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So I have just done run 2 of week 2 and found it harder than the first run of week 2. My lungs are fine, I think I have found my comfortable pace now but my gosh my calves were "fizzing"!
I honestly can't see me being to run 3 minutes next week when I have only got one more of the 90s runs left. Should I repeat this week or try moving on and risk losing what small confidence in myself I have?
😭😭😭😭
You can repeat any runs or week's if you wish to Lindsey-joy, run all of them slow and steady, you are not racing or for that matter doing the London Marathon which is on at the moment, onwards and upwards to run 3 of week 2.
Thank you 😊
My calves have been painful too!
I have downloaded an app this week to manage my fluid intake. I’m making sure I drink 2-2.5 litres a day. It was only week 3 run 2 that it started to feel a bit easier. Calves still ache (as I guess they would) but not like before. I think it’s a combination of hydration and my body getting used to it.
Thank you. That's encouraging to hear! What is the name of the app? Sounds like a really good idea as i am really bad at drinking water (now gin, that's a different story! 😉)
It’s called my water. You put a weight in and how active you are and it will give you what you need. Or you can customise it yourself. I set mine to 2l because I know that’s a good amount but tend to go over that most days. I was also shocking at drinking up until a couple of weeks ago. Would be lucky if I had a can of Fanta zero a day. It’s amazing how quickly you can get in to a routine. I make sure I have a glass of water when I get up. Take an 800ml bottle to work and drink that through the day and then make up the rest during the evening
Thanks. I will look into that 😁
Lindsey-joy I can remember feeling exactly the same. I ended up repeating W3 three times before I could move on. But today I did W5R3- 20mins run and I knew that all those earlier weeks are what got me there. The programme really works. And it also works even if you repeat a week (or several). It’s going to take me a lot longer than 9 weeks but so what. The best thing is you have started and you aren’t sitting on the couch. Keep going.
Thanks so much, that is really nice to hear. Well done for persevering and coming so far 😁
I think the step up from week 2 to week 3 will be too much for me so I think I’m going to take extra weeks and lengthen runs by 30 seconds each time.
Im thinking I might move on to week three but like you say, increase the run by 30s. Then i think i will repeat week three until i can do it comfortably. Who knows, we might surprise ourselves!
Read this healthunlocked.com/couchto5...
Slow down and stretch after every run, as explained in the guide to the plan.
Thank you so much. That was really helpful. Onwards and upwards!
If you complete a run just do the next one. If you don’t complete it, take at least one days break and then try that run again. Have faith in the programme. Most importantly go slowwww and steady. I’m at week 8, we will both finish this! Good luck 😀
Thankyou! Im feeling a bit more positive this evening 😁
This programme is about more than just running... for me it’s also about finding out how awesome you are... sadly we can’t do that and then the running bit. Yeah, I survived week one, and thought 30 minutes was impossible, then i ran week 2, and still that 30 minutes was impossible. Then came that 3 minutes... and I survived again. Don’t fear what’s coming... impossible moves... it’s always out of reach, and when you should be able to reach it, it’s already backed away some more. You can run 3 minutes.
How’s your hydration? That really helps with the calves... and if the breathing is ok it’s where I’d look first, especially if it’s in both, which from what I read here is the case.
Do you think repeating a week will build confidence? Could it become another repeat and make that next week something to be feared? What happens if you try to run 3 minutes and manage 2? In my mind that’s progress... so it’s a win... would you see it as failure? You shouldn’t. I’m planning a marathon and so I need to run longer (obviously)... my first attempt at 5 miles I was spent at 4... and I stopped... but I didn’t see it as failure, I saw it at 3.9 miles further than I could run before I came here. It’s ok to not complete... as long as you come back to that start line you will succeed.
Repeating is up to you... it’s your journey... but if you’re completing the runs, it’s not necessary.
That was tough going!!!
Wow that was tough!!!
Wow that was tough...
