W5R2 Struggle...

[Yeontan]

I've just completed W5R2, and it was a loooot harder than I was anticipating. My calves are in so much pain, and I'm sweating buckets. I'm not sure whether it's because of the 20 degree heat, if it's supposed to be this hard, or if I'm just a bad runner! I'm not feeling very optimistic for the 20 minute run coming up... any advice?

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

Take a few extra days off before you run run 3 of week 5, drink plenty of water the day before you run it and take the run slow and steady, good luck.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

You can make this as hard as you like........or you can make it considerably easier on yourself by running slower. As the guide to the plan states healthunlocked.com/couchto5... you should be able to speak clear ungasping sentences as you run.

Stretching straight after every run, as per the guide, will pull out contractions in your muscles, avoiding carrying them into the next run and also improving recovery.

If you have doubts about W5R3 then read this healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

You can do this, if you do it slowly.

[SlowLoris]

Slow down.

[Buddy34 Graduate]

Maybe take a few rest days make sure you are drinking lots of water 7 days a week . You can do this 😊

[Yeontan]

thank you everyone for your advice! I won't run again until my calves are feeling totally fine, and not run when it's so hot. I already feel like I'm running as slow as I can stand 😅 but I'm really hoping that as long as I'm hydrated I'll manage the 20 mins

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

Great work. I think back and W5R2 was the last run I truly hated... I nearly quit half way through... I wanted to delete all traces of me here at that point and stop running... my calves suffered after the walk break... there was no way on earth I was ever going to run 20 minutes straight... I was a failure in the making. 2 days later I ran that 20, no walk break to cool my calves down, no struggle to restart... and then it was done. This badass metalhead bloke was in tears at what I’d just done... I used to run very fast as a kid, but never for 20 minutes.

Read that link about the next run that IannodaTruffe has posted... the run is actually physically easier than the one you just did... it’s a mental challenge, and you’re capable of beating it.

You just pushed yourself to complete a tough run... that mental strength may be needed again next run... but you know that you got that now. Start slow... keep it slow until the bell at least... relax... and coach yourself... you can do this... come and tell us all about it

[Yeontan in reply to UnfitNoMore]

thank you! i will try hard 💪🏻

[TortoiseRegretsHare Graduate]

My first piece of advice is pat yourself on the back for doing week 5/2 - that's more than half way through the programme. I found week 5 hard and was in no way convinced either that I particularly enjoyed running or that I'd ever think of myself as a runner. I've just finished week 7 and, whilst I still don't really think of myself as a runner yet, I have started to look forward to going out, rather than dreading it. I also thought of the "week 1, 2, 3 etc" as guidance, rather than a schedule, so if I needed more days between runs I took them!

Well done - and keep it up.

[Yeontan in reply to TortoiseRegretsHare]

thank you! well done for finishing week 7