Ok, so I decided to redo Week 5 three times. I had done W6R1 and managed it, but then realised I had forgotten to put the 1% incline on the treadmill. I couldn't remember how long I had forgotten for, so decided to do W5 again just in case. Then I decided to redo it three times because I felt I was struggling.
I am still struggling. Today I did W5R2 for the third time and it was REALLY hard. I thought I might have to give up just a few minutes into the first 8 minute run. I'm getting a bit fed up as it doesn't seem that my fitness levels are getting better at all. After a fantastic start I must admit I'm really having to push myself to keep going. To all you brilliant (and supportive) experts out there - why aren't I getting better? I run as slowly as I possibly can without it turning into a walk - 5.2kph/11.33 pace. I walk at between 4.2 and 4.4kph. As I've said before I am very overweight - by my reckoning about 5 stone, although the NHS BMI calculator says significantly more - at my goal weight they would still consider me to be overweight/verging on obese!
Help please!!!
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Pickles1234
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Sorry to hear of your troubles, Pickles. I’m nowhere near as far on as you but I’m also more overweight than you, so I really sympathise. Sometimes things do plateau for a while. If you’ve ever seen time lapse film of a flower opening, you’ll know it’s not a steady progression - more a series of hiccups with an occasional regression. Life’s like that. You sound like you’re getting very anxious about your runs, and that will make it harder to breathe well, which will reduce your muscle capacity. Why not try a week or two of just running for fun ? Don’t worry about your week or your pace. Get outside if you can. Even allow yourself a guilt free day or two off ? Come back refreshed and remember, this is meant to be a journey, not a punishment ! All the best with it x
Thanks Buttercup Kid. I know you understand so well the frustrations of attempting this kind of thing when the body just doesn’t cooperate. I’m not giving up, I will get there. I remembered that I had a typhoid jab on Thursday which has made me feel really under the weather, achey etc so that won’t have helped.
Sorry to hear you’re struggling Pickles. 🙁 Are you finding it hard puff wise or leg strength wise? If it’s your breathing, maybe you could slow down a little more. Honestly, you hardly need to be doing more than a walk. Just maintain a running motion.
If your legs feel weak (mine do sometimes), are you fueling yourself up adequately? A banana or something small an hour or so you run is helpful. Also don’t skimp on your hydration, especially the day before you run. It really helps.
Not sure if any of my waffle is any help, but these are tips I’ve been given and have given myself to others.
Don’t give up Pickles, you’re doing brilliantly regardless. 😀👍👏
Thanks cheeky - it’s more a general difficulty in hefting my body if you know what I mean? As I said to ButtercupKid, I’m not giving up but it’s going to take longer. I think also those gremlins are telling me I can’t do it.....
Sorry to hear this. Especially after you were so excited about it before. Are you completing each run? If you're completing each run maybe move on and try week 6? Maybe you feel demotivated because it's repetitive and you feel you aren't making progress, because you keep repeating the same runs. I think you are more than ready for week 6. Your fitness without a doubt is improving. I definitely found the runs broken up with walking to be harder than the constant running. Don't be so hard on yourself, we have to remember we are very very new runners. 6 weeks ago we struggled to run for 1 minute, so look how far we have come. You can run (and have now 3 times) for 20 minutes non stop!! If you know you couldn't have done that 6 weeks ago, there is evidence of your improved fitness!
Yes I think demotivation May be part of it, also thinking I can’t do it, fear of finishing it (bizarre I know!). I also had a typhoid jab last Thursday and don’t think that’s helped on the last couple of runs. Not giving up though, just realising it might take a bit longer x
As someone who did the whole program on the treadmill... forget the 1% incline. In your position, it's just NOT necessary. If you managed W6R1 having done all of W5 previously, then just move onto W6R2 and get on with it - same speed settings as before. You'll be fine.
Thanks John - I was very interested to read this, particularly as I see you’re now a marathon runner - my dream!!! I suppose my concern is that because I’m not running outside, I’m copping out a bit so wanted to simulate outside conditions as much as I could.
Put your concerns aside - literally *no-one* cares that you're not running outside.
When you eventually do, it will feel a little different but within a few weeks, you'll be used to it and love it hopefully.
But for now, I repeat, forget the 1% incline! The most important thing is to find your 2 speed settings (brisk walk and jog) you're comfortable at and use these to move through the program. Trust me
Ok... you did the very tricky W6R1, so you’re certainly getting fitter... I can’t help but think you’re building a mental barrier here for yourself. That incline isn’t necessary for the programme, it’s supposed to simulate outdoor running, but I’ve yet to encounter a 1% incline that goes on for 30 minutes out there to be honest. Try with it off until the last 5 minutes and put 2% on maybe? I believe if you thought you’d have to stop on the first 8 but didn’t, you could have gone 10... walk and 10 again, which is W6R2. I’d love to come run the next one with you, maybe distraction from the running itself would help?
You can do this plan, you’ve done the hardest bits!
Thanks UNM wise as ever - I think you’ve hit the nail on the head. I have built a mental barrier. As ridiculous as it sounds I think I got worried about the programme ending... I’m not giving up and think I’m going to forget the 1% incline at least for the time being. Thankyou for your kind words - I think distance stops the accompanies run and anyway, NO-ONE sees me run!!! 😂
Mental barriers are there to be broken... here, use my virtual sledgehammer 🔨 for which that’s the closest emoji, better than this one 🛷 anyway, but we will need that soon enough.
Relax and go and I reckon you’ll get it next time.
Hey pickles, I think i'm with skinny cook on this one, give yourself the chance to try week 6, I still find running difficult in week 8, yeah I have good days and bad days but it's always challenging. try stepping up to week 6, you might surprise yourself
Thanks jiggles. I’m going to finish 5 again then move on to 6, but forget the 1% incline. I have to focus on how far I’ve come. Although I’m running very slowly I’m now walking at 4.4kph and on day 1 I couldn’t walk above 2.2kph!
Most feel like that on c25k, yes it's tough, you feel OK physically though, yes? then you have to push on through, we have to push on through to get anywhere, the mind probably isn't quite used to the running yet, the gremlins are pesky little liars, if you're completing the runs OK then push on with the next one's, don't keep repeating the same run..
Yes it’s those gremlins! Thanks for your support Dave!
I would go back even further, and redo week 4. It really doesn't matter how long it takes you to master this but if you hurt yourself or feel defeated you will probably give up. Re-do week 4 making sure you take your rest days, and you are well hydrated before you run. If you are a newbie to running and generally unfit before you started ( though you may not have been) then it may take you a little longer than the prescribed time.
I was given a tee-shirt in a motorway services in Spain over the summer, on the front it says, loosely translated,
the journey is just as important as the destination, so its important to enjoy the process of doing this as well as getting it over with. Patience is a virtue!
To be honest, because your that much overweight, you are actually doing fantastic! All that struggling is building endurance. I’m in a similar situation to you but have been doing Keto Diet to drop weight and am getting through the runs tired at the end but still getting through
Thankyou - I know, I need to give myself credit for moving my body in a running motion at all - not very good at that! Am very interested in the Keri diet and have just downloaded a couple of books. How are you finding it? Have you lost much weight?
Thanks Katnap. 😊. I’m trying podcasts of Woman’s Hour at the moment. I will get there and I really do believe it’s my head as much as if not more than my physical abilities. I need to give myself more credit for how far I’ve come.
Hey Pickles, I know everyone on here has given you support... Ive just finished W6R2 ... Honestly when I saw the run for W5R3 I nearly put it off so much that I didn't do it. And still can't believe i could do it, just take you time and move on to the next run. I just finished the last one with out any walks in it,, and it scares the life out of me. but I'm gonna out my faith in this course as it works for so many people. It's not a race, it's about pacing youself and enjoying it.
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Struggling to push past 5 mins!
Hard Going
My last week 3 run tomorrow, I cannot believe it.
Going Back..
Going clubbing?
