Needing a boost in confidence

[Imoutsiderunning]

I’ve just come home from completing w6 r3 and I’m feeling a bit rubbish about it😒 this doesn’t seem to be getting any easier and although I was able to run for the 25 mins without stopping, it was really tough-going. I don’t expect it to be easy but I was hoping it would get slightly easiER!!! Help me please😳

[Tasha99 Graduate]

No it doesn’t really get easier as the runs get longer. If you went back to week 1 you’d find that easier. We’re always pushing to go faster or longer - therefore it doesn’t get easier 🤷🏽‍♀️ Breathing and strength will improve though.

[Flaraflarkin Graduate]

You're doing really well to have got to the end of W6 - as Tasha99 says think back to W1 and see how far you've come! Stick with it - the sense of achievement is huge! 😊

[jcscomputers Graduate]

Hi, I have also just completed W6 R3, the last 5 minutes really hurt! I am planning W7 R1 tonight, fingers crossed that it feels a little better!

[Cornet-Carolyn Graduate]

Well done for completing the run. It may not be easy but you are doing great. If you think only 6 weeks ago you ran for a minute you are now achieving so much.

I started the programme last September and yesterday ran a 10k, proof it can be done 👍

[Flaraflarkin Graduate in reply to Cornet-Carolyn]

😱😱 I love reading comments like this!! That's amazing ~ well done!! 👏👏

[cheryl_couch_tatty Graduate]

When I got to week 8 after really struggling and wanting to quit something just clicked......I know this has happened to a few others. The runs are hard but I think it's more of a mental challenge than we realise. Keep going, I hope the same happens for you. Stay positive ......you are so close to completing 😁😁

[misswobble Graduate]

Week 6 is hardest. It’s done ✅

Rejoice! 😃👍

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Each week of the plan you are pushing the boundaries further and further. When you graduate, we recommend that you spend some time consolidating without any increases, just running for fun because you can. This is when you will realise what an achievement you have made and appreciate how far you have come.

If you are struggling, slow down to an easy conversational pace, as described in the guide to the plan healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

You are doing great, keep it up.

[Irishprincess Graduate]

If this was easy then everyone would be doing it. But they're not and you are. So, a huge well done for starting and getting this far.

Every single run is building strength and stamina so it's never wasted no matter how you feel. If you did W1R1 now you'd find it fairly easy. It takes time and repetition to get our running legs so keep going. You're doing brilliantly and you're on the home stretch now!

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

Wow, you’re doing great! Pushing yourself through it is in many ways better than finding it easy, your mental strength is there for sure. Congratulations on getting that head right, it’s as important as the legs.

Once graduated, running 30 minutes will get easier the more that you do it.

[agedsnailspace Graduate]

This made me laugh. No, in the short term it doesn't get easier, you just keep pushing for more. As another poster has said, if you want easier, repeat an earlier run (only it still won't feel thst easy as you will be running faster than when you first did it). As it is, you have only been running for 6 weeks. That's really not very long to have mastered a new skill! Give it time. It will eventually sneak up on you without you realising it. Keep it up and in a year's time you will find yourself 'just' popping out to do a quick 5k as you don't have time for a longer run... For now, you are keeping up with the program , which is brilliant (both the program and the fact you are keeping to it!). It's not easy. You are still pushing yourself each run, but just look how far you have come. Stick with it. You are doing brilliantly.

Start thinking about what you will do next - you have less than 10 runs to go!

[Jundal Graduate]

I will admit, when I read this I actually laughed. The reason it hurts is because you are continually pushing yourself to do more, and basically your body sees this as you continually PUNISHING yourself. But, strength does not come in response to desire, only to need. So you're making your body need more strength with the runs you do. Keep it up. Your doing well. 👍💪

[Robert_IS_a_Runner Graduate]

Don't get discouraged - you did it! If you feel so bad that it's shaking your motivation then honestly you're going too fast. But sounds like you are going to be fine. 👍