Completed week 6 feeling fantastic and very proud of myself. Later that day a fitness instructor friend of mine (who doesn't know i run) made fun of how slow a client of hers is and realised the person goes at about the same pace as me and for some reason that really got in my head.
W7R1 i didn't quite finish but thought 24 minutes was decent going and put shortfall down to being tired and not optimally hydrated...then left it 5 days till run 2. Nothing went quite right. I think i started off too fast and couldn't find my pace. My trousers with pockets are too heavy for the nicer weather and the bumbag i ordered is in postal purgatory so i was wearing what turned out to be a very uncomfortable bag. My calves got really really tight and painful. I stopped a little over halfway through. Did a week two run to finish off so i wouldn't feel like i had bottled out completely but just feeling a bit rubbish. And very silly for having my confidence knocked so easily!
Any tips for a) regaining confidence b) tight calves c) ways to go back to week 7 without just banging my head against a wall?
EDIT because this is continuing ot get replies (thanks!) - I did run 2 again, successfully, and posted about it. Thanks again for all advice and support!
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Nota-bene
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I have found this before with fitness instructors. They can be super motivating and inspirational but then switch suddenly and start shaming people. Clearly your friend was not trying to hurt your feelings and yet the attitude you describe is often something of a hazard of their trade.
Either way its your friend's flaw that has come to light here, not yours.
Being in week 2 myself I am in awe of how far you have come and am encouraged to follow in your footsteps! Keep on showing the world whats what!!!
It's not about how fast you go, it's how long you run for (luckily, as I'm slow!). I think we all have days when it doesn't go so well but you've already done 25 minutes at the end of W6, so you can definitely do it again - just take it more slowly next time. Shorts is the way to go to avoid the trousers problem! - mine aren't running shorts but do have a pocket. Make sure you're properly hydrated and warmed up to help with the calves. Most of all, believe in yourself - you know you can do it because you already have! Good luck.
Well done on getting so far. Nothing can take away what you’ve already achieved and you don’t have a thing to prove to anyone except yourself, so forget about anyone else’s negativity. A 24 minute run is better than no run at all!! I’m also in W7 and know how challenging it can seem but the thing that keeps me going is knowing how good it’s going to feel to graduate. Keep going and good luck!
Fitness instructors are living in their own little perfect bubble. Forge her. My confidence gets knocked really easily too. It’s a bummer. Plenty of things were preventing run 2 from going well so as long as they’re sorted - new bum bag etc - you’ll be fine on week 7. You were in a bad place and anything would’ve knocked you. Buy new cropped leggings too and once those things are sorted, you’ll be able to do it.
You are on week 7! I bet when you started week one you were thinking how will I ever run for 30 minutes! And now you are just 6 minutes from it! So well done you. I’m as slow as a snail 🐌 but I’m still faster than I was before I started 😊 and I’m on week 7 too and I am amazed that I can run for 25 minutes!
When I went for my gait analysis he set the treadmill for a “slow jog” and I nearly flew of the back 🤣🤣 so I must be really slow but hey ho I’m still plodding on. Don’t let it knock your confidence you are doing great 👍🏻
Some runs are just a grind! At least you’ve worked out things you can change that might make the next one more enjoyable. As for people dissing slow runners, they should be ashamed, especially a fitness instructor who should applaud efforts to get fitter! I bet your friend would be mortified if they knew they’d knocked your confidence...well, I hope so. You’re doing this for you, not anyone else, and you’re doing just fine
How amazing you have got this far- you will do it I’m certain we all have bad days/weeks. Focus on what you have achieved not a few bad runs 😔 put then out of your head and go for it next time! I’ve only done one run and I’m exhausted!
Hah!! As the others have said do it at YOUR speed. At least you didn’t have what I had this morning!!! Doing my 4 laps round the park as part of my 25 minute run and a homeless man got up off his bench and started running too. He did 4 laps as well and passed me twice!!! ☹️
I consoled myself with he is probably only half my age 🤣🤣
I’m with you, I really struggled in week 7 run 3 today in fact I walk/jogged the whole way. HOWEVER I am chuffed that I managed to keep walk/jogging and I’m so much further than I was at the start, today us just a blip. I’ve only joined on here tonight but realise how dehydrated I am and how unhelpful that is. Today’s another day, go for it!
Changes in the weather wrong foot us all. It's possible to be too cold and too hot on the same run. Better to start out a little chilly--even frozen fingers start to glow after a bit.
Just remember that the goal is only to keep going and it doesn't matter how fast you go or where you end up. It's always a good idea to rein it in a bit at the start of a new leg just to make sure you have enough running ammunition for the last bit.
c) if you want to repeat, repeat, but don't go scientific on yourself. The first thing l did when graduated, l repeated the whole program
and d) ask the fitness lady how fast she can run over 5K. A guy l know can cover it in 18 minutes which is too slow for any meaningful competition. I'm really curious, ask her. Then laugh while clapping your thigh.
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