W6 R3 has got me defeated 😕

[Koolkatodf]

I usually use the treadmill at the gym to do couch to 5k because the area around uni scares me lol (also actually gets me to the gym) but I went home from uni early this week so I couldn’t do all three runs there but I took my running shoes with me and thought that I could run outside... I was wrong. as soon as I started running on the uneven tarmac it felt so foreign to the treadmill and then I thought I’d pause and walk to the nearest park and run there but the grass wasn’t helping me either r2 I actually felt confident in my ability but today just got me feeling down. Going to try again on Sunday at the gym again but I hope I can get to week 7 soon!

[Hidden]

Not sure how longbtill you can get back to the treadmill but if you're struggling outside try ticking over on weeks 4 or 5 runs. I find the treadmill alien and only did the first couple of weeks on one because I was in Texas and it was too hot/ humid to be outside ( though the locals seem to go before dawn from what I saw) so its just a question of getting used to it. Or can you find a local gym that does a pay-as-you-go type arrangement.

[Koolkatodf in reply to Hidden]

I was only at home for 3days so I managed to go to the gym today and managed to do the whole 25mins Which is the longest I’ve ever ran in my life!

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

It’s very different... you should see me trying to run on a treadmill, hilarious for anyone nearby. I don’t know any winners who haven’t tasted the odd defeat. You have the ability and you can do this run, hopefully you can access a treadmill soon. Well done getting out there and trying, and then as most people would have given up you took the walk to the park and tried again... that’s some good determination right there.

[Koolkatodf in reply to UnfitNoMore]

I think because even in school I wouldn’t run when outside it’s just felt weird to do I think. But I managed to do the whole 25mins today and I’m pretty proud of my self!

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to Koolkatodf]

Excellent job

[Leadfoot Graduate]

Look at it this way, I run outdoors, and I can absolutely guarantee you that if i tried to do my next run on a treadmill having never used one, I'd definitely fail the run!

If you did fancy switching over, i'd try a few shorter runs to adapt myself, but don't stress about it too much, you're doing the same runs as anybody else here, just in one of the environments rather than the other!

[Koolkatodf in reply to Leadfoot]

It was only for the weekend so today when I got back to the gym to complete week 6, Week 7 here I come! Think once I finish in the treadmill I’ll restart outside

[ButtercupKid Graduate]

What they all said ! Just wanted to say, finding it a challenge is not the same as being defeated by it. You can do this ! Why not try something different for a day or two - go for a walk, swim, boogie round your room to your most uncool music, whatever - and go back to the treadmill refreshed and raring to go ? All the best with it when you get there x

[Koolkatodf in reply to ButtercupKid]

My something different was working 10 hour shifts all weekend haha! Managed to finish week 6 today!

[ButtercupKid Graduate in reply to Koolkatodf]

A change is as good as a rest, so they say ! Well done on beating week 6 x

[Jogunlikely Graduate]

Hiya. running outside is completely different to a treadmill so don't be so hard on yourself 😉 it is much more difficult to pace yourself as you don't have the machine to do it for you. Take heart, any run is better than no run x use this time to learn how the different surfaces feel. If you complete your next c25k run outside, great but if you don't so what? This is a journey to discover the joy of runningnot a race to get to the end of 9 weeks x

Please don't let your experience put you off running outside because nothing beats it. Personally I love running on the downs on a summers evening. Others will expound the virtues of running as the dawn breaks. You will find your favourite too, just maybe not during a soggy British winter 🤣

Happy running x

[Koolkatodf in reply to Jogunlikely]

Wow, that was some very insightful advice! I think my plan is to finish c25k on the treadmill then restart outside because I get so bored when doing the long runs now if I can just walk away easily then I’d never complete it outside! But manage to finish week 6 yesterday!!

[Jogunlikely Graduate in reply to Koolkatodf]

Congratulations on completing wk6 👍👍👍

I agree the long runs on treadmill are just tedious even with my podcasts. I'm thinking of changing my running days from Mon Wed Fri to take in Sat or Sun so I do one run outside in the daylight 🤗

[Popcorn1 Graduate]

I did my couch to 5k on the treadmill and assumed it would be easy outside. Had the same experience as you and was so deflated, but went back a few weeks in the programme and found people to run with, and love it outside now. It feels much harder to me but goes quicker and feel much more satisfaction at the end. Keep going and dont beat yourself up... you’ve still got it, it’s just different!

[Koolkatodf in reply to Popcorn1]

Glad I’m not alone on thinking the transition was harder than expected! I think once I finish c25k on the treadmill I’m going to restart it but outside, think that’s the only way I might be able to become an outside runner!

[Berksrover Graduate]

I did a lot of C25K on a treadmill and still do use them when I have to, transitioning to running outside can be difficult, I still struggle with maintaining an even pace and you have different surfaces, weather and hills to deal with, but once you get over that, I think the benefits of outdoor running make it all worthwhile. If you can run on a treadmill, you can run outside, stick with it and you will be fine.

[Koolkatodf in reply to Berksrover]

Think I’m just going to finish c25k on the treadmill and then I’ll restart it outside as I would prefer to finish it and do it twice then to go back at this time!

[Popcorn1 Graduate in reply to Koolkatodf]

I felt the same about finishing on the treadmill first. You’ve then got the achievement of graduating before going backwards a bit! I found once I had done a couple of weeks runs outside it all became easier and the stamina I’d built up on the treadmill kicked in. You’ve got this ... it’s just different!