SCARED OF WEEK 2!!

[Coffeeandcake1]

So I have done the first two runs of week 1, and they have been OK/ I have quite enjoyed it!

I am a bit scared of week 2, some of the stuff I have seen is saying how difficult it is

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Please read this healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

There is nothing to be scared about.

You can do this.

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

Check out some W1R1 reports... I swear that run tried to kill me 8 times! I see you’re still alive too! Great start.

As brisk walking and slow running are pretty much the same physical effort... the only difference is the motion of the legs. So, have a look at the week 1 sessions and week 2 sessions and forget about running and walking... look at the total time from start to finish... they’re pretty much the same. So, you can do week 2... week one has prepared you and the change isn’t much at all.

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

Nothing to be scared of on C25K, enjoy every run and take them all slow and steady. 😊

[Coach_potato]

I feel you!

I’ve just completed week 1 and I’m genuinely super scared of week 2, I can literally just about manage the 60 seconds, god knows how I’ll run for 90...

But thinking positive! We can only try, we might surprise ourselves? 🤷‍♀️

[Rosy230973 Graduate in reply to Coach_potato]

Well done! It’s amazing how each week completed I thought, “How am I going to jog that long?” next week. It just happens. It’s miraculous. You’ll be able to do it too.

[AliK0871 Graduate in reply to Coach_potato]

I start wk 2 tonight. Let me know how you get on x

[Pianism Graduate]

Don't be scared folks... I have faith in the programme and all the lovely folk who have been there and succeeded. They were all like us (it's not Gym25k after all!). Plus I've got my new running shoes to swank about in. We can do this!

[Rosy230973 Graduate]

Week I Run 1 was the only session I’ve had problems with and that’s because I ‘ran’. Just remember it’s a very light jog. Expend a small amount of energy. Ignore the doom and gloom joggers. Find somewhere interesting to jog, so you can watch and enjoy the scenery. Find a park or somewhere where you can breathe clean air. It’s amazing how each session seems to get easier and more fun.

[Bartontiger Graduate in reply to Rosy230973]

This is spot on 😀

[Colourmegray58 in reply to Rosy230973]

I agree. The trick is to enjoy it rather than dread it. Says me the week 2 run 1 experienced person lol But seriously I am enjoying getting up on the mornings I do this and brisk walking to the nearby park then shuffle-jogging around the lake. The time goes pretty quickly.

[Diver35]

Don't be scared about it. I was exactly the same when I first started. I thought I was going to pass out after 60 seconds but now on w8r3 running 28min and can't wait to start w9. It's all about positive mental attitude and pushing over the hurdle's. Trust the program and be sure to have your rest days. I also bought a good pair of running shoes which help me massively. Happy running guys and gals.

[Lucysmum02 in reply to Diver35]

Hi Diver35, could you let me know what running shoes you wear? And do you have any recommendations for running shoes in general. Well done on completing week 8! Amazing!😃👏🏻👍🏻

[Colourmegray58]

This morning was my first week 2 run and it was slightly harder but I managed it fine. My week 1 run 3 was on Friday morning so I'd had a couple of days off before today. I'd not thought about how different it was going to be - probably should've mentally prepped for it. I quickly realised it was going for longer so checked my phone and saw it was extra 30 seconds. I still managed to do better time and more distance than first week so that's good.

[Boots101]

I'm on week 6 now and have just realised how much listening to a podcast helps, I downloaded 'Guilt Trip' from radio 4 extra, it's funny and just long enough! Certainly took my mind off what I'm doing! I was so worried about running for 20 minutes continuously, but it went really quickly because my mind was distracted! Good luck, you can do it!

[Colourmegray58 in reply to Boots101]

I love podcasts and it hadn't occurred to me to listen to one whilst doing this haha! What a doofus I am. Will definitely do it tomorrow morning

[MrsB1983]

I finished W2 yesterday and am utterly shocked to hear the words come out of my mouth but I did it, all 3 and they were completely managable. At the end of my last run of W1 I thought I’ll just try and see if I can do the extra 30 secs and I was so surprised I could. It really helped ease my anxiety about the following week. Then when I did W2R1 I took it a bit slower and I think it was the run I have enjoyed most to date! I listened to a podcast rather than the loud music I had been before and I think my pace was better too! I did the same yesterday as W3 was terrifying me and I did that too! As someone who hasn’t run since trying to avoid cross country at school no one is more surprised than me that it’s possible! Please don’t be scared, I totally get how daunting the times can feel but you can do it. My agreement with myself was I would try the first run of the week and if it was too much I would repeat the week I had just done. Being so unfit, for me it’s long term commitment to this but so far so good. Oh and I haven’t ached anywhere near as much after the runs of W2! Just make sure you stretch! Can’t wait to hear how you get on. You can do it!!! X

[Bartontiger Graduate in reply to MrsB1983]

Now this is one inspiring reply. Well said.

[Camalota Graduate]

This programme really works, I only managed 45 seconds on my first ever run and I was so out of breath I could hardly speak. I used to panic every time the running time increased but I always made it, and so will you. Trust the programme and your increasing ability, you really Can do it

[betster2018]

As others have said, just take each day as it comes. I was like you, but just did week 2 run 3 a couple of days ago, and I can't believe I'm saying this but it was actually quite easy. Moving to week 3 today - a mix of 90 seconds and 3 minutes running and I actually believe now I can do it, but back in week 1 I would've said no chance. Good luck. you CAN do this x

[Pearljamrob Graduate]

I’ve just started week 3. I never thought I would manage the first run, as I sit here with my running shoes still on after completing run 1, all I can say is, if you Persevere, you’ll end up here!

[SammyToucan Graduate]

Please don't worry. I just completed run 1 of week 2 and found it easier than week 1! Longer time to walk in between balanced out the slightly longer runs. Keep going!

[Jlonomore Graduate]

I was scared of every week and couldn’t see how the jump was possible but trust the programme I promise that it works 😀. I expected to quit every run and yet I graduated and did my first proper 5k at the weekend. I can’t say I enjoy running yet but I do feel better for it and I loved the sense of achievement I got from completing every run. You’ll be fine 😀

[Jessom]

I completed W5R3 (the dreaded 20 minutes!!!!) last Wednesday and if you’d have asked me week 2 if that was going to happen I’d have laughed (hysterically haha!). You will honestly surprise yourself, stick at it. I always find it’s mind over matter and the feeling of achievement afterwards far outweighs any struggle during. Good luck!!

[Greysixty Graduate]

I have been scared of every week, particularly week 2 ! Strangly, I found week 2 almost easier than week 1. Slow, slow and slower is the key. I think the design of the scheme must be very clever because every run , you think will be impossible.... and it isn’t ! Having said that , now on week 5, somehow completed the first run, I have seen the third run is 20 mins. At 63 and a non runner..... that DOES scare me !!!

[Coffeeandcake1 in reply to Greysixty]

That's amazing! I bet you will smash it, let us know how it goes xx

[Rosy230973 Graduate in reply to Greysixty]

I’m doing week 5 session 3 on Sunday. I’m older than you and never believed I could jog across a room let alone go for 20 minutes. We could confer about our mutual success, before we start week 6!

[Greysixty Graduate in reply to Rosy230973]

Hi Rosy. Yes, am certainly feeling encouraged by my experience so far. I am planning on starting week 6 tomorrow. Slightly worried as everyone seems to think it can bring you down with a jolt and the cold is worrying me a bit but ,Heigh ho, onwards and upwards.,will let you know how it goes.

[Greysixty Graduate in reply to Rosy230973]

Sorry, meant to say, I completed week 5 run 3 yesterday. After a few minutes I thought I would never make it but kept going and strangely after 7 or 8 minutes I seemed to hit a rhythm where everything felt right. Keep going, hit a pace and keep with it. I think, for a brief time, I experienced what they call Runner’s euphoria . Hope it lasts for tomorrow. Let me know how you go Sunday.

[Rosy230973 Graduate in reply to Greysixty]

Fantastic! So now hopefully it will be plain sailing through week 6. The first session looks easier than week 5, so I’m curious to know what the problems really are.

[AngryFlower Graduate]

Hi, you can definitely do this. I’m a graduate and I’m still scared sometimes “maybe this will be the run that I can’t do” but don’t worry it’s never happened. I always think of that business book ‘Feel the fear and do it anyway’ a little fear can be a good thing too. Keep it really slow and I’m sure you’ll surprise yourself, that’s one of the best things about the programme, the surprise at the incredible achievement at what you’ve just done. Rooting for you !

[Gooner4ever Graduate]

I've been dreading week 2 but I've just got back and it was ok, my legs felt a bit like jelly on the 4th bit but on the 5th one i'd forgotten I was jogging and thought she was going to tell me to start running again. I'm not fast, I went really slow because I think I had gone too fast in week 1 run 3. If I can do it, ( I've not run for 35 years! ) you can do it.

[RunnerLCA Graduate]

You can totally do it, keep a positive attitude towards each run, keep it slow and steady as this isn’t the time to think about speed it’s just about building fitness and stamina. You’ll be able to smash it i’m sure 🏃‍♀️

[runningphobe_no_more Graduate]

Ah, but Week 2 only has 6 runs instead of 8. Hold on to that thought. It helps make 90 seconds bearable.

[Coffeeandcake1 in reply to runningphobe_no_more]

This will be what I tell myself!!

[Kasi42 Graduate]

I’ve just completed week 2 and it’s perfectly doable. Feels great to have completed it. Just go for it. Good luck.

[StormyMonday Graduate]

Just done week2r1 and loved it! Feeling so much stronger already. Could even tackle running up hills. The buzz is incredible!

[Actually Graduate]

I did each level for 3 weeks rather than just one. When you're unfit (and 50+ and a bit overweight like me!) it's really important to take it gently. I think C25k goes a bit too fast for non-runners. So don't feel you have to move on until you're confident in the level you're at.

[Mercmancouchto5k Graduate]

Hey there Coffeeandcake1, please don't be afraid of the 90 second runs. The programme is designed to be achievable for almost everyone - no matter how unfit. If you can't get to 90 seconds, slow down. What's the worst that can happen? It just takes a little longer to repeat some of the runs. The only one I had to repeat was W9R1 because I went to a park run on Christmas day and overdid it. I finished the 5K, but "running" would be an unfair description. More like jogging, walking, crawling and hands on knees to help push the legs back down to straight up position. The hill walk on the way home had four stops. So I was only 5 days late completing week 9. Best of luck with it. The only fail is not to try in the first place.

[Coffeeandcake1 in reply to Mercmancouchto5k]

I love this!!

[Slowandeasy]

I was very much like you. Week one was killing me and I was utterly terrified of Week 2 coming up. In the end I found it a little easier than week one. I was surprised and delighted. I suspect you'll find the same thing.

[ANewMe1 Graduate]

I completed W2R1 today and it really wasn't that bad. I've created a running playlist and it really helps, Girl on Fire by Alicia Keys was my top song today.

Take it slowly and at your own pace.

You can do this!

[Coffeeandcake1 in reply to ANewMe1]

I listen to Blondie - One Way or Another to get me through the last bit!!x

[Coffeeandcake1]

I am so overwhelmed by how many lovely posts there are here, thank you so so much. This is such a lovely community to join, and I am very excited to see where this journey will take me.

I have one more run for week 1, then I am going onto week two. I think I will do w1r3 on Wednesday and w2r1 on Friday... EXCITING!!!

Thank you everyone, I will let you know how I get on xxx

[Coffeeandcake1]

Did W2R1, and it was pretty good! Did find it harder, but I know it’s possible