HELP!! Week 9 problems

[Emma2812]

So you get to week nine and surely your motivation is at it's highest as you can see the finish line on the horizon... WRONG.

I'm really struggling at the minute. I've had three bad runs in a row and it's horrible. I'm blaming change of route mainly. My new route has one big hill which I did not realise before so I'm going to change my route back to my week 8 route for W9R2. I did manage to run for thirty minutes today but had to stop for one minute twice as I was very dizzy. I did pretty well considering the hill. I also managed to run a lot faster for the last minute and had a quick sprint after my warm down (I know 🙈) to make myself feel better. Has anyone else experienced this? The demons are getting me bad! I've never had to stop before.

Also need some motivation tips. I've tried some new music to listen to which has helped. Just feel like giving up which I know I will regret endlessly.

Any words of advice will be gratefully received.

[DiscoRunner Graduate]

Go back to your old route & give up that hill for now!! Wk 9 is you first 3 x 30 minute runs, these are hard but you are ready for them. Think back to how you felt when you started and look at how far you’ve come. Next steps, after graduation, is to consolidate your runs - 3 x 30 mins a week until this feels easy. I’m a recent graduate, so it’s still not easy for me, and I’m running my familiar route (and I’m still using the app & doing the final run with different coaches for variety), and not working on pace of adding distance yet.

But I am really feeling the benefits of this - stronger, fitter and generally just better! So don’t give up, you’ve come so far and achieved so much! And every day that you run - even if it’s hard while you’re doing it - it feels great afterwards!! Best of luck and I hope you manage to enjoy your graduation run x

[Emma2812 in reply to DiscoRunner]

Thank you this has really helped!

[AdamB Graduate]

If you are at week 9 and you need motivation, there's one easy answer: go to parkrun tomorrow morning.

Look up your nearest parkrun on the website now (parkrun.org.uk), register and print out your barcode and you'll be all set. Then get yourself down there for 9am tomorrow.

On the run just take it easy. Run for 30 minutes and then walk the rest. You will find the parkrun atmosphere encouraging. Don't worry about being too slow. I can assure you that you won't be last. Don't set off too quickly for your first parkrun. Let the speed merchants zoom off ahead (never be too fast on your first parkrun - it just makes it harder to beat your PB in the future...)

[Emma2812 in reply to AdamB]

Oh good the dreaded park run! I'm going to try to do this when I've completed the app although it puts the fear of God in me I can't lie. I guess it's a feeling of not being good enough

[Hidden]

Hi Emma I can remember wondering why as I was going through the programme I wasn't getting any quicker and then remembered one small fact that I was actually running further each time - you can’t develop both speed and distance at the same time, and it’s the same principle with hills.

Had you been doing that pesky hill from Week 1, then your running strength would have developed bearing that hill in mind. So go back to your old route - that’s your benchmark after all this time, and you’ll probably find you’re stronger at it now.

After you’ve graduated that’s the time when experimenting works best, because you know you’ve got the C25K programme done. Think of it like a driving test, most of us learn to ‘properly’ drive way way after we passed our test and running is the same I’ve found.

I now know I’m not a speedy Gonzales and that I prefer 8-10km range - and I don’t mind hills but to be any good I have to work at them and that means little and often. The world famous Oldfloss and I share a habit and that is tiptoe running up hills, it seems to help keep your pace reasonable and makes the hills manageable. That may work for you post graduation when you’re working out how, what and when you run.

Good luck for the podium week

[Kaybertram Graduate]

Feel your pain. W9R1 on Tuesday was a total wipe out. Walked on a hill for the first time as the demons got me. then literally fell into a muddy puddle scrapping both knees on rocks. Limped home covered in mud and blood. Tonight I cut out the hill and cruised my first 30mins. It’s a goddam rollercoaster but it’s addictive. You’ve got this.

[Emma2812 in reply to Kaybertram]

Oh no I totally dread falling over! Poor you but well done for not letting it put you off! X

[ButtercupKid Graduate]

Remember the First Rule of C25k: The only run you fail is the run you don’t go for ! Your body is adjusting to the demands of week 9 and it’s taking a little time. This can happen to anyone at any time, and that’s why there’s a repeat facility in the programme. Rest up, hydrate well, take it steady and slow. You really can do it and we’re all right here with you x