WK7 Run 2 was horrible - do I repeat it? 🙁 Thought I was doing well until today

[Alfietinker]

I managed the last two 25 minute runs without incident (does cursing under my breath count?!😉) But today I hit some kind of mental wall.

I was due to run yesterday but life got in the way, and as I didn’t want to have a three day gap I was determined to go out today. The only time I could manage was lunchtime, so really hot. I usually run around a lake, but as it’s a favourite lunchtime spot for office workers, and I didn’t want my colleagues to see me huffing and puffing, I chose a different route.

I hadn’t realised how much of a long hill it was, but I managed to plod up the first one and down the other side. I turned around at the half-way mark, got to 18 minutes nearly back to the top and just couldn’t carry on! 😰

I wasn’t overly out of breath, my legs were fine, I didn’t feel too hot, I was going slowly, but my mind just said ‘no’ ans I just had to stop. I ended up walking until Laura said 20 mins and ran the rest quite fast with no issues, but I feel such a failure that I had to walk for a bit and feel like I’ve taken a step backwards.

It wasn’t even like I was going any faster than usual. The only thing is I wa running on an empty stomach (no breakfast or lunch), which I know is not great, but I manage to run early mornings before breakfast without issue.

So, do I carry on with WK7 R3 or repeat R2, as they are both the same?

Any tips for pushing through a ‘wall’?

[MarkyD Graduate]

Oh Alfie, don't worry that's just what we call an 'experimental' run. You had so much against you this lunchtime - you must have been hungry, probably tired, it was hotter than you've been accustomed to, you had the anxiety of being seem by your colleagues, and you accidentally selected a hilly route. And despite all of that, you ran for 25 minutes (OK, with a slightly slower 2 minute section).

Just tick off the run and move onto W7r3 next time.

Why is it called an 'experimental' run??? Well, your experiment showed you that you should not go for a run without eating something in the last 14 hours, and also your experiment showed you that the hilly route is harder than your normal route. You can expect a few 'experiments' from time to time. What's important is not the "I did not run all the way" but the "I learned this about my running".

[Empem Graduate in reply to MarkyD]

Thank you MarkyD that is such a reassuring answer in your post. It'll be good for lot's of people to take on board.There's something about week seven that makes you really over ambitious for the end. But of course there is no end as such . I found it was nice to re -run one or two if I didn't myself feel a sense of completion, just to say to myself , "oh yeh, you're progressing steadily it's all going to be alright!"

Keep going Alfietinker.Good luck with the next less experimental run!

[Alfietinker in reply to Empem]

You're right, 'it's going to be alright'. A pause, bath and a nice cup of tea reading this has really helped. Thanks. x

[Alfietinker in reply to MarkyD]

MarkyD, thank you so much for your kind words, they have made me feel much better and looking at it objectively. It's been 'one of those days', where sometimes every little thing feels like it's beating you, but having a pause and reading your comments have made me look more objectively.

Experimental makes so much sense. In the early runs I found I always ran better in the early evening, having had a proper lunch and afternoon snack. Morning pre-breakfast runs have been harder, but being shorter I have always finished them. Looking at it now, it's a bit of a no-brainer that I'd struggle, but I just wanted to get out without making a fool of myself.

The 'learning about my running' is such an uplifting comment - thank you!

I'm going to move on to the next run properly, (25 mins) and if I still struggle, I'll repeat it again before moving on to week 8.

Thank you again!

[MarkyD Graduate in reply to Alfietinker]

That's the spirit.

Running can be a bit lonely, but this community is designed to be inspiring and uplifting, and I really benefited from it back in the days when I was starting out. So I still keep my eye in here, and offer encouragement when I can.

[Hidden]

Firstly, well done you! That was such an achievement. A new route, one sent to kill you by the sounds of it... but it didn't. As soon as you were able you ran again. Now, in my book that was no failure. In fact, to have the sense to rein it in instead of risking injury, that's the mark of a true runner. Go forth, and no new routes until after graduation!