Gutted!

[catkims]

After several false starts over the past couple of years, I started couch to 5k again this year on the treadmill, finishing week 6 last week. Previously I haven't got beyond week 2, shins, calves, general fitness meaning I couldn't go on. So despite it being extremely difficult, I've been delighted at my progress.

Feeling confident, today I decided to run outside for the first time. It was awful. I had to walk for 5 mins in the middle and was so slow it was embarrassing. I also got those shin and calf pains where it felt like I would have to give up. Not the usual tough "this hurts" but actual pain. I now feel totally deflated and feel like it's treadmill or nothing. I can't describe how hard it was.

I previously tried running outside and gave up each time. Really don't want to fail again.

[Duddles Graduate]

No shame in using a treadmill. I have completed Couch twice, once just on a treadmill, and they have equal value in terms of fitness and achievement. The views are not as good though....

[kirble Graduate]

Aww that’s such a shame and what you’re describing is precisely why I have concerns about running outside.

The advice I received was to run on softer ground and take it really slow. I must admit I’m still haven’t ventured out.

Hope you recover soon and get back to running

[davelinks Graduate]

Are you warming up properly? some take a little longer to warm up and and are you stretching properly afterwards? If at all..

[catkims in reply to davelinks]

I was pretty nervous when going out so might not have warmed up as well as I do at the gym. The stretching afterwards was really painful but I've learnt my lesson on that and always make sure I stretch.

[Runninginsingapore]

Well done for starting at all after all of the setbacks you have had. I run on the treadmill most of the time, and while you don’t get the views you do have the confidence that you are not going to fall over! (Although there was one time when my phone became tangled and the gym supervisor was quite alarmed!) My family were all laughing at how slowly I ran too, until I managed to run for 30minutes non stop. Keep going. You are doing an amazing thing for yourself.

[Hidden]

Why not stick with what is working for you for now. There is plenty of time to try running outside again after you’ve graduated and consolidated your fantastic progress so far.

[Amandana]

I have so far done my c25k outdoors for all but 1 run, but several years ago I started running during a long Canadian winter and ran on the treadmill for months, feeling quite proud that I got to the point of running for quite a while. Then I went outside. UGH. It is a difficult transition for sure. Physically there isn't that belt underneath you, pulling your legs along even when it gets hard, keeping you moving when you want to stop, there are hills, there can be traffic, obstacles and wind blowing against you. Mentally there are a million distractions and you don't have that screen right in front of you helping you along.

Give yourself a little slack and adjust your expectations for road running. If you're keen to run outdoors, would you be willing to consider going back a week on your c25k journey? That might make the transition a bit easier on your body and mind. Alternatively, if you complete c25k on the treadmill, you could then increase the incline progressively on your post-grad runs up to 1.5 or 2 and that should help prepare you a bit more for outdoors, and then perhaps decrease your run time or do run/walk intervals at the outset?

[catkims]

Thanks for all the comments and encouragement. I've been running on an incline of 1.0 so good idea to increase it a bit. I also think dropping back a week or two when I start again outside is a good idea.

I'm determined to finish the c25k so might need to go back to the treadmill for the time being then give myself a new challenge. I knew it would be hard outside but genuinely thought once I got to week 7 on the treadmill I'd cracked it! I would really like to do parkruns in the future so running outside is a must. Maybe I'll give it another try on Thursday then back to the gym and treadmill if the same happens again.