Week 7, Run 1 - had to stop ☹️

[Jandys]

I did the first half of today’s run and it felt good. Then I hit an incline and my legs suddenly felt really heavy and I was puffing and blowing. To cut a long story short, I slowed to a walk for a minute and once on the level again, picked up to a run. My legs still felt like lead but I struggled on, feeling bad and defeated. It had all been going so well and although I know it’s only one bad run, I can’t help but feel a bit dejected. Let’s see how it goes on Tuesday when I’m out again!

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

Well, sometimes a run will beat you down... this did, but it hasn’t left you beaten... you’re back on Tuesday as you say. So although you may feel it, you’re far from defeated.

That hill may have knocked the running out of you, but it will have added a little stamina and speed while it was doing it. That hill may have ruined this run, but it will have improved you as a runner, so it’s not all bad, in fact it’s all good in the long term. Did you shorten your stride up the incline? It helps, if you didn’t.

Rest well and next time you’ll have it.

[Summersprint Graduate]

Hey we all have a bad run. It hurts when we feel defeated.

Take time and think how you can approach it differently.

Chin up , move forward as looking at it your doing well. Go for it

[Jandys Graduate in reply to Summersprint]

Thanks for the encouragement Summersprint!

[Summersprint Graduate in reply to Jandys]

We all have blips. Take a breath you can do this

[cheekychipmunks Graduate]

Don’t feel too deflated Jandys. We all have one or more runs that disappoint us. Yet often the next one will surprise us and we feel back on top form again.

You still ran, you still did that hill - so just treat it as an extra training session and accept the extra fitness it will have given you!

Good luck on Tuesday! 👍😀

[Jandys Graduate in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Thanks cheekychipmunks! I’m hoping to crack the 25 minutes next run!

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Jandys]

You will! You’ve got this! 💪💪💪

[MVBrown Graduate]

Jandys there will be some runs like that but do perserve. Don’t let it get you too down. Note that it’s a hill, you may want to tackle it once a week so it doesn’t get you or change your route. Don’t be too hard on yourself.

[Jandys Graduate in reply to MVBrown]

Thanks fOr the encouragement MVBrown! I’m hoping that next run will put me back on track!

[ArthurJG Graduate]

One bad run as you say but also, as bad runs go it’s not that bad. You walked for a minute or so out of a 25 minute run. Two weeks ago you couldn’t do that! You know 25 minutes isn’t beyond you because you did it in W6R3. Have a rest day, have two if you feel the need, and go again. And by all means choose a flatter route if that helps with morale. (I do all my running at the coast so it’s flat. Yesterday my usual parkrun was off so I went to another, which has a steep hill that has to be done three times as it’s a three lap course. Two out of three times I walked up the hill although I ran all the rest. Yet my normal parkrun is routine now, I never have to walk any more. I’ll be working on hills to try to improve but I didn’t do that during C25k so I sympathise. Long way of saying, it isn’t cheating to look for a flatter route now and again!)

[Jandys Graduate in reply to ArthurJG]

Thanks ArthurJG! I’ll work on the hills once I’ve got through the programme, but for now I’m going to alter to a flatter route until I get my confidence back.

[Suse70 Graduate]

Hi Jandys. My W7R2 was awful & I had to stop about 6 times. I felt completely disheartened, worrying it was the shape of things to come & maybe I just couldn't do longer runs. Since then though it's been fine. Due to do W8R3 tomorrow. Like all the experienced runners on here say, sometimes you will just have a bad run. Don't let it get you down. Just brush it off & know you can do this. You have come so far, it is all just part of the experience. Good luck with your next run.👍

[Jandys Graduate in reply to Suse70]

Thanks for taking the trouble to reply, Nasus-Krow! I totally identify with the thought that I’d reached my peak and maybe I wasn’t up for the longer runs. So it’s good to know you’ve broken through your barrier ... and I hope to do the same next time. Good luck for your last week and I’ll look forward to seeing your name on the graduates list soon!

[Suse70 Graduate]

Ha ha, thank you. Fingers crossed. & You will be great. I was so nervous before W7R3 & it was fine. You will be too, just a blip!😀