Week 2 Completed

[sukthe1975]

Hi All,

I have just completed Week Two of Couch to 5k, and have had a peek at Week Three and am SERIOUSLY freaking out.

My breathing is laboured from Week Two, which was an alternation between a 90 second run and a 2 minute walk.

Week Three seems so much harder. Apart from the usual 5 minute Warm Up and Cool Down, having the walks reduced to only 90 seconds and the runs increased to 3 minutes, I just don’t know how that’s possible when I’m already finding it so difficult.

Any tips/words of advice? For a running novice like me it would be really appreciated!

[EarthRise]

Hi, I was there 2 weeks ago. Felt just like you about week 3. In the end, I had to trust the programme. If you finished week 2, I'm sure you'll be pleasantly surprised next week, that W3 is do-able. I did W5 run1 today and boy, was I dreading that! Like I dreaded W4 run 1, and W3 run1, but I got this far. Laura, the default coach says you can do it and I guess, I trust her. I rest the day after, hardly doing anything at all, but yesterday, day before my W5,r1 I went for a 40min walk, not brisk, a duckling and wildlife safari really, so very stop and go. I think it helped me today. Good luck with W3. You'll be fitter already and I'm sure you WILL surprise yourself.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Welcome to the forum and well done on your progress.

This guide to the plan is essential reading healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

and includes advice on pacing, minimising impact, stretching after every run, hydration and strengthening exercises, all of which will help.

If you can't breathe, you are going too fast for your current fitness level. The recommended pace is outlined in the guide.........slow down.

In W3 you run for exactly the same overall duration as you did in W2.

Enjoy your journey.

[Hidden]

Just slow it right down. If you are struggling with your breathing you are going too fast. You should be able to run at a conversational pace, so if your breathing is as laboured as you describe then it sounds like you're pushing yourself too hard. Take your pace down a notch or three and it should feel more comfortable and hopefully more enjoyable!

[Thismumcan_run Graduate]

As the others have said, slow wayyyy down. Think walking kind of slow.

Try it out, if you don’t manage to complete it you can either go back and complete that run or go back a week and run until you feel ready.

I started out the exact same and am now on wk4 after going back a week.

Well done on completing week 2!