So, after struggling to get past 20 minutes, then managing 30 then 32 minutes on the treadmill I skipped a run in the rain yesterday and, as I'd not run since Tuesday, felt lazy and "not a runner". 6.30 this morning I hit the gym, straight on the treadmill, just me there, no unofficial trainer cheering me on. I struggled after only 5 minutes, I was hot (turn the aircon up!), my leggings were slipping down (oops), there was nothing decent on the TV and my arms? They were out of sync and just wobbling like a T-Rex! Somehow I got to 17, then past the evil 20 minutes, thought that would be ok, but then saw 30 and was aiming for 34. I managed to get there and noticed I was on 4.13km. I wonder, I thought....then along a sudden 8 was passing 40 minutes (my 'trainer's ' next target for me) and on 4.8km. Sped up and Boom! There it was - 5km!!!
Ok, not on the road yet and not using the app, but it still counts, yeah?
Written by
Fatbutfit
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Well done, but as a self confessed 50 year old extremely overweight first time runner your random approach to running duration puts you at risk of injury and you would be much safer just sticking to the plan. It is gently progressive for very good scientific reasons and it is proven to work over twenty years.
Just because you can actually do something does not mean that your body is conditioned to do so. A few days ago you struggled and now you are breaching the 10% rule used by experienced runners to extend distance and duration.
Sticking to the plan and learning might save you from injury.........no guarantees, but it is a better bet than just making it up as you go.
Well talk about 'p!$$ing on my chips'. I HAVE followed the plan from the start, right up until week 7, only this last week have I gone 'off-plan' as I couldn't get past a hurdle, and it was getting me down to a level where I was about to give up. I suffer from anxiety and depression and, as such, my mind loves to only see the negatives. I needed something positive to hold on to. One of the trainers on the gym watched me last week, said I was a good runner and that I looked like I could do more, wasn't about to collapse or anything. Maybe I'm lucky but, apart from some sort of glute injury, I've not injured myself yet. I'm not about to go running 5k 3 or 4 times a week from now on, I will probably mix it up a bit and increase my speed and endurance as I'm hoping to do Race for Life in May.
I'm sure this forum doesn't like anything negative like our responses so feel free to delete this or myself. I haven't posted often, but the support until now that I have had has been awesome.
My role as mentor means that I have a responsibility to guide people safely through the programme. My advice above is for you and also for a wider readership. Pointing out that deviation from the plan is risky is not belittling your achievement.......it is a warning based on experience. I can send you a litany of posts from those who proudly did more than the plan only to realise too late that it was too much too soon. Injury might stop you running for days, weeks or months.
We would not dream of censoring you or your post, as this conversation is of value for all new runners. However, if you continue to post about deviations from the plan, then you will have to expect responses urging caution.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
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