Getting worse!

[LadyAdur]

I have just finished W8 R3 and it is my slowest yet. I know I shouldn’t worry about speed and I try to beat in mind that a few weeks back I could run for 5mins and now I can do 28mins but I am so slow and getting slower! I can do 1KM in 7.5mins but last night I was doing 9mins. I don’t feel breathless or in pain, just very heavy. I also often feel discomfort in my stomach, even when I have not eaten recently. Any advice would be gratefully received.

[Grannyhugs Graduate]

Relax you are really doing great. No matter how experienced you are at running you have off days. The positives - you went out, you ran, you completed the run. Some on this forum aim for yesterday's speed as their best. As you progress there will be times you aim for fast runs and times you aim for slow. Yesterday you proved to yourself you are totally capable of running different speeds. Well done

[LadyAdur Graduate in reply to Grannyhugs]

Thank you, I need to stay positive and not give up!

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate]

Are you running outside or on a treadmill?

There really is no point in fixating on pace right now. Now is all about building your stamina and endurance to get you to maintaining 30 min runs.

You certainly aren't getting "worse" if you're managing to complete each run 👍🏻😉

Are you able to pinpoint the "discomfort"? Could it be the side effects of the jiggling about from the longer runs? That can take some getting used to, especially if you were fairly sedentary previously.

Have you checked out the guide? healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

[LadyAdur Graduate in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

I’m running outside. The discomfort feels like fullness in my stomach even though I don’t run anytime after eating. Thank you for your reply. I really appreciate it.

[Hidden in reply to LadyAdur]

Runners gut, it's common so look into it. I think a lot of people get ut at some stage.

You are doing great, don't worry about speed at all, it's maybe something you can work on after you have finished the programme.

Good luck 😊👍

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate in reply to LadyAdur]

Try not to look at your pace as you're running, just run when the app says and stop when it tells you to. During the run, if you're using music just go with the flow and focus on enjoying the fact that you are doing this, actually running for 28 mins! Focus on all the positives which you might find will literally lighten your steps and feel a bit easier.

The tummy trouble could be runners gut but depending on when you last ate etc could also just be wind or even just that you're maybe a tad hungry without even realising. Try a small banana beforehand, giving it something to work on sometimes helps.

Don't worry though, you're doing really well, celebrate the positives! 👍🏻😊

[ArthurJG Graduate]

You already know, because you said so yourself, not to worry about speed. Having said that if the drop in speed is large, sudden and unexplained it could be due to fatigue and you may want to slip I an extra rest day to see if that helps. But if it’s just a case of your pace gradually slowing as the distance increases then that’s totally normal.

[LadyAdur Graduate in reply to ArthurJG]

Thank you, I’m going to try the extra rest day.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

I agree with the others, you are doing great and speed is irrelevant at this point.......... finishing each workout is the only essential. Every runner has to use a slower pace for a longer run.

An extra rest day between runs might well make a substantial difference.

Are you drinking 2-3 litres of fluids, each and every day, whether running or not?

[LadyAdur Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

No, that is a good point. Maybe drinking more would help. I’ll try that, and the extra rest day. Thank you.

[ArthurJG Graduate in reply to LadyAdur]

In that case remember to hydrate well the day before a run as well as on the run day itself.

[davelinks Graduate]

Are you drinking enough water?