My 'Couch to 5k' diary (wk4 d2)

[Remikins]

I'll start by saying I did it 👍

It was tough going towards the end though.

The last three minute run was really hard on my calfs and I knew I still had a five minute run left.... Thankfully the breathing was ok so I just kept the legs moving and ran through the discomfort.

I'm interested to know if anyone else's breathing just becomes breathing in and out as you need it. I tried to keep to the advice to breathe in and out for four steps but have found that when I've done quite a bit I just need to suck it in and blow it out however many steps that takes, I don't care, just get that oxygen into the lungs. It ends up being in for three and out for two I think, but as I said, I don't concentrate on that 😜

[Hidden]

Well done! I'm behind you (week 3 run 2 just completed) but I too didn't find the breathing pattern comfy. I do have mild asthma but just prefer to breathe as I find it. Keep on going!

[Remikins Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Yeah exactly, I realised trying to stick to their breathing pattern wasn't going to work. It may help some, but for me, at this stage, I need to breathe more 😝

[Rigpig Graduate]

I’m the same as you with the breathing, not really an issue for me as much as the tired legs 😁

[Remikins Graduate in reply to Rigpig]

Do you find that if you just keep going that pain seems to go away? You really do have to push through the pain barrier but it does go. Whether that is because my breathing becomes harder and I'm concentrating more on staying alive so don't notice my legs hurting so much 😂

[Rigpig Graduate in reply to Remikins]

It usually starts on the second to last running segment, this morning though it was the final 3 minute run that seemed to last forever and my thighs were really aching. Breathing was fine though and I finished with no problem. 5 minutes might be a different story but I won’t give up and will push through 😀 I’m conscious of slowing down all the time, can’t say I have found a comfortable pace yet but hopefully that will come on the longer runs. It seems to be the middle run each week that’s causing me trouble!

[Twinkle9 Graduate]

Hi Remikins firstly well done you for getting so far! My advice would be keep going and don’t worry about breathing. As long as you are not getting stitch that’s fine 😁

[Fattycanrun Graduate]

You can do a lot of breathing excercise in your normal day. I used to do it driving to work. Aim to extend the out breath. And after that aim to extend the pauses after the in and out phases of the breath. It doesnt have to be an extended breath...just more controlled