Completed week 4 and disappointed

[Thismumcanrun74]

So I should be over the moon but I feel I let myself down. I took a completely different route and it was all uneven and I found it hard to finish the 5 min runs which I have enjoyed on the last two runs. I had to walk at 4 mins. I know I shouldn’t be too hard on myself but I was so fed up. I might do the last run again before starting on week 5. This is the first time I have actually not managed a full run 😢

[Mio2020]

Well done to you for completing 11 runs so far.

If your 12th was a bit of a mishmash, maybe as you said...redo it.

I’m sure it doesn’t feel nice, but use it instead of it getting to you.

Best wishes.

[Thismumcanrun74 Graduate in reply to Mio2020]

Oh yes! 11 completed runs! Didn’t think of it like that. I think I definitely will run it again. Strange that week 5 is 3x5 mins runs and week 4 was 16 min runs in total

[Mio2020 in reply to Thismumcanrun74]

Have I got something wrong?

For week 4 I jotted :

3R-1.5W-5R-2.5W-3R-1.5W

which is 11 min of running.

[Thismumcanrun74 Graduate in reply to Mio2020]

Think it was 16 in total. 2x3 mins run and 2x5 mins run with the walk in between. At the end Jo Whiley likes to say we ran a total of 16 mins

[Mio2020 in reply to Thismumcanrun74]

Thanks for that!

[Northlondongirl Graduate]

You should absolutely be over the moon! You gave yourself an extra challenge today by taking an unknown route which sounds like it was a tough one. You should be proud of how far you have come so far! Try not to be so hard on yourself and good luck for week 5 😁

[Thismumcanrun74 Graduate in reply to Northlondongirl]

Thank you. I know you’re right but I was cursing under my breath on the 5 min cool down. As soon as I was running along the path, I thought this was a mistake. Rather stick to what I am used to 😁

[Hidden]

Don't be too downhearted. There can be many reasons (lack of sleep, stress, poor hydration etc) why a run doesn't go to plan and it can be frustrating, but what you must concentrate on is all the previous runs that have gone well and made you feel a real sense of achievement 😃.

Run this again after a day or two of rest; make sure you are well rested, you are hydrated and have stretched well after today's run before you set out. Don't dwell on this run, view it as a prep for w4r3 instead. You will be fine. Take it slow and steady. You can do this, and you will😊.

[Thismumcanrun74 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. This has made me feel so much better. I have to say out of all the runs, I have loved every one but this one I hated! I didn’t ease myself into it, it was all a bit rushed. I had a quick 30 mins to myself last minute so went for it and failed in parts. Slow and steady will be imprinted on my forehead and I will run it again on Wednesday. Thank you for your lovely words of encouragement. I am going to scrap today’s and focus on repeating it again xx

[Hidden in reply to Thismumcanrun74]

That's the spirit!! 😊🏃‍♀️

[Roxdog Graduate in reply to Thismumcanrun74]

Some runs are just like that! You've done brilliantly. Try not to over think it and you'll be fine.

[Thismumcanrun74 Graduate in reply to Roxdog]

You’re right, thank you. I was a bit hard on myself but it’s only a small bump in the road (literally!!)

[Speedy60 Graduate]

You should be very proud of yourself for getting out there in the first place!

So today you learned something about running. Chalk it up to experience, have another go at it if you feel you need to, and then move on. You're doing brilliantly. 👍

[Thismumcanrun74 Graduate in reply to Speedy60]

Thank you. You do not realise how much your kind words have helped. I felt so down earlier and now I am itching to get back out there after reading all these posts of encouragement 😊

[Rolllo]

Yep. This happens. I think most of us have a handful of disappointing runs on the course, which feel like we’ve gone backwards. And most of us will have repeated at least one session. Sometimes we need to repeat the whole week to feel ready to continue. So, knowing that it’s to be expected makes it less discouraging. Also, it’s all mileage, even the bad days, and that’s really what counts. I just read everyone’s posts on here when they complete 30 mins , saying how they would never have believed it when they were struggling. And that gives me faith it will be the same for me. As Michael Johnson says “ you’re doing great”!

[Magellan Graduate]

Running up a hill is far harder than on the flat. If you feel you failed because you walked at four instead of five minutes, tell yourself that four minutes of uphill is way HARDER than five on the flat. (My football-fit teenage son ran a fast 5k on flat land with no practice whatsoever, but when he started doing a daily run and it came to running uphill he had to stop after 1.3km and walk. Think of that, he got nearly four times further with ease on flat land than he managed up the slope.)

It sounds like you live in an area that isn’t flat though, so it’s worth being used to slopes so you can vary your route.

Next time you run uphill, slow down. It’s okay to slow down. Maybe do the same run on the same route, but a bit slower. It’ll be easier the second time, and you’ll feel so good for conquering that hilly route.

If you are going to run a hilly route for any of the upcoming longer runs, try and arrange things so that you are running uphill for the beginning of a run section. Aim to run straight on for all that time, but as a contingency just aim to get more than halfway through your time. If you feel you’re about to walk, turn back, or sideways, but keep running. You’ll find you can run after all, now that you’re not going uphill.

And slow down. And remember you’re doing really well.

[Allbarron Graduate]

Well done! I know that won't be how you feel. It's very frustrating when this happens. I did exactly the same about week 6 R2. The support on here should help you put into context that sometimes things don't go to plan. Dont be too hard on yourself. I repeated my run for my own piece of mind but don't over think it. Honestly you're doing amazing!!

[Roxy71 Graduate]

Please don’t beat yourself up I have been in the same place, just get out again back and it will come right I promise you. Just think of it as a practice run 🏃‍♀️ that’s what I used to do. X

[Hidden]

Don’t beat yourself up... I struggled yesterday on W6 r2 had to walk a little .... my fella who is a serious runner said that just some days are harder than others... something might have been happen ending to your body you just do t know about

[Thismumcanrun74 Graduate]

Thank you everyone. Yes I will say it was quite hilly and not entirely flat and it wasn’t for me. I have thought about my next route and it is flat. Thank you for all your kind words. I would run it today where I am so eager now but have to rest in between. Back to it tomorrow!!!!

[Katkins27 Graduate]

I cam imagine how you feel ..i too am on week 4 ..dod run 1 last night. Yep just tepeat it . It no biggie. I tend to run the same route.. just quiet residential estates

Good luck

[Thismumcanrun74 Graduate in reply to Katkins27]

It was so disheartening. I always stick to the same routes as well. Just start a different way each week. Yesterday I thought I would try something completely new as I was bored. I won’t do that again. Definitely repeating ready for week 5 on Friday

[Granspeed Graduate in reply to Thismumcanrun74]

Repeat is good, but don’t give up completely on different routes. They also add fun to the experience, which we all need at the moment. Usually you can slow down a bit, which will help cope with those uphill, winding bits. It’s all good for the legs - and for the mind! You really can do it. 👍👏🏼

[Thismumcanrun74 Graduate in reply to Granspeed]

I shall be slowing down. Think I just ran too fast to get up the hills. I tend to do one route for the entire week then mix it up for the next weeks and so on. I just won’t be doing that one route until I’m comfortable running for 30 mins 😁

[Astra5 Graduate]

Don't be disappointed, every single time I try a different route I find it difficult a sit knocks me out of any rhythm. Personally like running on pavements and any "off" pavement running really throws me so I don't even bother now. Rerun that one again on your normal route and get back your mojo. Even now I stop and walk for a minute if I feel tired, no biggie as I then feel better when I get going again. Well done and keep going 😎

[Thismumcanrun74 Graduate in reply to Astra5]

Thank you. Yes I prefer pavements and roads not hills and broken paths. Dying to get back and try again on my normal route. I don’t feel half as bad now after reading all the comments x

[Granspeed Graduate in reply to Thismumcanrun74]

That’s the spirit. 👍

[Tazzy_wazzy Graduate]

We’ve all been there at some point during our training. Don’t beat yourself up about it just do the run again 🏃‍♀️

[Primmy24 Graduate]

Oh bless you! Don't be so hard on yourself, you're doing great. Just repeat the run but do your usual route and it will be fine xx

[Thismumcanrun74 Graduate in reply to Primmy24]

Thank you. I intend to do just that. Hoping to break in some new trainers this week so will repeat and stick to the usual route xx

[Minsy]

I’ve repeated several runs during the course. I’m on week 7 and already repeated run 1 🙂

It’s ok don’t be hard on yourself 😊

[Thismumcanrun74 Graduate]

I DID IT!!!!!!!

So I got up and was determined to beat my rubbish run 2 days ago!! I did it. Same usual route. No stopping. Felt so good I even did a little extra jog in the cool down!! Thank you EVERYONE for your kind words and encouragement. Can’t wait to start week 5 on Friday. I love this forum!! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️♥️♥️