Getting back into it after a 4 week holiday?!

[LoveJRs]

Please can I get some advice...I graduated in week 9 - and the very next weekI had an extended holiday in SA for just under month. I decided that I would go back to week 6 ( my logic was I have had a 3 week break from running) and expected it to be an easy way to get back into running.

It’s been hard - and that’s okay - but my legs are achy,muscles feel pulled and strained - something I never experienced while working my way thru Couch25k....what I am doing wrong ? And what should I try? I am a complete novice!

Thank you all in advance. 😊

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

After 4 weeks there would be a slight loss in fitness, and maybe we are seeing the very subtle differences in the workout lengths here. If we count brisk walking as a very similar effort to the running bit... then there’s little difference between week 6 and the longer runs... the run/walk is more about building and conditioning leg muscles than the whole workout being easier. At which point did the run become difficult?

[LoveJRs in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Some of my leg muscles feel pulled - like when you start exercising for the few times - never had that while I was going thru the plan.

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to LoveJRs]

Are you running a little faster than you did? Is your hydration good? Can you run 10 minutes before feeling this?

[LoveJRs in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Yes I could run for 30 mins. Maybe I going too fast.

[LoveJRs in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Maybe I am running too long ( 10 mins) maybe I should do 5 min run/ 60 sec walk? Til they stop hurting.

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to LoveJRs]

Possibly... I had the same time out, or thereabouts, but it was due to an injury so I can back with a half mile run, and built from there and was consciously running slow to allow my ankle to strengthen up again. Without the injury I’d have just gone for a gentle slow run with a timer set to stop me at 30 minutes, but no expectation of getting to that alarm... just going until I needed to stop, and that would tell me roughly where I was at.

[LoveJRs in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Thank you for offering some advice. 😊