Michael Johnson: I struggled in my W4R1, and... - Couch to 5K

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Michael Johnson

Tjar profile image
Tjar
20 Replies

I struggled in my W4R1, and walked the last 1,5 minutes of the last running bit last Monday.

I dreaded today’s W4R2 a bit, fearing pain again, as well as not looking forward to being so out of breath every running bit.

But to my surprise : I felt good.

For the first time, I didn’t feel out of breath for the most part. There was pain in my left leg, but i wasn’t worried about it.

And then it happened: Michael Johnson spoke the words I didn’t see coming (and completely missed him saying during W4R1): “for the first time since you started this program, you’ve ran more, than you’ve walked”!

I never thought I’d be so stoked hearing that fact stated. Yay! 🍾🎉😁

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Tjar profile image
Tjar
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20 Replies
LoungeLizaard profile image
LoungeLizaardGraduate

Well done, believe you can and you will! 👏👏

Tjar profile image
Tjar in reply to LoungeLizaard

Thank you! I’m further than I’ve been in years, due to injuries, so fingers crossed I’ll stay in one piece. 🤞🏻🍀 Everything else is stamina and backbone (regrowing those 😁).

Fabulous450 profile image
Fabulous450Graduate

Whoop, whoop Tjar! Well done! 👍🏽❤️

Tjar profile image
Tjar in reply to Fabulous450

Thank you so much Fabulous! 🌷

Kar43 profile image
Kar43

Well done 😊 good to hear you enjoyed the latest 🏃 run, we all get runs where we may struggle and then we all get the fantastic runs 😁 it gets easier as time goes by.

As the famous saying on here "slow & steady" keep to it and you will be fine 😉

Tjar profile image
Tjar in reply to Kar43

Thank you Kar43. To be honest: i expected more struggles so far, so chuffed to bits already. 😁

Kar43 profile image
Kar43 in reply to Tjar

See we shock ourselves on what we can really do 😉

Good to see your enjoying this running 🏃 bug but we warned it's addictive 😁but a fantastically healthy addiction too 😊

Tjar profile image
Tjar in reply to Kar43

Noted! 😂

Dizzysmum17 profile image
Dizzysmum17Graduate

Yay well done! I too found w4r1 really quite difficult and was dreading run 2 but seemed to fine it a lot easier. That may have been because I ran it in the early morning and it was way cooler than run 1 had been though! Onto run 3 tomorrow morning. You’ll smash it when it’s your turn! :) it does seem to be addictive doesn’t it?!

Tjar profile image
Tjar in reply to Dizzysmum17

I’m doing W4R3 tomorrow too! Every other day, like Michael J ordered. 🤩

I still only do treadmill runs, but will eventually run outside. Will be near a parkrun in July again, so looking forward to see how far my progress has come by then. Did do that one before, but was only able to do a little bit of jogging at the time. So PB in the making! 😂

Dizzysmum17 profile image
Dizzysmum17Graduate in reply to Tjar

Fab - we can compare tomorrow! Good luck 😉 🍀

Tjar profile image
Tjar in reply to Dizzysmum17

You as well! 🍀🤞🏻

_SimonT_ profile image
_SimonT_Graduate

Well done Tjar! Epic run! Don’t put yourself down re the treadmill. I’m doing all mine on the treadmill. Very wise if you are injury prone. Much softer on the joints than a concrete pavement. And gives an even surface - no drop down curbs to twist ankles etc

Also - if you’re out of breath - slow down!

Happy running! 😀

Tjar profile image
Tjar in reply to _SimonT_

Thank you Simon! It feels good on a treadmill, so I’m indeed sticking to it for now. Parkrun in July, when in the UK, will be the first time running outside again. Worthing, so flat boulevard, no hills or trail running 😁

_SimonT_ profile image
_SimonT_Graduate in reply to Tjar

Sounds great! I’ve got my eyes on a nice flat local park run but I’m not setting a date. I’ll see how things go.

Tjar profile image
Tjar in reply to _SimonT_

The date is more vacation related than ‘I think I’m ready’ related. Sadly parkrun still hasn’t landed in the Netherlands.

_SimonT_ profile image
_SimonT_Graduate in reply to Tjar

As I understand it there’s absolutely no pressure on park runs anyway. People walk. Ladies with prams do them. There is always a park run marshal who walks at the back so no one comes last!

Tjar profile image
Tjar in reply to _SimonT_

This is true. Walked my first one ever. My last one I tried to jog as much as I could, without forcing anything, just to have a baseline before I started this C25K journey. Just another way of monitoring my progress. And love the parkrun community so far, very friendly people and indeed a lot of volunteers. Including a tail walker.

Gilly0410 profile image
Gilly0410Graduate

I love having Michael in my ears! 😁

Tjar profile image
Tjar in reply to Gilly0410

Ditto, he’s my favourite.

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