I am struggling with W7 run1. Have managed all previous weeks without a problem and the high I felt was amazing. This is now my 2nd attempt at W7 and it just not happening I seem to hit the wall at 13 mins, need to walk but I do manage to get going again. Not the fastest out there but trying.🐌🐌
Felt quite deflated this morning when again I failed.
Any words of wisdom guys would be greatly appreciated 😀
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 minimising impact, stretching after every run, hydration and strengthening exercises, all of which will help.
Can you speak aloud, clear, ungasping sentences as you run?.........if not, you are going too fast.
An extra rest day may help at this stage.
Enjoy your journey.
Thank you for your encouragement. I have come this far not going to give the couch a 2nd thought 😂
Hi, I hear your pain....I'm on WK6R1,done this morning, after doing WK5R3,Last week, I thought wow that's a big jump,but I put my trust in the program, and knuckle down my Determination.
Saying to myself on the rest day b4 that run......I can do it over and over with no excuse, and i conquer it.
I followed that the App to its entirety and kept reminding myself it's not a race or any PB I am doing and just pace myself and it worked,the mind changes and as the weeks get higher we naturally think we should run/jog faster.
But the app always says dont rush just light jog, and I guess the discipline of following the App is so Important, take your time and breath correctly. Mind over Matter I guess.hope this helps ..😀💯🏃♂️
I did week 7 run 1 two days ago and also stopped at 13 minutes but it was blowing a hoolie so didn’t beat myself up. I know it was lack of oxygen though not legs and realised my preparation wasn’t good enough as I was eager to get out, too eager and missed my breakfast and hydration before going. The wind pulled me back a little too. But I’m moving on to run 2 today. Let me know how you get on
Thanks for your encouragement and words of wisdom.
It was pretty warm when I went out this morning so could have been a factor or maybe that just my excuse 😂.
It’s definitely a mental test that’s on par with the physical side.
For me I slowed down compared to previous weeks. About 0.5km/h, so not much but enough to aid me in completing the session.
My brisk walk is only just slower than my running.
I try to focus on something other than the time or the fact I’m running.
I know the first 10/15mins will be hard, no flow, doubts and absolutely anything to stop me from continuing. So dismiss that as a reason to stop.
I take really hard long breaths, in through the nose and out through the mouth, I do this 5/6 times every 5/10 mins. That seems to help me.
Every time you attempt, you are improving your stamina, fitness and mental strength.
You will get there in your own time, keep going, you can do this. 👍🏻
I found week 7 run 1 went great but then all through run 2 I just couldn’t get that energised feeling I usually have around the 10 minute mark - it was really uncomfortable all the way through, and I felt completely exhausted all day afterwards. I’ve given myself an extra rest day this time to see if that helps me get back up to full strength but be assured you’re not alone in finding this a tough week!
W7 was my nemesis!! Took my 6 practice attempts before finally completing the full 25 minutes. I often found myself running out of energy and just had to walk before carrying on running again. Would happen anywhere between 11 and 23 minutes. All the usual advice of slow down, hydrate, so long as your not in pain keep stubbornly pushing on, take an extra rest day, different route,different music(this seemed to help me), different time of day. You’ve done it once in W6 so you know your capable just need to keep at it.
Thanks for this . I shall keep battling on until I complete the full 25 mins. that's what has been happening start off fine and then about 12 mins in I have been needing to walk not for long but still a walk an extra day rest may be helpful too. 😀
I agree it’s a hard week as other weeks so far have just one long run and now there are 3 ! Running towards home seems to help me and trying to forget about the time.
I found the 2nd run of Week
7 really hard - but I just kept telling the wee voice in my head to shut up 🤐 & I resisted the urge - which was huge to stop and walk .......it was surprising for me too as the 1st one was enjoyable. Just retry & you’ll be ok 👌- you did it before. Fingers crossed 🤞 for you! 😀
I totally feel your frustration!! I'm on w7 did the first run... i found it really hard! Which is strange as I have been ok ish till now.
I start running feel good... but as soon as the coach says you have done 12 an a half minutes I just stop!!! I've dont this twice now!! On the same run.
I know its mental... its like my feet go.. 12 n a half minutes that's it!! STOP!!
Today I went back out... as soon as they said 12 n a half mins... I stop again, 😒 but i let myself walk for about maybe 2 mins... and then set off running again..i found today super hard for some reason...i wanted to stop all the way.
Coach then said I had 5 mins left...and my feet again just stopped dead!! I was so upset with my self... I know I can do this run ... which is more frustrating!!
So I walked again for like 2 mins... and then started off again... but this time when the coach said you have ran 25 mins well done... I thought NO I'm not stopping now... it was like I had found the running zone.. I was listening to The Best of Bangles (lol) and was staring at the floor totally in the zone!!
Next minute the coach was saying that I should drink some water after my 5 minutes walk cool down. I had not stopped and run the cool down walk!!
Which i though was great as it made up for the twice I had stopped!
We should try not to beat our selfs up about this...getting your running gear on and out the door is the hardest sometimes I think. Some days are good and others not..but to think that we have come 7 weeks is amazing in its self...please dont feel disappointed.. I'm trying not to too. Let's just try again another day... and keep reminding our selfs of how far we have come Instead of what we feel we cant do...because we both can!! We have both run all weeks till now that's a huge achievement in its self.
You can do it... we both can!!!
😀😀😁😁
P.s sorry for the long reply 🤦♀️🤣
Thank you so much for your post and the words of encouragement.
Think we both seem to be in the same boat at the moment! You are right we have proved in previous runs that we can do it..so let's go!!
Hope you manage to find your rhythm and crack it! 😀
I am going for another bash at it tomorrow
Good luck to you .....go smash it 🙂
Wk7 and struggling!
I’m struggling wk7 run 1 
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Anyone else struggling with drinking water now it's cooler?
