W7r3 again!!

[DoingthebestIcan]

Just can't get that 3rd 25 min run. Did it twice and now struggling to do it again. Stopping about half way. On the plus side, I have always worried about someone saying something to me as I shuffle along. Today a man said: " Good for you. You are doing great. Keep it up"!! It certainly cheered me up as I plodded along to fail again 😔😔

[Jay66UK Graduate]

So you haven’t failed. These are practice goes and all of them are building your condition.

Most of this run is beating your mind. Think about why you stopped. Was it gremlins telling you that you can’t do it? It usually is.

Take a couple of rest days. Make sure you are well hydrated. Avoid the hottest parts of the day. Resolve to keep running unless body parts break or you die.

You really can do this because it is “just” the next step on this programme. You need to believe that. Your head will try to talk you out of it and you need to be prepared for that mental battle.

And if you don’t make it next time, just try again. Making that resolution for yourself can help with the gremlins because they don’t want to have to do this same thing over and over.

Good luck, try to relax into the run, go slowly, try to enjoy it. And let us all know how you get on.

[DoingthebestIcan Graduate in reply to Jay66UK]

Thanks for that. I'm amazed at how much of this is will power. So often I have wanted to stop but have talked myself out of it but lately the mind just isn't willing.

[Jay66UK Graduate in reply to DoingthebestIcan]

It gets harder because the runs are harder and longer. It’s all daunting, which is food for gremlins.

Knowing this is what is happening - and not because you “can’t run” - is almost all of the solution. The final bit is pushing through it.

You’ll be glad when it happens and this experience really is making you a better runner in the long term.

[DoingthebestIcan Graduate in reply to Jay66UK]

Did 30 mins today! No idea where that came from! 😁

[Jay66UK Graduate in reply to DoingthebestIcan]

Excellent job!

[cheeseheads in reply to Jay66UK]

Wow great advice

[Agaig Graduate]

Just keep doingthebestyoucan. No one can ask for more

[misswobble Graduate]

Don’t worry. Just keep plugging away. There really is no hurry

If you go slow and steady you can run without getting out of puff. if you do though, stop, let your breathing return to normal before pressing on. It’s fine 😃👍

I shuffled for ages. I shuffled in my first race but it gets you round. Picking your feet up in a running motion is hard! You’ll get there though. It will just happen as you get stronger. Meanwhile keep on running and having fun 🙂

[Teddly22 Graduate]

I agree with what everyone else has said. There's no fails only practice runs. I struggled with that one and had to repeat it. I understand how it makes you feel but that shows how much you want it. Keep practicing and you will get there. You've done three already so you've got it in you!!!

[icklegui Graduate]

Extra thought - are you running the same route each time? Then your gremlins have an extra reason to say 'oh look here's where you get tired and stop', so you could try a new route if you can. Otherwise, you'll crack it! Everyone's giving good advice

[DoingthebestIcan Graduate in reply to icklegui]

Yes, the same route. Try to keep out of sight!

[icklegui Graduate in reply to DoingthebestIcan]

ah! you will crack it though and we'll all be proud! These practice runs are still great - you're still running! You'll have done more running by the end than if you didn't have the practices, which is good, and you'll have the experience of getting over an iffy patch, and it's good to know you can do that!