Why am I stuck!!

[Janef2702]

Hey everyone. I’m having a real dilemma. I am on Week 8 run 2. For some reason I can’t complete this!! I don’t understand why as I ran for 28 mins in run 1 but 2 attempts now and I am just failing at about 15 mins in. Any ideas? Am so gutted as am so close to completing C25k.

[Crittermad Graduate]

My guess is that the advice would be to slow it down ??? Well done on doing it in run 1 - shows you can do it! Keep at it - you are so close!

[Janef2702 Graduate in reply to Crittermad]

Thanks. I am determined. Will try again but go slower next time.

[dieOR5k Graduate]

Every time we get stuck, the forum tells us to slow down. So slow down and try again. And don’t worry, it’ll take as long or as little as it takes. You would tell us, who are behind you, the same and give us your support.

[Janef2702 Graduate in reply to dieOR5k]

Thank you. I really will not let this beat me. I love running!!

[Beany123 Graduate]

Are you going really slow? Almost at a shuffle? You need to go as slow as you can, then go slower than that! At this point, running is psychological- you CAN do it, you just think you can't. You need to be going as slow as you possibly can, do the 28 mins and then when you do your 30 minute run, keep going as slow as you can- when you prove to yourself you can do that, you can add in tiny bursts of slightly faster jogging, then build from there. Do not think about speed at all-you may need to really consciously keep yourself from speeding up, but it's about endurance at this stage. The plan will work, if you keep persevering- most importantly, don't be hard on yourself and be proud of how far you've already come. I bet you never imagined you would reach this point!! PS- my first 5k distance took me about 50 minutes. I did that on week 9 - it was too soon. I should have focussed on increasing time rather than getting to 5K. But now I'm aiming for 10k. Did a slow 6.3k the other day and felt I could have done more. Running is fantastic. Providing you stay injury free, you really can keep amazing yourself with what you are capable of-just take it slow, and slower still!!! Let us know how you get on xxx

[Janef2702 Graduate in reply to Beany123]

Thanks so much. That makes so much sense. I think I am going to fast! Will give it another go during the week and let you know how I get on.

[Beany123 Graduate in reply to Janef2702]

Keep going. You will be fantastic. I did c25K with a club and I was lucky to be told all of this as I went along. This was from expert run leaders. You can do this. It doesn't matter how slow - the act of running, regardless of how slow you go, is more challenging than walking and uses different muscles, so despite going slow, you will still be running and can only get faster as you build stamina. Honestly, it is 99 percent psychological and once you prove to yourself you can run for 28, then 30 mins, you will speed up. Look forward to hearing how you get on. Remember, running is (hopefully) going to be a lifelong thing. You'll have good runs and bad runs. You will gradually start to conquer hills (first by walking, then run/walk, then running), you will increase distances, increase speed at parkrun etc. There is no end point. You will keep facing new challenges and you will keep mastering them, then you'll set new targets- that's what keeps us going! Enjoy your next run, push on (albeit slowly) and do not stress xxxx

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

You can do it.

You don't say what is stopping you............my guess is it is your brain, but don't forget to pace yourself for increasing duration.

Don't let it become a mental block, just go out with a relaxed, positive attitude and start nice and slow and stay nice and slow.

Most new runners totally underestimate the effect of everything going on in their lives impacting on physical performance.

Restedness, hydration and nutrition are at the top of my list of variables that need to be optimised to enable enjoyable running.