W5 begins...

[ktsok]

... fairly horrifically, really. I have no idea how I managed to do that and even the endorphins have abandoned me.

I think every time I have gone into a new week where we jump up a notch, I haven’t been 100% that I can do it, but I’m veering towards thinking I definitely can’t do it today 🙁

I’m only in my early forties and not overweight, in fact, I’m pretty strong from years of climbing, but I have dodgy ankles, knees and lower back from years of gymnastics and then a trampolining injury, and dodgy lungs from decades of smoking. I’m being very careful to jog ‘lightly’ and do my stretches before and after - I will seize up otherwise. I don’t think running is aggravating anything, but it’s so darn hard, and when I’m struggling all the negative stuff (like the injuries) start talking.

It felt like I was practically running on the spot (and struggling to do that) at times today. I recover very quickly, within seconds, when walking, but haven’t learned the art of recharging whilst running, I just wind down... and down... and down...

I think I’m meant to be running for 8 minutes x 2 on the next run. Then 20 minutes the run after. Is it meant to be this hard? ☹️

[SlowLoris]

It ain't easy but it shouldn't be that hard. It is just running. Try starting much slower.

Any forward movement greater than running on the spot is still running.

Having said that, if you have achieved each stage so far you must be doing fine. Most of the barriers are in your mind, not your body.

[ktsok Graduate in reply to SlowLoris]

Yes, maybe.

Can’t decide if it’s mental and I’m just being a melodramatic wuss, or whether I’m just not built for running.

Ta for the tip...

[Elfe5 Graduate]

Even so, you are doing well working through the program. 😀

Perhaps it would help to deliberately start slow & stay slow- a running “within yourself” feeling?? Go gently and enjoy! 😃

[ktsok Graduate in reply to Elfe5]

Thanks 🙏

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Well done.

It is as easy or as hard as you want to make it............ easy conversational pace, so that you can talk clearly, not just gasp, and you will sail through............ push hard and you will not be able to breathe fully enough to supply all the oxygen your body needs and will struggle.

Relax and enjoy it.

[Shelley2310 Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Your post just hit home with me. I struggled today w7r1. Well I thought I struggled!! I went the slowest I’d ever done, only covered 2.5k, but I did it I could breath and could’ve talked if there was anyone to talk to other than the birds just waking up. So I suppose you could say I had a successful run 🏃‍♀️😊

[ktsok Graduate in reply to Shelley2310]

Well done Shelley. Where was the struggle for you? (You say you could breathe and talk whilst running for 25 minutes. Looks pretty impressive from where I am!)

[Shelley2310 Graduate in reply to ktsok]

Thanks, my legs felt heavy and had to go so slow, think I could have walked it faster!!

[ktsok Graduate in reply to Shelley2310]

Yes, it’s tough to feel good about running when you think you could walk faster! After the runs, I look at my heart rate during the run, and it is considerably higher running than walking, so I guess we are getting fitter before we get faster?! 🥴

[ktsok Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thank you. I think I maybe make it hard and push myself too much... I have never done endurance sports and really struggle with pacing. Running really slowly feels a bit unnatural - easier on the lungs but not so comfortable for my posture. Running at just below 6 minutes per km feels comfortable, but I can’t sustain that for more than a few minutes. It’s about a 30 metre elevation gain where I run, too. Not exactly hilly but not flat either and I feel it on the ups. Will have to try harder to find some slower gears for these longer distances, I think. Slow learner here 😑

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

This plan keeps pushing your fitness limits, so it does stay pretty challenging for most of us. The thing is you’re running that first minute a lot easier than you were, then that first two, three etc. The plan also has us running in the “toxic 10” minutes where the body doesn’t realise what’s happening and it takes some oxygen depletion to kick all your systems into gear. I really noticed this when I found the 20 minute run much easier to complete (not start mind) than the run before it.

The big positive that you have is that despite how tough the runs are, you are completing them, so you have the mental strength as your running legs develop. Crazy though this sounds you’re not many weeks of going for a run and coming back realising that you just ran an “easy 5k”

Keep up the great work.

[ktsok Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

That’s true. Three minutes feels kind of easy-ish now. Must stay positive... not sure a 5k run (yet alone an easy one) is achievable yet - but notice there is a ‘yet’! Thank you 🙏

[Darkstar11]

Hi

I had the same kind of self doubts that you’ve expressed when I got to w5. I worked really hard at talking myself into being stressed about it but in the end I figured it would either be ok or it wouldn’t and ultimately if I didn’t manage it on the first go I’ll just repeat till I do. My main problem is pacing myself to get through the longer runs. I do find I consciously focus hard on slowing down so I’ve enough juice in the tank to finish. And it can feel in my head like I’m hardly moving. But as long as you’re putting one foot in front of the other repeatedly you’ll do it. Have faith in the programme and just go for it. You will surprise yourself!!

[ktsok Graduate in reply to Darkstar11]

Thanks Darkstar. It’s good to hear of your experience. Yes, I have the same problem with pacing. It seems instinctive to ‘push’, rather than stay ‘within’, but when you start getting beyond 5 minutes, the pushing it approach doesn’t work anymore. I’m feeling a bit more positive today, and your post helps. Thanks 🙂

[LadyGert]

Don’t discount proper run walking if you recover quickly in walk sections. I started c25k last year and due to medical problems I found strict run walking really suited me and I found it so much more entangle. It’s the Galloway method. I ran a marathon with run walking in April ( back to couch to 5 k as then fractured pelvis so lost all fitness). I run 2 mins and fast walk 30 secs. I have a wrist buzzer. I still managed a good time and ran faster than many many ‘only run runners’ as I didn’t exhaust myself mentally or physically.

So if run walking gets you to 5k, 10k then do that.

Ps don’t be tempted to run until you can’t then walk for a bit etc as that works less well.

[ktsok Graduate in reply to LadyGert]

Thanks Lady Gert, will look into this 🙂