Week 8- can’t do it 😩: First tine posting on... - Couch to 5K

Couch to 5K

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Week 8- can’t do it 😩

Cindy91 profile image
13 Replies

First tine posting on here...

Started week 8 and attempted it 3 times and can’t complete it without stopping (and pausing the app) for a minute breather half way through!

So far I’ve enjoyed the challenge and felt it was achievable, but now I’m struggling and keep repeating the first run on week 8 as I can’t not stop half way through!

What should I do? Go back a week?

Help please! X

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Cindy91 profile image
Cindy91
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13 Replies
Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate

Just slow down more...and there is always slower... :)

Have you upped some of your rest days strength and stamina work? As these runs get longer it is important.

It can be tricky to get past the mind block, but... these lovely, longer runs are just perfect for slow and steady, relaxed running.

Are you running a route where you feel safe and confident...? When I first headed out after lockdown..I ran far too quickly in my eagerness to get back to the safety of home!

Sniffy25 profile image
Sniffy25Graduate

Don’t be too hard on yourself and throw that stick away you are beating yourself with. Look how far you have come, you are at week 8, that is brilliant well done. Maybe going back a week will help you, you are now stuck at an invisible brick wall which you need to smash so going back to week 7 can’t do any harm. I’m sure the more experienced on this site will help and give lots of useful positive advice. Rest up for a few days and give it another go, you’ve got this. 💐👍

IannodaTruffe profile image
IannodaTruffeMentor

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.

Can you speak aloud, clear, ungasping sentences as you run?.........if not, you are going too fast.

Relax and enjoy your journey.

Chokka profile image
ChokkaGraduate

Exactly what sniffy25 said ... what a brilliant answer! Use the stick that you’re beating yourself with to smash down the invisible wall instead.

That invisible wall is the running commentary of doubt in your head ... you can do this ... please don’t allow yourself to get into a mindset that you can’t.

Mind over matter.

POSITIVE mind over matter.

Now get out there & do it!!

Cindy91 profile image
Cindy91

Thank you all. I’ve been struggling a lot mentally and have a lot going on, so maybe it is a mental thing and i piling too much pressure on myself!

I was so enjoying it and feeling like I’d made so much progress so don’t want to stop! I was actually dreading it stopping because I love the fact that the coach talks to you etc!

Will try again Thursday and see how I get on.

Thanks again!

Quackquackquack profile image
QuackquackquackGraduate in reply to Cindy91

I struggled with week 8 as well. Ended up taking 2/3 rest days, starting really slow, so that I could have a conversation with someone as if I had a jogging buddy. I also found a flatter route. Found it really hard until I had got 1/2 way then it got easier as I knew I had less to do. Good luck, I’m sure you can do it because if all the progress you have made up to now :-)

SmilelikeImeanIt profile image
SmilelikeImeanItGraduate in reply to Quackquackquack

Great advice. I think 2 rest days really helped me plus the strengthening exercises and hydrating on rest days too. Go back a week, you know you can do that, then move on when you are ready. If you feel good after 25 mins then maybe just carry on an extra minute or two.

Dtay1978 profile image
Dtay1978Graduate

You have made an incredible amount of progress. The mind is a wonderful thing but can also be somewhat of a nuisance at times.

Try your best to relax and just run, a slow jog, if you feel you can’t hold a conversation while on the move you’re likely going too quick.

You can do this 😊

Tasha99 profile image
Tasha99Graduate

Slow down. If you can do 25, you can do 28! Why are you stopping halfway when you can do 25 minutes. It’s mental. Just slow down.

Gannet1 profile image
Gannet1Graduate

In addition to agreeing with the other advice, I found that as the runs got longer I needed more rest days in between. I took whatever I needed and always felt the benefit. Even more important when life is generally tiring you out! 👍 We all know you can do it!😊🏃‍♀️🐢

liam-1 profile image
liam-1Graduate

Just stick with it. Your doing great. Find your pace that’s comfortable don’t think about the time, concentrate on breathing and drift away with some good motivational music 🎧 (I find that really helps).

Don’t give up, we believe in you, look how far you have already come 👍🏻💪🏻👟

jwilk profile image
jwilkGraduate

I felt exactly the same. I knew it wasn't really a physical problem because I was breathing fine and my legs weren't finished; I just sort of gave up. I plotted a 5km run on the Planmyroute app, turned off the phone (still logged it on Strava) and just went round in a circle. It was so freeing. I think it worked because it changed the focus away from time completely. Highly recommended but i should have started with 3k, i was pooped.

Cindy91 profile image
Cindy91

Now I’m thinking why didn’t I write on here sooner? I cannot thank you all enough for taking your time to reply to my post. I definitely don’t want to give up, I think I just need to really look at my pace. A lot of you are saying about being able to talk and run... absolutely no chance! 😂 But maybe in time and at a slower pace that’ll come!

Thanks again ❤️

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