Survivor guilt (with apologies to anyone who really does have this condition)

[NorwegianWood]

Just completed W5R1 and managing well after the normal aches of the first ten minutes. Having just read the struggles that Wenderwoo is having with tendonitis, I'm feeling guilty that the C25K plan is working for me thus far. I can't run fast and am feeling a bit like Cliff Young, an elderly dairy farmer runner in Australia who got a name for winning ultra-marathons. He couldn't run fast but he could run forever with small steps. I'm not yet ready to take large paces but if I can avoid injury I will be happy. I hope I have a few decades left in me yet to build running strength - not sure however that I'll ever be as supple as those youngsters out on the tracks.

[Hidden]

Don't feel guilty, we all wish each other the best on this journey. I'm laid up with knee issues but I love reading about others' progress. I think it's great.

When I get back to it, I want to be slow and steady. Well done on W5 R1. By the way, I loved W5 R3, my favourite run on the whole plan. So, onwards and upwards 😊

[Jacca Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Hope the knee gets better soon LE63 I have to agree with you w5r3 was great for a boost of confidence!!

[Hidden in reply to Jacca]

Thank you. I had a 30 minute bounce on my mini trampoline earlier. Knee felt fine. Hopefully I'll be back running soon.

[NorwegianWood Graduate in reply to Hidden]

I'm interested to know why you liked this run the best of the lot? Was it the challenge of suddenly doing 20minutes?

[Hidden in reply to NorwegianWood]

Like Jacca said, the boost of confidence.

I've not ran since school days, many many years ago. I was never a natural runner, so to run for a straight 20 minutes felt absolutely amazing. Plus I went out with the feeling 'I can do this' After the first 10 mins or so I suddenly found a rhythm that just felt great. I think that feeling of getting into that rhythm really took me by surprise.

Unfortunately I've not been able to run since October but I've been going on long walks. I'm hoping to test myself next week and will probably go back to week 5 and start from there but, like you, I want to avoid injuries. This last couple of days I've even considered giving it up due to my knee issues but I'm hoping if I take it easy, I can avoid any further injuries 🤞

Hope you're enjoying the plan 😊

[Jacca Graduate]

It’s not nice to be injured and you wouldn’t wish it on anyone , but you can’t feel guilty - If not no one would complete c25k in support of each other!!! All you can do is wish them a speedy recovery and be each other’s cheerleaders through the ups and downs and send positive vibes to all. You’re doing great keep taking it steady and at your own pace 😊

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

You are doing so well embrace the challenge and enjoy your journey

[Wenderwoo Graduate]

I’ve just seen this..... Please don’t feel guilty, certainly not on my account. I’m gutted I can’t continue at the mo, but will be back, hopefully sooner rather than later. I truly wish you and all the other fab people on here the very best with your adventure, and I will continue to support people from the sidelines 👍😁

Btw, This tendon problem is something I’d had for a while before I started this plan, which I had just put down to age and basically ignored - I tend to have all sorts of aches and pains! But as the runs got longer in W6 the pain suddenly got worse and when I researched it I realised that if I carried on it could cause irreparable damage. It’s a bummer, but that’s life I suppose.

You take care of yourself, and I look forward to seeing you graduate round about Christmas time 🎄😁

[NorwegianWood Graduate in reply to Wenderwoo]

Thanks Wenderwoo. I know that goals are not assured as stresses so easily turn into injury. I'm hoping you keep tending your archilles tendon and that it ends up being stronger.

I will keep on taking it slowly - glad to not be running with anyone else and feeling expectations from others.

[Speedy60 Graduate]

Small steps are the way to go to avoid injury. Don't take large strides even when you want to increase your speed. Keep your feet under your body and increase cadence. As you speed up, lose the extra road behind you rather than trying to grab it from in front. Does that make sense? Try it when you're ready.

Good luck

[NorwegianWood Graduate in reply to Speedy60]

I will have to see what that feels like. A new concept for me. Many thanks.