So I’ve just got back from run 2 of week 7 and it was the hardest run I have done so far. What a struggle. I’ve never felt like giving up on any of the previous runs before this one - I finished it but it was not fun and I felt like I could have cried during it haha.
I don’t understand why it was so hard. Run 1 of this week I enjoyed and found relatively easy. I thought I may be going faster today but checked my Strava app and I went faster on run 1 and the weather was about 10 degrees hotter. I run the same route so it wasn’t that that was any harder.
Any ideas?
Dreading run 3 now.
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Katieruns123
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You should congratulate yourself for completing the run if it felt such a struggle 👏. Everyone has an off day occasionally ( why do we sometimes bounce out of bed in the morning, and other days it feels such an effort?). If you look on the bright side, chances are your next run will feel a whole lot better than it did today 🙂. Onwards and upwards 🤗
We all have these runs with little rhyme or reason. You finished it and got through it. Keep hydrated well, as you have been already but don't be down. It was tough but you did it. Maybe try a different route or start the run the other way around? You'll be back. Rest up well and go again.
You did it! Focus on that! I know exactly what you mean though. I’m about to do W7R1 and found W5R2 really difficult for some reason - it took a lot of effort to get back out there after that.
I’ve found since downloading Strava that it’s nice to see my pace usually isn’t any worse on the ‘bad’ days and that it just ‘feels’ like a struggle. Some days will be like that but your actual run and pace is probably identical to those days when you thoroughly enjoyed yourself! Maybe it’s the weather...
Hi, we all have difficult runs from time to time, in the same way we have good runs. You’ve come so far and it would be a shame not to complete the program now.
I wouldn’t beat yourself up over it, just slow down for the next run if you need to. Take everything slowly and you’ll get there! All the best for your next run🙂👍
Firstly, well done... it may have been tough out there, but it wasn’t as tough as you... great job finishing it.
There’s a lot going on behind the scenes that’s not as obvious as numbers on the plan. Week 7 repeats W6R3 three times, so it’s obviously going to be easy right? Nope... what’s really going on is the weekly load on your legs is going up with each run. If you run 3 times a week, have a look what’s been happening to the total running over the last 7 days with each run and you’ll see that number rising... if you run every other day, look at the last 3 runs each time and you’ll see the same. Now you’re on 75 total for W6R3, W7R1 and W7R2... that’s the biggest the weekly load has been so far. Next run it will stay at 75, so in theory that run will come a little easier... then into week 8 it will go 78, 81, 84 and in week 9 86, 88 and 90. So, it’s not unusual for week 7 to be harder than expected, especially run 2.
Of course you could have also had “one of those days” which adds to the load and makes it pretty tough out there. When we get one of those days, the next run tends to be much better.
Don’t worry about it, but be damn proud of yourself for getting the job done!
Wow that’s really interesting UNM, I’ve just finished W7 today, and whereas R1 was brilliant, I’ve really struggled with R2 and R3 - but put it down to other things going on. Thank You- that does make sense, and I’m glad to have got this week done!
I’m at the same point as you but struggled the opposite way around. I found Wk 7 R1 really tough and realised afterwards I was trying too hard and running rather than jogging. I think we have to remind ourselves we’re not racing, and just let ourselves develop stamina over time. So someone here mentioned Japanese slow running and I checked it out on YouTube. Very helpful! And today Wk7 R2 was so much better. Different pace, still an effort but not so bad as Monday! Anyway, don’t give up - you e come this far and you *can* do this! 🎉
I’m not as far along as you, well done on keeping going! I had an “off day” last week but pushed myself through the run - was ready to just give up but I woke up the next day in a completely different frame of mind. You’ve got this and I’m sure the next time you run will be completely different and you’ll wonder why you ever thought of stopping! Carry on you’re doing so well 😃 most people have an off day here and there, try to focus on how far you’ve come and how long you are able to run for compared to week 1
Everything going on in our lives can impact on our performance as a runner. Restedness, hydration and nutrition are at the top of my list of variables that need to be optimised to enable enjoyable running.
Just a 'struggle run'. We all have them and sometimes it just doesn't feel right at all. It can feel discouraging at the time, but move on and tell yourself this run will have made you tougher!
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