Not sure what’s been up with me the last few days but my energy levels have been at a big fat 0!! I set off on my first run of week 8 and about 10 minutes in I was really struggling. Even when I’m getting tired I normally have the mental strength to push myself to the end- I’ve never not completed a run, until today😩 I was trying absolutely everything to motivate myself, I usually rely on my music to take my mind off the run, but the music was just annoying me haha.
I stopped after 15 minutes extremely out of breath, then I carried on for another 5 and it got even worse, I ended up gasping and breathing really short rapid breaths- it was really scary- I’ve also now got a lovely cough😭 I was determined to at least do 25 minutes, so I slowly and painfully plodded on for 5 more minutes back to my car.
I’m absolutely gutted with myself😩I’m going to give myself a break and try again on Monday after I’ve finished work.
Any words of motivation would be greatly appreciated right now🤣
Written by
Ellaloux
Graduate
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I've had days like that, too, and they're frequently followed in the next workout by me feeling better than ever. It could be anything, like warmer temperatures or higher humidity, time of day (I get slammed if I run in mid-day sun in summer July heat), or it could be your body telling you that you might need an extra day of taking it easy and hydrating. Don't let one bad workout discourage you!
I don’t think the weather helped to be honest, it was quite humid, which always causes me to have problems with not being able to breathe very well- I assume it’s hay fever related. I’m hoping for a bit of rain, I always run well in the rain🤣
The past four 25 min runs have been great (the last one was a bit exhausting but it was doable) but I couldn’t even do that yesterday- so frustrating haha!
I’m too determined to give up though, I will get to week 9, even if it takes me an extra week or so to get there🤣
This was exactly me 5 days ago...wk8r1...total stinker and didn't complete the session. Just like you, never not completed a session before so felt gutted. But some days you just have a bad run for whatever reason and as everyone else has said, just cut yourself some slack...shake it off and next run will be a new day. I've now completed wk8 but will probably do one more consolidation wk8 run to make up for the one I couldn't complete before moving on to the final week. Don't worry, Be happy, You Got This.
Ah it’s nice to hear someone else has been in the same boat! I stop started 3 times and got to about 25 minutes, so I think I’ll have a few days off and just start run 1 again😊
It sounds to me like you are physically run down, maybe you have a mild illness or some other minor aliment that you are not aware of; or maybe you have just overdone it generally. I recon if you take a little time off running to completely recharge, you'll be back on track in no time. If you ran for 25 minutes three times last week you know you can do those sorts of distances normally. A weeks break would not take that ability away from you. Wait until you feel you have enough energy and then go for it again. You'll definitely get there and remember, it is not a race to graduate, you can take as long as you like.
Please be careful because you have 3 of the symptoms that could be associated with COVID-19. Breathlessness, low energy and a cough. Don’t mean to worry you but work for the NHS.
The cough was just from the breathlessness, I’ve always had coughs after running- even back in school from doing cross countries etc. The breathlessness happens a lot, where my throat feels like it’s closing up, it’s something I’ve been to the doctors about before but they weren’t any help at all and basically just fobbed me off..
The low energy though isn’t really like me, however have I’ve had a ridiculously busy/stressful week so assumed it was down to that. Think I just need a bit of a break and I’ll be back on it😊
What else is going on in your life right now? You might not think there's anything different/stressful/effortful going on, but it sounds like your body is responding to something by feeling lethargic.
It may be worthwhile to write a list of everything going on right now, whether that's regular stuff (e.g. work), or something different that's happened in the past week or so. Write about how your relationships have been this week. Have you felt more tension or stress towards others?
Have you had to do anything different this past week? Maybe go to a new place? Meet someone new?
It could be that you're running on empty if your body is fighting something off. As a kind lady said below, be kind to yourself!
We can't always push and give our best. Sometimes we need to dial it back and listen to what our body needs before we're ready to go again.
Thank you for the reply😊 I have had a lot going on this week, I’ve had 3 exams to do this week before I go back to work tomorrow so have been staying up really late revising for the last 2 weeks! I have been feeling a little run down too, think I’ve had a bout of hay fever!
There was absolutely no way I could’ve pushed through to do the full run yesterday- I just felt physically and mentally exhausted!
I’ll be back to my normal self next week I’m sure, and I shall just go from there!😊
All I can say is, Iv been there in the fact that some days I lack motivation or my legs feel like lead, but what I do is, as I set off (from my house) I set myself little goals.....and say 'If I get to....wherever...at least Iv done something....then I move the goalposts, 9 times out of 10, I do the run I planned, but on not so good days, I do actually turn back after the first goal, knowing something is better than nothing. My problem was my back for a while, then aches in my legs....now my problem is the toilet!! The joys of menapause. It won't beat me though! 🤪 Good luck! But also listen to your body, you may actually be under the weather, see how you feel tomorrow 🙂
I’ve found setting little goals helps me too! It’s usually “just run to that next lamp post or run to that bin..and then the next one, and then the next one”🙈🤣
I found w8r1 tough- I went out later than normal and was overtaken by a young slip of a thing that had a smirk on her face as she passed me. When I got home and looked in the mirror I saw why- absolutely beetroot red and looking like I was about to have a coronary 😂 I was so slow but I did it. Note to self go out earlier before all the young whippersnappers get out and take it slow- it’s not a race. Just take it one day at a time and you will get there- good luck!!x
I feel sorry for that girl. How horrible to be so ugly on the inside. She is certainly coping with low self esteem. Maybe she should be working harder herself.
I also go beetroot. I don’t care if people see it as it is evidence that am working hard. They don’t know how far I have run or what my general health is. I am frequently overtaken by a man who looks ancient but runs like the wind. He always gives me an encouraging smile. Lovely on the inside too!
That’s nice when people do that! I don’t usually give a damn what people think- I know what I’ve done and why and that’s all that counts!! Here’s to week 9 and graduation!
Ha, beetroot red -- that's how I look after every run. I did a run last weekend in the mid-day 90-degree sun and almost didn't complete, was barely able to toddle home. When I walked in and hubby saw my beet-red face, he immediately said "you need to go sit down, now!" Guess it was an extra-deep shade of beetroot red (he's used to seeing me come back from my runs red-faced, but I guess not like this!).
It was crummy of that girl to smirk at you. She'll be where you are some day... I've long since stopped caring about what others think of me, right down to the "outfits" I put on when I go out to run. I wear what's comfortable for me, don't care what I look like to others (as long as I'm not indecent...).
If at first you don't succeed... try, try and try again! I doubt there's many people who have completed this programme without a setback or two but the key is not to let one knock defeat you. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger! Sorry... I seem to have had a bowl of clichés for breakfast.
Also, just a note on the coughing and wheezing, this happened to me when I first started exercising and I was actually diagnosed with exercise-induced asthma. Now I have an inhaler which I take 15 minutes before a run - now my breathing is 10x easier than it was and I've just completed week 8.
Anyway, just something to bear in mind if it happens again. Other than that, you've got this and will feel so good after you complete the next run!
Hi, please don’t feel bad about your experience. Everyone has bad days and maybe you just need more rest. Do you push yourself to go fast? Maybe start slowly next time and see how it goes. But don’t beat yourself up about it- you can do this!
I have felt like that too when i just wasnt into it as much as my previous runs. Sometimes im not quite in the mood and the music doesnt help, and my legs feel heavy.... then other days are back to normal and i sometimes feel like i cannot wait to run. But maybe you’re a bit unwell atm. It could well be. Im due a run today so will head late afternoon as its too hot right now. X
Wow 🤩 well done for how far you’ve come along! I’m about a week behind you and have a bad run (wk7r1)
I felt similar to you! I bumped into everyone you wish you didn’t have to and then had some people charging fast past me 🙄😂😂😂 safe to say it was one of my worst ever runs! ( if you can call it that )
I felt so terrible after the run 🏃♀️ but tomorrow is a new day and a new chance!
Like a lot of people have said there will be ‘bad’ runs and good runs - a bad run doesn’t define you! It could have been you weren’t very well prepared - low level of energy - maybe pick a different time of the day where you might feel at your best?
Also what I found helps is doing warm ups and maybe select a new playlist to help you
And also look at what you’re eating 🍽 before runs and after runs!
It does sound like you have exhausted yourself and I think you have put pressure on yourself .. so just take some time out and look after yourself!
Don’t stress to much... just give yourself a rest and then go at it again.. start slower and increase if you feel comfortable! You’ve got this far you can definitely do it! Keep it up 😊
You may have had a less than ideal run, but you still had a run, so focus on the achievement. It does sound like you are a bit unwell, so take it easy. I had a grim run yesterday W7R1 - did complete the 25 mins but each step was a struggle and I was totally spent at the end which hasn't happened before (even though I was slower than I'd ever been). Maybe it was something in the air!
I’m usually very determined to make it to the end but it just wasn’t happening, I had nothing in me to run any more! I think it was more frustrating because my last run of week 7 was a tough one too! Usually when I have a bad run I bounce back and do great on the next!
The 5 Hs guaranteed to do me in are -Heat, Hormones, Hydration, Hills and Hangover (1 glass will ruin it for me). If a run doesn’t feel at all good, I’d go home and recover. It is not a failure. It is not you being lazy. It is just you listening to your body, being sensible and looking after yourself. You know you can do it ...another day. Xx
Thank you😊 I thought I’d maybe try again today but I’m just not feeling it. I always have bad runs when the weather is humid, which it was yesterday. I’d much rather run in the cold and rain🤣
I think it must be the curse of the Week 8 Run 1 as I was exactly the same this morning! Was already struggling by the half way point; think it was a combination of having a lot on my mind (normally running lets me get some headspace but not today, I was just ruminating) and the park being heaving with people. I had to slow the 2nd half right down to Week 3 snail's pace just to make it to the end...... But I kept on going and I reckon Run 2 this week will be fine. Gotta take the highs with the lows but we're getting closer to the finish line so onwards and upwards I say! 👍😅
This has happened to me before, quite a few times, usually when during intense exercise. I went to the doctors about it as asthma runs in my family. Basically they didn’t take me seriously and just told me that they don’t know what’s wrong with me🙃
Keep on keeping on; some runs are like that. I had an awful run on Friday which put me in a real sulk. I went out today and had a fabulous run. Have a rest day and treat each run as a new run. Easy to say I know, but it worked for me today.
Same here - this week just felt whacked yet know can do it. So: met up.with some people doing the course - and although they go evenings and I.prefer mornings - will give it a go as being with others is motivating if you can find a fellow runner? Plus, I let myself walk when really needed to - and then ran again when caught breath. Weather/sleep/eating/drinking/worries/work can all affect us - so don't give up, it a temporary blip.
Awwww Ellaloux, I'm sorry that I only just saw this now. I wonder if you've been out again since?
A number of people will say that we can all have runs which don't go so well. It sounds like this was one of those days for you. I'm sure that next run will be fine.
Remember that you havr run 4 x 25 minutes already and a 1 x 20 in week 5 too and you CAN do this.
Your body was just saying no for whatever reason and it is right to listen to it.
I have! I tried again yesterday and it went really well, I completed the full 28 minutes!😊
It was just a physically and mentally draining week that took its toll on me I think! Im back to my normal self now though and can’t wait for run 2 tomorrow😃x
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