Week 7 - running slower with no running "high"

[ForbiddenPlanet]

The 25 minute run for W6R3 was the first run I found quite hard. What surprised me was that a few hours afterwards it was as though someone had pressed my "off switch". I was like a zombie for the rest of the day.

So I studied online material and made changes, for example, to my hydration and diet for Week 7. I think the most significant change I made was that I started running more slowly - putting me outside the benchmark time for 5K / 30 minutes.

I am completing the Week 7 25 minutes runs with no problem at this slower pace, without being exhausted afterwards. But I do miss the after exercise high I was getting from the earlier weeks when I was running faster and which lasted all day.

I'm wondering if others have experienced this effect during the C25K programme?

[Grannyhugs Graduate]

Glad you are still running but sorry you've temporarily lost the high , it will come back. Slowing down was definitely the right thing to do. Nobody says you should be on track for a 30min 5k at w6. You will be amazed how much stronger you get over next few weeks. At w6 I was aiming for a 50m 5k. Graduated last Thursday and managed 32 and a bit 5k yesterday. I'm 57 and hadn't run before started this in august. Have faith. I got an extra high just for running 5k, will get another one soon hopefully when I hit 30min 5k, you dont want all your highs to arrive on the same day 😉 happy running

[ForbiddenPlanet Graduate in reply to Grannyhugs]

Thank you. There's no way I was going to give up on the programme, and I realised that at age 62 I just have to dial back my expectations and be more sensible. I will take encouragement from your post that the high may return, in time.

Also, I suspect on age graded basis your 5K time is pretty good!

[Grannyhugs Graduate in reply to ForbiddenPlanet]

Just wait and see, make a note to post to me a week after graduation to tell me how much your timings have changed from this week. Happy running

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

Those highs will come back and running for longer is tiring, just enjoy that you are able to and think back to week 1. I don’t know anyone who found it all easy

I love the longer runs we can do now and the time flies by even though we are slow runners

[Grannyhugs Graduate in reply to SueAppleRun]

Slow is good. I was out with a walking group today of more "mature" people. Beautiful countryside, wonderful chats, covered 9.5km in 3 1/2 hrs. And we are aiming for half that distance but in 30mins - maybe puts our running speeds so early in our journey in perspective 😀

[ForbiddenPlanet Graduate in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thanks for your kind words. Yes it is lovely to be running my favourite walk, overtaking all the walkers, and thinking I used to be one of them.