W9 advice please

[lah30f]

So, I completed week 8 this morning. I’ve had a few ups and downs to get me to this point including a repeat of week 6 when I got a bit jittery but all in all I’m feeling pretty good and quite proud of myself. Felt a bit of a plonker when I finished today’s run and I had tears in my eyes because I’d actually finished W8 and realised I could quite probably nail week 9 and graduate......but there lies the problem....I have been able to fit all of the previous weeks runs in between work, family commitments and even holidays but this next week, my week 9, it just so happens that due to unforeseen work commitments I genuinely do not see a gap when I can run at all..... I’m thinking, forget next week and do W9 the following week or should I repeat week 8 the following week and do W9 the week after.

Is it possible to not run at all for a week and then do W9??

[Tasha99 Graduate]

Yes. Apparently your fitness doesn’t decline until 2 weeks. But you could go out and do a brief 5-10 minutes in the middle of the week to keep it ticking over.

[Irish-John Graduate]

At this point you should have a good idea of what your body is telling you when you run I was away for a month very recently with no running (but a lot of walking) and thought that at this point I'd be 'hopefully' back to 5 1/2 miles - but have just done Ten I had a bigger balance in the 'running bank' than I thought

So - in a weeks time it might be best to do an 'exploratory run' with the idea it would be nice to reach the week 8 mark and it might be possible to hit the week 9 mark - but nicest of all would be not to get an injury Take it slow and steady and carefully and assess where you are at then and all should work out well

I don't know when you started the programme, but it might be helpful to know that in a survey we did here it turned out that less than ten percent graduate in 9 weeks/with 5K so please don't put any unnecessary pressure on yourself in that regard

Wishing you many happy miles in your future

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

You’ll be fine, in fact you’ll probably be better, if you take a week off. First couple of days you’re still building muscle and the last few are a break that your legs will just love.

[steviej99 Graduate]

A weeks break will be fine. A lot of distance training programs include an occasional weeks rest to help the body and mind. After a week you'll feel great and crush your graduation week

[Oldlady57]

Hi speedy!! Take your week off then come back & smash week 9!! See you on the podium really soon. Don’t work too hard 👍🏻

[lah30f Graduate in reply to Oldlady57]

Lol! Speedy!! Not sure you’d have called me that had you have been with me!!...You must only be about 1 run away from that podium now!! So excited for you. 👍👍

[Oldlady57 in reply to lah30f]

On track for Wednesday eeeeeekkkkkkk. As UFNM said you’ll be fine not running for a week (if you can stay away). Don’t put pressure on yourself, you’ll be on the podium soon enough. Take care👍🏻

[Johnnylewis Graduate]

I done a couple of 12 min runs to try and kerb the craving of running on my off days. They really helped. Try that. Even if it's only 10 mins per day you will feel better. Just don't put pressure on yourself

[Cherylcw Graduate]

I had to have a week long break after week 6 as got knocked off my bike by a car, and then had to have a 6 day break at the end of week 7 due to getting a trapped nerve in my shoulder.

And actually it didn't seem to slow me down or cause me any problem, so just go for it when you can

[lah30f Graduate]

Thanks everyone for the advice. If I get chance I’ll do a couple of small 10 minute runs this week before completing W9 the following week....There’s confidence for ya!! 😉