Oh dear 😟

[ButtercupKid]

Had another bash at a week 2 run. Not quite as dreadful as Monday’s attempt, but diabolically worse than last week. I know this is never going to be easy for me, since I have little legs and Ethel to lug about, but honestly ! What’s happened to me ?!!! Please tell me it’ll get better soon 🙄

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

You will get better soon, many good runners have short legs, of course some men have short hairy legs, that does not stop them from running, as for Ethel, just tell her to take a running jump, good luck to you BCK for your third run 🏃 of week 2👍

[ButtercupKid Graduate in reply to AlMorr]

Some women have short hairy legs too 😄 Thanks for the encouragement, AlMorr. I know the only real answer is to keep getting out there !

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate in reply to ButtercupKid]

😊👍

[CatMo13 Graduate]

Wow I’ve just read through some of your posts to find out who Ethel is. All I can say is what amazing determination you have! Go you! Yes it will get better for you, it has to - you can’t stop this now after so much progress 🙌

[ButtercupKid Graduate in reply to CatMo13]

Thanks, CatMo. I can’t blame anyone else for Ethel - I brought her on myself ! Going through a hard patch just now, but no intention of quitting 😀

[CatMo13 Graduate in reply to ButtercupKid]

Hang on in there 👍

[Bloodhound1]

Well done for perseverance even if you don’t feel that you are making progress you are. With every run your body is gaining a little extra strength and stamina. And it’s progressive so each is adding to the previous run in one of your earlier posts you said you where a good walker are you doing some decent distance walks on your rest days? That really helped me. Just keep at it - as Coach Sarah says “you can do it”, And in the end the tortoise beat the hare

[ButtercupKid Graduate in reply to Bloodhound1]

At the moment I’m finding that long walks on rest days make the running even worse, while two or three shorter walks don’t have the same effect. It’s all trial and error !

[Bloodhound1 in reply to ButtercupKid]

You just have to go with what your body is telling you. You will still get there

[Ceri1969 Graduate]

Yes it gets better! I promise xxxx I was exactly the same we all were. Please trust the program. Xxxx

[ButtercupKid Graduate in reply to Ceri1969]

Thanks, Ceri. I don’t doubt the programme, but I do doubt myself ! I was the worst runner in my school and even though that was decades back, I have trouble believing that can change. 😐

[Ceri1969 Graduate in reply to ButtercupKid]

It will change and so will you. You will amaze yourself. I am staggered to think that 7 weeks ago I was stressing about running for 90 seconds and now I can run flat out for 25 minutes. I’m unfit and 3 stone overweight! I run on a treadmill and run slowly, perhaps 5-6km per hour. Don’t run too quickly and you will smash it. Keep it up xxxx

[cheekychipmunks Graduate]

It WILL get better BK. Trust the plan to look after your body, and each week will unfold.

If you’re struggling, dial back your pace until you’re practically walking - still maintaining a running motion. There is no such thing as too slow. It’ll help your breathing and strengthen your legs at the same time.

If you complete the run, move on next time. If not, who cares? Try again after a day or two’s rest.

Sneakily, you’ll get fitter. You really will, and you CAN do it! We’ve got your back. 👊😀

Good luck! 😀

[ButtercupKid Graduate in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Thanks CC. I’m not giving up ! Glad to know you’re all out there x

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to ButtercupKid]

Always there for our wonderful VRB’s. ❤️

[ButtercupKid Graduate in reply to cheekychipmunks]

What’s a VRB ?!!

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to ButtercupKid]

Virtual running buddy! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃🏃

[ButtercupKid Graduate in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Of course ! Not with it today 🤪

[Zaza0309 Graduate]

I think the fact your have struggled and are still getting yourself out there and giving it a go speak volumes about the type of person you are. Keep plugging away - you legs won’t grow ( I’ve accepted that just pushing 5 foot myself) but hopefully you will be able to lose Ethel over time x keep going - you are doing brill

[ButtercupKid Graduate in reply to Zaza0309]

Thanks Zara. Sometimes I think it’s really unfair that we short people have to do so much extra work 😄

[Nita49 Graduate]

Hey Buttercupkid!

It will get better, just trust the plan and believe in yourself 🤗

I'm overweight and carrying way more than I should (doesn't help being short lol), but I'm now on Wk 7 and have found my fitness levels and stamina increasing, as well as my shape!

As I say to everyone this is not a race, I go at my own pace which is a cross between a snail and Tortoise and I'm loving it, and can now run 25 mins non stop.... Trust me when I say the first two weeks of C25K were tough! But with grit and determination and finding my inner snail I got better.... And so will you!

Try not to overthink each run, or focus on your breathing... Stick on your music and go SLOW and I mean SLOW...

And the rest will follow.

As for Christmas and Families...... I hate all the pressure people give themselves.... Would it shock them if you stood on a stool and said in your loudest voice "Will you all just shut up" 🤭

Happy SLOW running buddy xx

[ButtercupKid Graduate in reply to Nita49]

Shock them ? Nah, they’re used to it ! I’m a neat blend of Little Miss Bossy and Little Miss Stubborn really ! If they want Little Miss Sunshine, they know what they have to do 😁 It has surprised me though, the effect the additional mental pressure seems to have on my running.

[Wimborne]

I wish you knew how many of us are there with you every time you get out ( we ignore Ethel as you know ). And you said it yourself. It was better than the last one on Monday. That’s brilliant. That’s fantastic. It was better!!!!!! I wish you could hear me shouting this..... I am very loud 😂. It was better!!!!

[ButtercupKid Graduate in reply to Wimborne]

Thanks Wimborne. You do make me laugh ! I just had an image of you running along my usual track yodelling “It was better !” Into the trees. I’ll listen for the echo next time I’m out x

[Wimborne in reply to ButtercupKid]

Well keep hold of that image.... I have a voice like a fog horn with a lovely welsh tilt to it too.

[ButtercupKid Graduate in reply to Wimborne]

Oh marvellous ! I think I’ll picture a whole choir of echoing Wimbornes waiting at the end of each run 😃

[Jell6 Graduate]

Just keep at it BCK. You have tremendous perseverance.

Every time you put your gear on and get out is a win, regardless of the actual run.🤩

[ButtercupKid Graduate in reply to Jell6]

Thanks Jell6. I always say the only run you fail is the one you don’t go for x

[Oldishrunner Graduate]

You are not alone with so many people willing you on. Do it your way and you will get there, bit by bit. You've done the hardest bit by starting the program, so onwards and upwards!

[ButtercupKid Graduate in reply to Oldishrunner]

Thanks for your encouragement, OR. Hope it’s going well for you x

[Beatricefast Graduate]

Thank you for your sweet reply to me ... I have just finished my W2R2 and to say my pace was slow is an understatement! More walking with attitude and sass!

In week 2 I have put my lipstick 💄 on before I run ... as I usually would if walking about ... go girl! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[ButtercupKid Graduate in reply to Beatricefast]

That’s the spirit - knock ‘em dead out there ! You go girl !

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

The runs are the runs...BUT... you get stronger.. and you are getting stronger....Little legs work just as well as long legs...( ask my small runner in training) !

Think of the quotation..

" There is no one Giant step that does it.... it is lots of little steps".

[ButtercupKid Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Feels like far too many little steps sometimes ! But I’m not quitting. Thanks for your encouragement, Oldfloss x

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

It’ll get better... can’t promise that it’ll be soon... but you did better than Monday, forget last week, so you can get better next time too. Just keep on going and you will succeed, so one day you’ll smile at the end of a 5k and think “that was easy”.

[ButtercupKid Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Thanks UNM. I know really there’s no other answer but to keep getting out there. It just feels so lonely sometimes ! Glad to know you lovely people are all out there x

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to ButtercupKid]

That’s when I play “the loneliness of the long distance runner” in my ears... song named after a book... oh! I should get the audiobook that would rock!

I do think of everyone here when it’s tough out there, and when it’s easy I thank you all... sometimes out loud!

[ButtercupKid Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

That must surprise the neighbours lol ! I only went out yesterday because I knew everyone here was behind me. It makes such a difference to motivation.

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to ButtercupKid]

I get some weird looks!

[ButtercupKid Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

At least you know WHY you’re getting weird looks ! 🤪

[molly1973 Graduate]

Keep going, buttercup. You are amazing in that it is clearly really hard and you never ever quit! It WILL pay off, and if Ethel isn’t slimming too much it’ll help with your wellbeing xx

[ButtercupKid Graduate in reply to molly1973]

Ethel isn’t slimming at all -she’s put on a pound each month since I started here ! But I’m hoping I’ll start knocking her into submission soon 😄

[molly1973 Graduate in reply to ButtercupKid]

My version of Ethel isn’t either!

[ButtercupKid Graduate in reply to molly1973]

Wouldn’t you just like to slap her daft ?!! 😄

[molly1973 Graduate in reply to ButtercupKid]

😂😂😂 oh yes

[Tartancat Graduate]

At the start week 1 was impossible for you, but you got there, you did it.

Week 2 may feel impossible at the moment, but you've already proved that you can do the impossible.

Keep bashing away BK, you WILL get there, and we're all behind you, every step of the way 😊

[ButtercupKid Graduate in reply to Tartancat]

Thanks Tartancat. I do keep reminding myself what it all felt like at the start of September ! I’ve just started the strength and fitness podcasts too - I think that will help over time. Have you tried them ?

[Tartancat Graduate in reply to ButtercupKid]

I haven't tried them but I really should. I keep telling myself I have a strong core from years of riding, but I think I'm kidding myself! You might have just given me the boot up the backside I need to get started!

[ButtercupKid Graduate in reply to Tartancat]

You probably do - all the riders I’ve ever met have fabulous straight backs !

[Shelley2310 Graduate]

Well done on getting out there, you can do this. Your determination is wonderful.

[ButtercupKid Graduate in reply to Shelley2310]

Thanks Shelley. I never was a quitter. My mum says I’m just stubborn 😄

[SkyThePie]

It will get better. Short legs or long legs, just take your time and breath steadily. Look at what you’ve achieved, not what you still have to do...

[ButtercupKid Graduate in reply to SkyThePie]

Thanks StP. The only answer is to keep getting out there 😉

[Jlonomore Graduate]

Try reducing your pace. I tried and gave up previously as I wasn’t making any progress - after 8 weeks I still struggled to run any more than 60 secs. This time I reduced my speed from 9kph to 7kph and it made all the difference. I’m in week 6 now and actually enjoying it 😀

[ButtercupKid Graduate in reply to Jlonomore]

Good job you ! I conquered week 1 on the ninth repeat and now I’m on my third repeat of week 2. I follow my old driving instructor’s advice: “When in doubt, slow down !” 😀

[Jlonomore Graduate]

Your perseverance is inspirational 😀. Keep up the good work and you will get there x

[ButtercupKid Graduate in reply to Jlonomore]

Thanks 😊 I’m not going anywhere - except out running !