Terrified yet excited

[SuperKat1974]

Apologies that this post seems to be a lot "further down the line" compared to previous posts.... I've about to tackle Week 3 Run 1, a whole 3 mins running which is scary... More scary is that up until 2 years ago I had a neurological/balance/anxiety problem which meant I could only get around with a walking stick and a shopping trolley for support..... Was totally made up that on Thursday I managed Week 2 Run 3 in the typical Mancunian drizzle, not least because for so long I never went out on "potentially" slippy surfaces without a walking stick.... Any tips on how to get through that 3 mins of you're running in the rain? Actually enjoyed the refreshment from it on Thursday; guess I'm just looking for a confidence boost.... Only on week 3 but have invested in lightweight running jacket, considering what the weather's like here most of the time... I. Will.Do. This. Xxx

[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 minimising impact, stretching after every run, hydration and strengthening exercises, all of which will help.

In repsect of scary runs, this might help healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

They are not really scary at all.

Enjoy your journey.

[SuperKat1974 Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thanks for the motivation! 🙏

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

You will do it SuperKat1974, you are super and once you have completed it you will be buzzing as they say in Manchester, week 3 is the shortest workout of C25K, take the runs slowly like you have done on weeks 1 and 2, good luck. 👍 🏃🏾

[SuperKat1974 Graduate in reply to AlMorr]

Thank you so much! Means a lot to have motivation from alumni! 🙏

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

I’m just up the road near the reservoirs that serve Manchester... we are also famous because of our rain... all those cotton mills were dependent on it... so yeah, we need to get used to getting wet out there. If you’re worried about slipping, then you could go off road with a good trail shoe, or even onto grass in a cross country spiked shoe... but most decent road running shoes are really good on wet tarmac. I tend to avoid running on paving stones, so I don’t really know how bad they get. Beyond the slip risk, I find a light drizzle really good, I look at weather apps when it’s hot to see if I can find a window in the day where I’m likely to have some nice cool refreshing rain. When I know it’s going to rain, I revert to shorts and leave my usual running pants at home, and it’s just a running top with it, they dry out really quickly. The only time I don’t like rain is during my warmup... so I do that in the house and run from the front door.

[SuperKat1974 Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

I was made up that I even ATTEMPTED to run on wet roads after literally being too terrified to be walk on them not so long ago.... Really think that running (jogging purple praying for the end!!!!) is helping my mindset... Hope you're not too soggy wherever you are!

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to SuperKat1974]

You conquered a demon... and you’ll conquer many more... running is great for any anxieties. You’re gonna be fine in week 3... and all the way through this. You can do it.

I’m up in Glossop. Got rained on and hailed on walking the dogs this afternoon, but my run after it was dry... nice 5k down into the town in really fresh post storm air... almost kept going but cider and hunger called me home!

[IzzyMP Graduate]

Everyone who graduated was at week 3 at some point. Don't put yourself down , you're out there having a go. Well done. Good luck , slow and sure gets you there. I look forward to reading about you graduating in the not too distant future .🏃🏻🏃🏻👍👍

[Queenie17 Graduate]

Keep it up you are doing great! Your confidence will boost as you progress and surprise yourself every time.Happy running😁👍

[John_W Graduate Ambassador]

I think it's always useful to look at the total length of running for any particular session, and not the individual running bits.

So Week 3 sees you running for a total of 9 minutes each time you go out.

That's the same amount of time as Week 2. Week 1 is actually 8 minutes. So all 3 weeks are very similar but structured a little differently.

The real point is that by doing Week 1 your body was prepared for Week 2.

The accumulated fitness from both Weeks 1 & 2 get you ready for Week 3.

Every run you've done prepares you for the next one. It's just that the mind takes some convincing!

Yes, the program, like many similar, is a mental test, certainly not a physical one because it's designed to be achieved by almost anyone.

You don't need luck... Just positivity!

Do it

John

[SuperKat1974 Graduate]

Thanks for all the encouragement! I managed the W3 Day 1 this morning in the drizzle and actually really enjoyed it! Onwards and upwards! 👍