W6R1 why???

[Pancakes]

Please don’t read this if you are looking for inspiration! Bad run! Tonight I completed W6R1 - yes I did it but it was so hard I actually thought I was going to fail! I’m so disappointed after the euphoria of wednesdays 20 min run! Today felt like a disaster and a backwards step - my legs and bum felt so heavy and I was so tired- what was that all about? Was it the heat? Did I need 2 days recovery instead of one? Was it the sandwich I ate at lunch when I don’t normally eat bread? When I looked at the run I was like whey hey that’s easy but oh boy it was not! Has anyone else felt the same? I feel so disheartened I have decided not to run again until next week - I need to rest and regroup!

[Irish-John Graduate]

We are humans, not machines We all have "not so great" runs at times - be not dismayed

[wyersmith Graduate]

Hey! Don’t be hard on yourself. Have you seen how many people struggle in W6? Hard, yes. Fail. Nope. Regroup for a day or so and hit r2 like a train (a slow and steady train of course). It will get better and you will get through it.

[Hidden in reply to wyersmith]

Agree with this post. A week might make life harder. When I skip the gym for a week it's often like going back to square one. If it was me I'd take an extra day, make sure to eat (def not bread), hydrate during the day and head out early evening, or midday if you're not working and totally nail it! You CAN do it!!!

[Crittermad Graduate]

I struggled w6r1 but tonight managed r3 - which I was dreading as I was willing r1 and r2 to end - it was ok and more like w5r3 - pleased to have done it before my hols. I’m sure you will find r3 fine

[Bukovina]

It might be the lack of hydration.Try to drink more the day before you run. I noticed I have less capacity if I don’t drink enough.Good luck for the next one!

[das_vikas Graduate]

Hey Pancakes, don’t be too disappointed, I also did W6R1 today. My run was a bit better than yours but not easy by any means. The differentiating factor may be that I had 2 days break after W5R3.

As other are suggesting focus on hydration and I also found that focussing on breathing rather than the run itself helps.

Good luck for your future runs!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

It is about overall duration..........that is your longest workout to date.

[Crittermad Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

I don’t look at it in context of total duration - I look at it in context of the longest leg 💡😳

[icklegui Graduate]

everyone's covered it, basically (including you in your own post) - high from w5r3 - expectation that it'll be easy, presumably because short runs with walk "breaks", possibly hydration ... as ever our mentor's simple observation that it's the longest workout (those walking sections? they take energy!) plus all the other things ... take a couple of days break, sure, but keep going! I think week 5 to 6 are magic as they turn us from "we need the walking" to "ooh lovely longer runs"

[RobW73 Graduate]

My weekly plan is to leave two days after competing a week, the first being total rest.

I saw many posts about week 6 tripping people up, so I went extra slow.

Don't stress, just try the next one as you normally would and see how you get on.

You did not fail.

[Lola333 Graduate]

Well done for keeping going and getting through it, I found it a struggle getting going again for last 5 mins, slow and steady seems to be the key, your doing great ⭐️ xx

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Week 6 may catch some folk out, although in reality it is just another set of runs we are ready for...

You had a ,not so brilliant run...but you did it... and that is all that matters.. you are getting stronger, despite those heavy legs..you ran.

There could be many reasons why it felt as it did..many of us have runs which feel odd; so.. do not despair, be kind to yourself... rest up and pop in some non-impact exercise.. some stretching too. I am heading out tomorrow... you could join me???

[BWendy]

I felt exactly the same. I was expecting it to be easy because I’d run 20minutes non stop and this was a run walk interval one!!! Just done W6R2!! Found it a bit easier but it’s the first time that I’ve almost stayed in bed and not wanted to run! I suppose there’s always going to be good and bad days/runs!! Hope you find the next runs ok I’m now wondering if I’ll make 25 minutes!! Good luck xx

[Gilly0410 Graduate in reply to BWendy]

Me too!! I’ve just done r2 😂

[Clarebear76]

Hands ups 👋🏻 I felt exactly the same when I did this very run on Thursday, I was actually looking forward to doing it as it didn’t seem that bad after w5r3, I think this run should be called the bad ass run, however we are both still here, we both kicked that bad ass into touch and we are ready to take on w6r3, we have so got this x

[Saartjie Graduate]

I think it's a come down from r5w3 but just get back out there. I didn't find w6r1 anywhere near as easy as I thought it would be after the election of wk5, but did r6w2 yesterday and was so much better. Even hit my fastest pace ever! (Unintentionally I hasten to add). Much of this programme seems to be psychological. Runs seem easy...we find them hard, others seem impossible...we do them and feel amazing. Don't give up now 🤗

[Dawnie16 Graduate]

I felt exactly the same as you after run 1 but I have now completed week six and run 3 was better than run 1 ! It is strange but think a lot of people struggle with this one.

[Fiefiem Graduate]

Hi Pancakes, I found that run difficult too, but slow and steady did it.

Don’t beat yourself up, pat yourself on your back instead, well done!

[scalmac]

W6 is apparently notorious for being tough, I felt exactly the same. I think there was the Euphoria of the 20 mins run in W5 but also I think because I did that I got a little blasé about going back to 8 minutes.... It's very hard to feel good about W6R2 now, but although it was tough we did complete R1.

Keep at it, sometimes you have to grind out the results 😁

[Paulineeee]

We found W6R1 tough too. I think this one has been put in as a recovery run. The programme has worked so far so onwards and upwards!

[Gilly0410 Graduate]

Hey pancakes, I felt exactly the same, did mine on Wednesday. I’ve just done r2, it was slightly better, but I didn’t enjoy stopping in the middle, I had just got in to my stride. Feel good now, but I think it’s there to make you realise you can go for longer. Don’t give up, get this week out the way as most people say the next few weeks are good. You can do it 😁😘

[Hidden]

You are most definitely not alone! If you read back thru posts on here lots and lots of us felt the same - me included. I’m due to do R2 tomorrow- wondering how i’m gonna cope with the longer runs when I’m struggling with W6. I was on such a high after W5R3. W5 is such a good week. Luckily the lovely people on here had warned me abt W6R1 but i still struggled with it. Well done for getting thru it & don’t feel disheartened. Try not to overthink it - slow & steady. We’ll be fine. We got this. Everything we’ve done so far has prepared us for this week- the programme really does work. I think u are wise to take a break & regroup but get back on the horse soon! Good luck & keep us posted.

[Hidden]

Pancakes, remember that every run is different and that a "hard" run does not make it a "bad" run - they're ALL good. You are just as competent, skilled, gifted and worthy as you were before this one. I had mine at W3R2 - after having done so well, my legs felt heavy, sluggish and slow like sausages... like you, I really struggled to make it to the end and I asked myself all the same questions (too big of a snack, not enough water, too tired after work, that-time-of-the-month... or the ultimate one... I'm a total failure and not cut out for this). What I realised is that none of that mattered. The body and mind are two extremely complex tools and they are your ultimate allies. Who knows what was going on? Maybe an adjustment was being made, a tweak (one related to your newfound sportiness). Maybe it WAS the bread that you're not used to eating. Maybe you just needed to slow down. The important thing is to listen (without jugement), be kind to your self, and KEEP GOING (I know, it's hard). I'm heading out this morning to start W5R1, not too far behind you. It's a gorgeous Sunday morning post-Royal Wedding 💒 (which I still need to watch ). Please stay with us! Sending love from London ☺️

[Pancakes Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thank you! 👍🙂

[Hidden in reply to Pancakes]

Hi Pancakes, I just finished W5R3... the big one! Feeling totally destroyed but so thrilled I managed to push through. That was SO hard. How are you doing?

[Pancakes Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Oh well done you! I’ve been away for a few days but I am due to start week 7 this week! Eeeek! But I’ve done W6R3 so fingers crossed! So glad you are doing so well - you will catch me up soon!! 😆

[Hidden in reply to Pancakes]

Fabulous! Well done Pancakes. 😊 Just cracked W6R1. I'm a week behind you. 🎉