Struggling to complete my consolidation runs (low energy & stitches)

[mayuz]

Hi guys, I’m currently on my second week of consolidation runs and I suddenly can’t do it anymore.

Around week 8 I developed strong aches throughout legs. A minute into the runs, my legs will start aching especially my thighs. Almost so much that I would need to stop but I would push through. 5mins in the pain would almost be gone and 10mins later completely. So this became my new normal and I was fine with it until last Thursday (W11R1).

W11R1: I ran for 6mins, pain was too much so walked for a 2mins and decided to go again. Managed to run for another 4 mins but couldn’t carry on so I called it a day and walked home.

W11R1 attempt 2: I found this run really hard but I managed to do. Didn’t cover as much distance as W10R3 but I ran for the full 30mins. Got a light stitch after the run.

W11R2: On Monday I couldn’t even make it 30 seconds before my body just said nope, I slowed down and pushed on but had to stop after 7minutes. Walked for 20 seconds and started running again. Managed to run another 8 minutes and lost all energy and a really painful stitch.

W11R2 attempt 2: Since I didn’t do much running yesterday I decide to skip rest day and try again. Today I got a light stitch after 1 minute so slowed down and changed my breathing but that only worked for a few minutes. I stopped running after 6mins and the stitch got worse. I tried to walk it off. After 5mins I ran again only for the stitch to come back.

Gave up came home and a few hours later I thought might as well go for a walk. Brisk pace for like 3/4mins and I could feel the stitch coming back so I turned around and slowly walked home.

These 4 attempts my legs were hurting even more than usual

- I haven’t changed my diet, sleep, shoes, running technique or anything else.

- Breathing through my mouth: short breaths in & a bit longer breaths out. This technique has worked just fine for the past 10 weeks.

- I leave a day between my runs.

I drink enough water throughout the day so I know dehydration isn’t my problem. For the last 2 weeks I started drinking one or two cups of water 15mins before my runs. I thought that why I'm getting stitches so today I did not to drink any water close to my run. Only 1 cup an hour before but that did not help.

I used to get stitches quite frequently but haven't had one in 4 years. So when starting C25K I was worried that I will get stitches again but I haven’t had any until last Thursday.

I don’t know what to do! What am I doing wrong?

[RunningMigster Graduate]

You need to take a break!

Sounds that simple.

C25k isn't an easy program. And the reality is, even at graduation, you're still a true beginner.

Its tough on the body and even though the ideal might be to have 1 day rest between runs and then 2 days after every 3rd run, the truth is, our bodies sometimes need more.

You're not doing anything wrong. Just listen to your body and take 2 or 3 days break, and then go again.

Mig

[mayuz Graduate in reply to RunningMigster]

Okay I’ll take a few days off. Thank you

[Dtay1978 Graduate]

Yeah maybe take a few extra days rest and see what happens 😊

[mayuz Graduate in reply to Dtay1978]

Will do thank you