I couldn't complete it. I struggled with the 3 min run and then went for about 4,30 in the first 5 min run and just couldn't finish. I had "muscle burn" in my calves. Had done a little warm up beforehand as instructed. What was the difference between run1 and run2? It had been raining heavily and I run on a dirt track usually, so I went on a road surface to avoid the mud and it was flatter. I think I have various options...
1. Go back to the road route, complete the three runs, repeat on dirt track, graduate to week 5
2. Go to dirt track and try again (not keen as I think I will probably fail)
3. Go to dirt track and try different routine 3mins run/ 2mins walk/ 4mins run/ 3 mins walk twice = 14 mins running. Then try week 4 again
4. ???
I want to run on the dirt track because it's beautiful for much of the year (not in the summer when it's burnt to a frazzle), so this is my aim.
What do you think runners?
I could go to a gym and try a treadmill and then dirt track, but we are still on lockdown here and no gyms are open, and to be honest don't think it's the time to be sweating together in gyms....
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Spain5k
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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.
On top of that, of course, there are the environmental variables that we have little control over, but can take into account and adapt our expectations and demands to ameliorate their effect.
Thanks, but don't think anything was awry with "Restedness, hydration and nutrition " today. The massage that I got was "Just where do you think you are going?. Body is not up to it today", but I was hydrated and rested... Was wondering what would be best to do next out of the options in my first post, or maybe another suggestion?
I have found I need to do each run 5-6 times (so a week takes about 2 weeks). I find my body gets more used to it and I don’t have any issues. When I tried to do it faster than that I have suffered. Try repeating the previous weeks runs perhaps to et your body more ready to move on. Just a thought - works for me
Great thanks (sorry I didn't see this before). Maybe I will have to do that. For the moment I'm going to try 5 days no running but walking (which I love anyway), and exercises to build up my calves. Seems ridiculous that I have build up my calves to do 5 mins running, but it is what it is... Then I'll do a W3 run, then maybe I'll try going to 4 mins and then 5 mins... This is going to take longer than I thought!!
Tried again today and still can't do it, so I'll have to do some research into calf muscles and go back to week 3 and see if I can do that. It's a bit strange because I did manage to to W4R1, so I've done it once and have not been able to do it twice... I think I'll have to build up strength in calf muscles and do runs of 3 - 4 mins before attempting 5 mins again. All seems a bit weak and weedy, can't even manage a 5 min jog... Although I'm guessing that in all the years this programme has been running, I'm not the only one to have had this problem. If anyone could refer me to earlier posts on the subject, I'd be grateful
Have a rest, maybe a week? Carry on being active but without the impact. Allow the legs to have a rest and then try again?
I too struggled with cramp in my left leg that made me think I would never progress further than week 2. How could I if all my thought and energy was convincing myself to complete the run and ignore the pain.
I took a month off, disgruntled & looked to cycle and walk instead.
I came back to attempt week 3, really working on stretching pre & post.
Now about to complete Week6, pains, cramp gone. And it needed to be as the mental challenge of running these longer times would be impossible if carrying these leg issues as well.
Stay positive, your doing incredible well. You’ll find a way to progress along with your body progressing with you.
Thanks Guru, It's good to know that you left the programme and were able to pick it up again. I have read something about calf muscles and maybe I just need to build them up a bit.
I'm forming a plan... I'll perhaps not run this Mon - Fri, but will walk and do some calf strengthening, then on Sat do a week 1 run and the following Mon start again with W4, still doing calf strengthening on alternate days.
Thought I was fitter than this, but never mind, just hope I will get back on track
It good to hear you have a plan and simply not give up.
Without putting issues on a level playing field I can only come to the conclusion that my shin area and what ever forms it was very weak and unused compared to the rest of my leg makeup.
It simply needed more time to recoup and needed a slower pace to the rest of my body.
I would consider myself 2-3 years ago quite fit, doing quite high end HIT sessions. Becoming quite to very unfit doesn’t take long in my experience.
Having said that, I better get in the garden and do some weeding rather than sitting on the sofa typing away.
So I failed at W4R2 and had pain in my claves. Not pain exactly, but when you can feel that lactic acid build up and I just couldn't run... I had a week off running and did walking and exercises to build up my calves. I also found the pre and post exercises on the NHS site which I think are referenced in other documents, but I hadn't seen it, so here are those if you want to have a look. This is the warm up and at the bottom there's a link to post run exercises.
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Week5 run2 second time round
W4 R1 Fail Plus I'm Off to Look Out my Neon Pink Towelling Sweatbands and Headband
Week 4 is actually gonna kill me 
You might not agree, but - it's too hot!!!! 😓😓😓😓😓
Has anyone else failed at Week five run 3, so how did you manage?
