Started and Stopped

[Angel2604]

A couple of weeks ago I started my couch to 5k journey. All was well for the first week but run 3 of week two my knees/ legs were completely ruined!! Couldn’t sleep through pain/throbbing, couldn’t kneel couldn’t walk without pain! Took about two weeks to recover!! What did I do wrong!! Thinking of starting again but not sure I can take failure for a second time!!

[Shawny60]

Funny enough I did W2R3 just a couple of hours ago and found it the hardest yet, I had to stop early on two of the runs so was a bit disappointed but will repeat it again on Saturday, from other posts on forum I think you will get good and bad days so you should start again were you left off or maybe go back to week 1 if you have had a couple of weeks off. You did so well to start so don't give up. I am resigned to the fact that i will have to repeat many runs in this challenge but at least i am out in the fresh air and still getting excercise and it will all improve in time. Good luck.

[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.

Most new runner's leg pain is caused by the impact and if you follow the advice in the guide you can minimise it.

Enjoy your journey.

[Feltip Graduate]

I was advised to invest in decent running shoes, goodluck. We all struggle at times but here you will receive positivity and kindness, in my experience that helps a lot

[Roxdog Graduate]

Please do consider doing lots of knee strengthening exercises - that will help! Good luck.

[Ellaloux Graduate]

This happened to me on week 3! I was a bit impatient and tried running when my knee was still not 100% better and of course made it so much worse! I decided to not run until it was fully better this time. I probably didn’t run for about a week and a half. I started from where I left off at week 3, I didn’t feel like my fitness levels had decreased at all! I got to week 4 and had another injury which put me off another week!! I decided to start week 4 from scratch which looking back was definitely a wise decision.

I’m now starting week 8 and have had no issues at all since! I would just pick up from where you left off and see how you get on😊 or even just repeat run 3 of week 2 and move on from there.

P.s. can I also just say, I highly recommend investing into a good pair of running shoes! This was an absolute game changer for me! I bought some around week 4 and it 100% solved the issues with my knee and I find I run soo much better!