Still trying.

[Jansey]

Completed week 3, run 1 but have tried twice to do run 2 and haven't managed a full 3 minutes on the final run. Been trying to work out if I've done anything different with regard to food, alcohol, etc. but can't think of anything. I'll keep trying but have 9 weeks to reach my target. Still meeting my first objective though, which is to keep going regardless!

[Minsy]

I’ve repeated weeks until I feel I’ve got them u dear my belt and so I’m ready for the next increase. Just starting week 4 again and smashed the last 5 mins (crashed just before the first 5 mins was finished. Onwards. You can do it for sure. If you’ve got to week 3 you are already doing a grand job

[Buddy34 Graduate]

Don't worry it's okay to repeat any run or week you need or want to , if it takes longer that 9 weeks to complete c25k that's okay also.

Go slow and slower again if needed and make sure you're drinking 2-3 litres of water 7 days a week. Good luck 😊

[Jansey in reply to Buddy34]

Thank you. Not drinking enough could certainly be an issue. Several years ago my doctor told me to drink more. Perhaps I should monitor it rather than wait till I'm thirsty. 🚰

[Buddy34 Graduate in reply to Jansey]

Don't wait until you're thirsty try and drink often all day😊

[Jansey in reply to Buddy34]

Will do. Off to the pub now......

[Buddy34 Graduate in reply to Jansey]

🤣🤣

[Bike_and_Run Graduate]

How far into those 3 minutes are you getting? If you're just missing it by a few seconds, then maybe it's a case of pressing on and pushing that last little bit of energy out of you. It's there, you just have to dig a little deeper to find it.

A common phrase on this forum, but good sound advice, is to slow down. It might be that you're running just a little too fast, so slowing down will help you get to the end of those 3 minute runs. Remember, how far you get doesn't matter, so going slow really is ok.

Finally, something else to think about might be your route. When I started C25K I was trying to run to and from work. That meant a huge hill to climb, and so running 3minutes up a steep incline was so much harder than the flat. Maybe you might be able to find a flatter route for a bit?

Well done on getting this far, and all the best for your future runs. You can do it, and you'll be so proud of yourself when you do! If you need to drop back and repeat a week, then do that. Whatever works!👍

[Jansey in reply to Bike_and_Run]

Thank you. I did just under two minutes of the final run, then walked for 7 minutes, so perhaps not too bad, on reflection. I'll try again on Sunday. 🙂

[islandrunner Graduate]

Trying slowing down even more on that last 3 minute run. If on your next attempt you don't manage it, then after that last run, walk for a minute, then run whatever was left of the 3 minutes. At least then, the next time you try, you know you've got a bit more running in you and could manage that last 3 mins.

[Jansey in reply to islandrunner]

Good idea, thank you. I did walk a bit extra but I'll take your advice if it happens again.

[Alast]

Hi Jansey, sorry to see that you appear to have hit a brick wall here. As the others have said, slowing down is usually the answer to a problem like this but also the water drinking thing could help, I'm sure I don't drink enough myself. (Sadly I do DRINK plenty, but just not enough water!) Based on my own experience, I'd suggest not to expect to complete C25K in the 9 weeks stated. I really is a great programme, but I've found it can be a bit misleading. At the end of it you will be running constantly for 30 minutes, but as others have already discovered, may not have covered 5K in the process. The other mistake in my opinion is to call the stages of the programme 'weeks'. Before I started, as a non-runner I simply believed that in 9 weeks time I would be running regularly 5K. Once I had my first attempt at Week 1 Run 1, I realised that I would take longer, and once I found this wonderful forum, I learned that at the end of it all I probably would not be running 5K. Once I knew this, I readjusted my targets! I decided that I will complete this, but at my own pace, I will not move on a week (session/step, whatever you want to call it) until I have completed 3 consecutive runs with the relevant rest days. Any 'incomplete runs' are re-classified as 'practices' because you use them to find out where your problems are, and if I need to repeat runs, or even drop back a week to further build my stamina and more importantly rebuild my self confidence, then this is what I will do. I originally started C25K at the end of September last year, I had a few hiccups managing to get as far as W4 R1 a couple of times before running out of steam & stopping in December. I have re-started from the beginning, and plan to be out tomorrow morning to start Week 2 and to continue with my philosophy. Good luck with your progress, and keep posting on here to tell us how you're getting on. As you can see what people have written before my (lengthy) post, you'll get nothing but good advice and support on here, everyone is behind you!

[Jansey in reply to Alast]

Thank you for the helpful advice. I'm not too bothered about the 5k but would like to be able to run for 30 minutes. I'd also like to complete the programme in the next nine weeks because that's when I go skiing. I've got a couple of weeks leeway so will persevere. To be honest, I'll be pleased with myself if I keep doing'something' for that long! 😆

[Alast in reply to Jansey]

Good luck to you in completing this before your skiing holiday, but now you've explained your reasoning I'd suggest to be careful and don't push too hard to reach your deadline. You don't want to hurt yourself and jigger up your time 'on the piste'! Good luck with C25K and enjoy your holiday (I've not been skiing for over 20 years now, purely by coincidence I've been married for the same length of time...)

[Jansey in reply to Alast]

You're right and I won't take chances. Used to ski a lot but haven't been for about 4 years. Not bothered about how fast, how far or how difficult the runs are any more, I just love being in the mountains. 🏔️

[BlacksmithsGal Graduate]

I followed the advice I received in week 2 about drinking more water and found it made a real difference to the amount of energy in my legs. I rarely feel thirsty as such and usually just have a few cups of tea during the day (plus the occasional tipple!). It's quite an effort to keep remembering to drink more water, but trying to do better in the hope that it also helps rehydrate my wrinkles! I'll join you for the 3 min runs on Sun xx

[Jansey in reply to BlacksmithsGal]

Thank you. That's interesting. I'm much the same as you but with coffee. I'll be thinking of you on Sunday. 👍

[ButtercupKid Graduate]

Keeping going is the main thing. Don’t worry about repeats: your body is just telling you that it’s not quite ready. Next time you go out, don’t get stressed about achieving the run. Stress is bad for breathing and tenses your muscles. Remember what you managed last time and aim to beat that, even if it’s only by a second or two. Repeat as necessary until you nail it !

[Jansey]

That makes a lot of sense. I was getting nervous about it before I started each 3 minutes but the rest of it was ok. On reflection, I walked for about 3 minutes instead of running so not the disaster I felt when I finished. 'Calm' will be my mantra for the next attempt! 😌