first real run... Pic to follow later (I know the drill! )

[davelinks Graduate in reply to RainbowC]

Don't worry about the sky, get those lovely new pumps on and get out there! 👟👟😁

[davelinks Graduate]

You must stop thinking you're ancient at 52! I'm 63! Must be a dinosaur then!😁 Others here older than me, don't let them see you talking like that!😊 You're rather new to all this, read and digest some of the destruction's in the link I sent over, in time you'll learn a lot more, so try not to worry it's early days, you will do that 5k you booked..😊

[Wizziewood]

Hi Sarah,

Firstly, it is going well ... you've got to W5 for goodness sake, that's quite an achievement. Think back to when you started C25k, you probably never thought you'd get to the end of W1!

It sounds to me that you might be trying to go too fast, take it slow, slow, slow. Perhaps the thought of the race is putting you under pressure even if you don't think it is. After all June 30th is still a long way off.

I'm 60 so feel qualified to tell you you're definitely not too old. Having said that it's possibly a time in your life when you're doing battle with your hormones so perhaps a chat with an understanding GP might be an idea.

Keep smiling, keep running and good luck!

You CAN do this!

[Sarah52 in reply to Wizziewood]

Hi

I hadn’t thought about hormones, stupid things !

I’ll have a word with my Dr, just to rule things out, more than anything.

I do feel better about things, thanks to amazing people in this group 🙂

Thank you 🙏🏻 x

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Anxiety is a pain..literally...but, running will help. I know that seems silly after what you have posted...but if you persevere it will happen.

Take it really slowly... really slowly Think snail on a go-slow

If you have had this for a while, then maybe go and see your GP...Try really hard to relax.. breathe as you do all the time.. don't overthink it... many, many of us have had or have similar issues.. think of other things, make up rhymes, silly names for folk you pass or the trees and shrubs.."that round stumpy bush is Old Floss "

The 5K muddy run you can walk it.. it is a fun thing... don't worry... you are going to do this...

And.. there is no such thing as too slow... you just take it as gently as you like and remeber, we will be right there running with you..x

[Sarah52 in reply to Oldfloss]

Thank you so much, I really do appreciate your advice and support x

[Bridget007 Graduate]

I’m doing a race for life on 30th June and I’m on week 5 and I’m 53 and I’ve got a weird knee 😃😃 we are like twins!! We can do it ... I go like a snail 🐌 ! Don’t worry about the pretty muddy you can walk it if you like there are people who sign up intending to walk the whole thing 😊😊

[Sarah52 in reply to Bridget007]

Oh wow !! We are twins 👍🏻 yes my knees keep twinging but after a days rest they’re ok.

I’m going to learn to go slow, then even slower 😂

Thank you so much for your support I really appreciate it 😊

WE CAN DO THIS ! 👍🏻

[Bridget007 Graduate in reply to Sarah52]

Definitely 😊