Psychological warfare

[Jonno34]

I had a bit of a setback several months ago after graduating, I had injury after injury. I was not put off and started in about week 5 doing each run on the treadmill 3 times before moving on to the next. I then started with the 10/5/10 outdoors running for the first time and building up till I hit for the first time 30 mins outside covering 4kms at a run. I then started to look at Bridge to 10k. At the same time I heard there is an annual 3/7/21KM national run where I live. I thought give the 7 a go. I am 55 and have spent most of the programme in the gym. I tend to do the running after a session which starts with 30 mins of cardio, so essentially I do an hour of cardio/aerobic each time, 3/4 times a week.

So I thought, I have three weeks training and Ju Ju's plan takes me nicely up to that day. I struggled in the gym this week, my mojo was completely out of the window so I went today for an outdoor run.

I cracked on, I had Laura from C25k in my ears from WK9R3, my comfort blanket, calling out my times, 30 ins came and went. Laura said goodbye, I was in a bit of a groove albeit a tiring one but I got back to the car park having run for 46mins and covering 5.83kms, by far the best yet having previously only managed 4k in 30mins.

A lot of it to me was down to psychology, just getting my head around what I could do. I am tired tonight but not too bad and I feel a day or so rest (next run scheduled for Saturday with walking and stairclimber tomorrow) I shall be on target for the 7k, I shall consolidate on about 6.25km before then but for once I feel I can do it!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Welcome back.

I hope you don't mind me pointing out that there may well be a link between your injury history and the way you approach your running.

Sticking to the plan and after C25K another plan, rather than making it up as you go ......... W9R3 is a 30 minute run, not a 46 minute run........ will keep your injury risk minimal.

We can all do amazing stuff, but unless you have progressively conditioned your body to the demands, then your injury risk soars.

Take care.

[Jonno34 Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

I had completed W9R3 multiple times but still use the app as a comfort blanket. All my training is double fold by doing 30 mins stairclimber/cross trainer then strengthening exercises then the C25K program. When I completed C25k first time I was doing consolidation runs when I started having injury problems. As stated after this I restarted the program and completed each run 3 times. I think this has progressively conditioned me. With this all behind me and JuJu's plan which targets 5.5k in week 1 I do not feel I have commited some sort of heinous crime by 330metres extra.