Wk 6 run 2 and lost my running buddy 😔

[Foxyblue]

My 14yr old has really struggled this week and after the high of the 20min run last week he is giving himself a really hard time. All along I have encouraged drinking plenty and dynamic stretching etc but being a teenager he thought he’d just breeze it. This week he has been plagued with pains and cramping down the backs of his legs and had to stop running and walk for some on run 1 and run 2. He has decided he actually hates running and was dreading every run and only going for my sake 😬 so I feel terrible 😱

[packersruns Graduate]

Don't feel terrible! Week 6 is not easy whatsoever, and congratulations for getting through it all, as well as your son! I think he will eventually realise that if he would have stretched then he would be able to get as far as you will, but just give him some time for now. Once he sees you progressing, it might make him want to get back into it. You don't lose any significant fitness in the first two weeks so he might just need a break for a little while then he can get back to it. Good luck for the rest of your running!

[Foxyblue in reply to packersruns]

I suggested he have a rest til Monday then repeat wk 6, he walks as fast as I run so we could still go together. He says he felt embarrassed because I could do it and he couldn’t but he also accepts he hasn’t been so religious about the stretching before or after bit.

We talked it through but ultimately he just doesn’t enjoy it and would rather go on his bike. Bottom line is I want him to be healthy but for it to be sustainable I know he needs to enjoy it. I’m ok with running on my own, I admit in the beginning I really valued the company as it helped motivate me but I feel like now I’d be ok on my own. When I told him this I could see the relief on his face bless him

[packersruns Graduate in reply to Foxyblue]

It's good that you two talked about it then - a big part of running is the mental part so if he's not into it and would rather enjoy something like cycling then definitely worth swapping over! Like you said, its important for him to be healthy. You never know, when he sees how much progress you have made, especially post C25K he might end up trying again and you can coach him - but if not at least you are both actively being healthy and supporting each other!

[Tinytears60 Graduate in reply to Foxyblue]

Absolutely nothing to get embarrassed about!... it’s that super cool teenage thing again 😎

What a fab relationship you seem to have!... great read! x

[Instructor57 Graduate]

Teenagers ! haha 😂

Having suffered with those same aches and pains after my week 1 run 1 (5 weeks ago now) I soon realised the importance of the dynamic excercises before and the stretching afterwards and the hydration .

BUT most teenagers I guess know better 😁

Perhaps a lesson learnt ? 😬

[Tinytears60 Graduate]

Awww don’t feel awful!.... make no mistake I’m struggling with week 6 too!....

well done to you both for getting out there and doing it! 👏👏👏

And super cute of him - at least trying it for you!... adorable! But sshhhh don’t tell him that as teenagers hate to be referred to as adorable! It’s simply not cool 😎

[Foxyblue]

😂 definitely not cool!

He is adorable though and I don’t think I would have got this far without him pushing me on when I struggled in week 1 & 2. He is fit and healthy generally so I’m not worried but just feel a bit guilty that I love it so much and hadn’t realised that for him it had started to become torture 😢 and I’ll brave the 25min run on Friday solo!

Is it wrong that I’m super excited 😆

[limberlou Graduate]

Oh no!!! I had a similar conversation with my daughter yesterday.she was the one who encouraged me to do C25k over 2 years ago - when she was going to tryout for the army. Since then her career has gone in a diferent direction, she has had to move away for 18 months and only been back again for a few months, only just before lockdown. Now she has the job of her dreams locally and I suggested we could run together again and she has admitted she hates running!!

Oh well I’d got used to running on my own anyway but I’d thought it would be nice to run together occasionally. But not everyone likes to run I’m afraid. And we aren’t all the same. My sister Loves to swim and is a really strong swimmer. I only like to swim in clean water at room temperature with no one else around. No chlorine, no seawater, nobody getting in my way...and I get far too hot when I get out and have to go into changing rooms. Whereas she says the words Fun and Run are mutually exclusive and should never be used together in a sentence.

I think it’s lovely that he was at least trying to run with you. Bless him

[Foxyblue]

Thanks, I agree I thought it would be something we could do together. You know teenagers and how spending time with parents becomes painful for them (& for the parent sometimes too 😂) so I thought this would be a good way to stay connected. Ah well I’ll go back to plan A and try to look interested when all my boys start talking about football the ridiculous ‘vines’ or YouTube videos they seem to love so much 🙄. (Note to self - man you just sounded super old!)