Week 8 Run 3 completed...Why am I not ELATED?

[Speedy99]

Ran my last Week 8 run last night. Even got the hubby out following me...very slowly...on a bike. Something I have never seen him do! However I'm not feeling the excitement and elation I felt earlier in the program. Anyone else feeling this? When I finish each run lately it's as if I've just crossed the run off the list rather than feeling ready for the next week like I did in weeks 5,6 and 7. Also, despite doing the knee exercises on the rest days my knees are tender-it's sore to kneel back on my legs as the stretch on the front of my thighs near my knees is tender. Any advise from you lovely runners?

[Elfe5 Graduate]

I think the elation thing comes and goes, but the wonderful benefits remain. 😀

Maybe it’s time for a new route ( or partial new route) to give a fresh feel to your runs. New stuff to listen to also can help. I ask myself where I fancy running and what I fancy listening to every time. I use radio 4 podcasts as well as music.

I find cycling on my rest days really helps my knees to stay happy. 😄

[Speedy99 Graduate in reply to Elfe5]

Thank you. I do "treat" myself with a new route each week. I seem to put all my energy into Run1 of the week which I manage ok. Thanks for advice. x

[Elfe5 Graduate in reply to Speedy99]

Wow! You are doing better than me if you have a new route every week. - I might take a leaf out of your book for the next month or two. 😃

[ButtercupKid Graduate]

I wish I was at your level ! Some of the experts will be here with good advice soon, I’ve no doubt, but in the meantime look back at how things were in week 1 and be proud. You’re doing a great job ⭐️⭐️⭐️ and we’re all right behind you here 🙂

[Speedy99 Graduate in reply to ButtercupKid]

Awww bless you with those kind words. xxxx Much appreciated x

[ButtercupKid Graduate in reply to Speedy99]

Well deserved ! Happy running 😀

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

I think, to a degree, the challenge diminishes as you near the end of the plan, the jumps are small and they all repeat so you’re consolidating your position a lot... I didn’t feel as big a sense of achievement after the rush at the end of week 5. Of course, closing the plan out fully did, and then some!

[Speedy99 Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Thank you xx

[SubterraneanAlien Graduate]

Probably because your knees are sore, so that's putting a dampener on it all. To be honest, this week (week 8) is the first one I am truly struggling with and not feeling amazing once I've finished each run. Still got W8R3 tomorrow then I'll be into week 9 so that's got to feel incredible, right?

[Speedy99 Graduate in reply to SubterraneanAlien]

Glad it's not just me then! Should be feeling so proud of ourselves. Maybe when week 9 is here and over it will all sink in xxx Enjoy your week 8 run 3 tomorrow. We'll finish the plan around the same time

[SubterraneanAlien Graduate in reply to Speedy99]

Thank you. And enjoy Week 9. I shall meet you up on the graduate podium in just over a week's time!

[emily-m Graduate]

I found it tricky moving on to the longer runs with no real variation. I kind of liked the walk-run-walk-run thing but I've thought a lot about what Oldfloss means when she talks about the 'lovely long runs' at the end of the programme!

For me, the trick is to try to get to the point where I actually 'enjoy' the runs themselves rather than just enjoy having done them. Or at least enjoy part of them… Sometimes I'm more successful at this than others. (I'm in W9; W9R1 was pretty horrible, W9R2 earlier today was a lot of fun.) For me, varying the route is key but it sounds like you already do that. One thing I do is try to make a minor variation to the route every time, like running it in the reverse direction or taking a different path in the park.

I think the main thing to remember is that these long runs are all about building our strength and stamina and that is a huge achievement in itself! Good luck for the rest of the programme. You can do it! 🙌🏼

[Speedy99 Graduate]

Thank you. I know I will finish...I'm determined to do that. But I enjoy the run when it's finished...not during it at all. Would be great to be running and enjoying it but I guess that will take more time for me. I'll stick with it for a bit longer!

[Newplodder]

Hiya. Yes I know exactly what you mean....I'm experiencing the same feelings and am due to start week 9. I also have knee pain and always wear knee bandages which help me. I have convinced myself/hope that this running malarkey is helping my knees in the long run!!

I'm planning to graduate and then to think about what I want from running..I will carry on in some guise as (knees notwithstanding! ), I can feel the benefits eg I've got rid of my middle age spare tyre over the last 2 months😃

I suspect the answer is to keep running in some way and to keep the habit established.

I'm going on holiday next week to mexico , so suspect I won't run there...apparently it'll be 30° in the shade!

I'm already planning to re-do a couple of the earlier c25k weeks when i get back to build myself back pu.

In the main, I enjoy the satisfaction of completing runs and the achievement factor, but I can't say I've ever felt the elation people speak about. I focus on the positive outcomes and I frequently time my runs to finish so that I can walk or stop and look at the surroundings I've just jogged through on my way back...this is the more enjoyable part for me!

I think also for me, my next goal will be to complete the 5k within 30mins...I'm a way off that yet, but I think working towards achieving shorter runs will suit me and my knees better than running for longer stretches....but everyone will develop different follow-on goals.

I hope you'll find what works for you and congrats in advance for your graduation in the next week or so. Ordinarily we'd be graduating at more or less the same time but I'm off to pack my sombrero 😉

[Speedy99 Graduate]

Have a FABULOUS holiday Amigo!!! I will finish this week and then have a bit of a break. I think maybe running 2 runs a week with a bigger break in between will help knees. They don't hurt when I run- just the next day they are achey and tender. But hey-I can run for 28 mins now and it'll be 30 next week. Onwards and upwards. Let me know when you finish x

[Notobleeptests Graduate]

I just did W8R3 this evening and really enjoyed it, but I don't enjoy every run - loved the previous one but bloody hated the two before that. Sometimes with me it's just general energy levels or I've left too large a gap between sessions (it's taken about 6 months for me to get to Week 8!), or I'm a little dehydrated. I also find that wearing compression tights (I wear Skins) really helped with reduced muscle pains and muscle fatigue, so that was useful for me. And changing the tunes can sometimes help switch up my enjoyment, although my guilty secret is that I run to those chants that the US military do - tonight was Run to Cadence With the US Marine Corps - cheesy but perfect rhythm for running and helps my breathing regulate.

Oddly though, I get less knee pain when I'm running regularly - too much sitting does it for mine - and it's one of the things that gets me out the door and running. Maybe get something in place to continue before you graduate week 9 though - if you've still lost your mojo at the end it might be hard not to drop it on graduation and not run again. Good luck anyway!

[Speedy99 Graduate in reply to Notobleeptests]

Completed Week 9 Run 1 this morning and it went really well. Knees don't hurt when I run but become tender through the following day. I was really pleased with myself-kept running for the full 30 mins, even up hill at the end. Can't say I'm very quick BUT don't think I've ever run for continuously for 30 minutes even when I was doing cross country at school many moons ago! Am determined to finish this week all being well. Then will have a week's rest and consider my next move!

[Notobleeptests Graduate in reply to Speedy99]

Well done - nearly there! You might find a change of shoes or compression tights help the knee situation.

I’m REALLY slow but that’s something I can work on later (or not, and just enjoy the slower pace!)