The mistake was that I set off very fast. Up until half way I was doing great, faster than I've ever gone before! I knew my body was responding the same way as when I went a bit slower, but slow wasn't for me because I AM A RUNNER NOW. Anyway that all totally backfired at the half way mark, I almost stopped. I felt like I was going to be sick at one point. Very glad to say I didn't stop! And very glad W2 R3 is the same so I can have another crack at it at a more moderate pace. I feel like I am going to make this mistake a few more times before I learn. I am so impatient. Impatient to be done, impatient to achieve, impatient to be fit and healthy.
The Achievement
The achievement was that I did infact go further than ever before, pushed myself HARD and kept going, and my pace was overall the fastest - despite going so slowly in the second half!(That is how fast I was running to start hahahah). I had the confidence to turn this into a workout rather than just trying to achieve the run because I believed I COULD do it regardless. I like this confidence. I like the fact my muscles feel worked (even my abs). I am in for aches tomorrow even though I stretched, I pushed hard. I may not have enjoyed some of the run, and the pain, but I really really reallyyyy enjoyed seeing that pace!
The Other Runner
On my cool down walk back when I was dying, I saw another lady who looked like an established runner. Cool, calm, collected and had the gear. She wasn't sprinting, she looked comfortable and her legs were still toned. I made a mental note of this.
The Distraction
Does anyone else find that if they even look sideways, or have to go past another human, or notice a pretty flower that it throws them right off? This messed me up mentally today.
Gait Analysis
I'm popping into Runners Need tomorrow lunch time to get this done bit early but I thought prevention of any injury is probably the best thing.
Written by
sally1993
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Week 2 is early days. YOU KEPT GOING!!! Every week seems impossible but you will do it. Start really slow. If you have energy later you can always speed up. More difficult the other way round. We'll done x
Yes I can relate. On the same run I had a fast start and regretted it about half way through, with nothing left in the tank, and had to drag my way to the end.
New runners all go too fast..........it is the sign of a newbie........while more experienced runners realise that stamina is built by running slowly, at an easy conversational pace, and only push pace for a limited amount of their running time.
A 5000m runner does not try to run at the same pace as a 100m runner.
Even after graduating and now having run 3 consolidation runs I am still very slow so not the best person to reply but well done on what you've achieved so far
I’m onto consolidation runs and I still try to push myself faster. I get a great 1st km split pace and I get much slower from there. I have learnt from the wise words of a friend. Any run is time on your legs, the pace and distance doesn’t always matter if you’re not training for an event. Get out there, enjoy it in the moment and feel good about your achievements.
Oh and absolutely get decent trainers fit for your gait, it can really turn a run around
I think along the way everyone makes the same mistakes because you are getting to know what your body can do. I found as my breathing settled I got into my natural rhythm and pace.
I started c2k5 for the fitness, yes, but also for the calm and headspace. I didn't think, 6 weeks after graduation, I would be planning how to build my stamina, speed, hill endurance and recovery times lol!
Honestly, I would enjoy the programme for now. Be proud that you out there in the first place and once you have it under your belt you'll be in a much better place to build speed etc 😊
Best of luck with your journey. It sounds like you have the determination to achieve what ever you want 👍
P.s think the gait analysis is a great idea at any stage to avoid injuries. 🏃♂️
Wow this is so positive it actually made me smile and feel proud for being out there, like you said Thank you. Buzzing for the gait and some new shoes!
You should be proud 😊 Having the mindset to challenge yourself is amazing!
Omg the gait analysis is something else! The shoes really make the run. Never ever did I think I would be so excited to go out and try my new trainers 🤣🙈
I made the mistake... and just about got to the achievement... for me the other runner was my daughter, at the same stage as me not making the mistake and not seeing it as a big deal 🤣. Distractions... yeah, it’s like learning to drive... we don’t know what we are doing, we’re nervous, we are having to use all our thought capability just to get the job done... that’ll change it becomes automatic. As the act of running becomes easier, then the mind can start to use the time as to embrace those distractions... seeing geese landing on a pond becomes a highlight of the day, early on it would have thrown me off the run a little.
Gait analysis... good thinking... prevention is better than cure... and comfort is king for the most important part of our running equipment.
You’re doing great... once you find your happy, comfortable, conversational pace it will start to get easier.
What a great post and sums up what many of us feel when we first start. But listen to the wise words that have been said, go slowly at first and you can speed up at the end if you still have the energy. You’re doing great but Week 2 is early days and you’ll find that the run times increase quite quickly and if you set off fast you’ll probably struggle to complete the runs, it took me til week 5 to really learn that! Good luck and enjoy being a runner
Thank you! Yes definitely I’m getting the jist, start off slow and speed up at the end if I’ve got it in the tank 💪. Yes I have the longer runs in the back of mind! Looking forward to tomorrow to try and find that slower, comfortable pace x
Don't force yourself to increase your pace right now. Go slowly and enjoy the ride. After you prepare your mind to keep up running for 5k you can consider going faster (please be careful with injuries).
Great! Make sure you keep it in your head over the coming weeks.
Very simple tip... make sure your effort is easy enough that you can talk comfortably. This is not meant to be hard work, like a gym class. Keep it nice and easy, bright and breezy. Your breathing is your best friend, your best guide as to how fast you're going. Finding it hard? Out of breath? Don't stop, just slow down !
Hi Sally 1993 its so great that you kept going. ive often felt like that! I completed my W2 R2 this morning and I wonder if anyone else feels this; Im ok on my first run ( and Im very careful to start off really slow and steady, then on my second run I find it really difficult (probably the worst one) and then the next worst one is the second to last one. But like you I got through it - one last run to go. I'm not so bothered about speed though as long as I can jog my way through each one that to me is a massive acheivement. I am trying to look at other stuff while I run to take my mind off it but it isnt as easy as it looks ! good luck with the Gait analysis!
Well done on your run! We are getting through it aren’t we 😎. I definitely agree about second to last run I really find that the hardest, I have my best song on for that run to see me through 😂. Because I was so fatigued yesterday it really was the worst one 😅 x
Yeah we're getting through it! I honestly cant believe ive got this far and Im actually starting to look forward to it. The weather this morning was glorious not a cloud in the sky and I felt on top of the world whilst listening to my playlist.
Well done!! I had my gait analysis done 2weeks ago due to shops being shut. The guy in the shop said something to me that has really hit the mark and I want to share it with you. He said the lungs and heart get used to running much quicker than rest of your body I.e muscles. Remember you are looking after them when you run slow.
I am really enjoying running slow now and looking after my knees and ankles so that I can run for many years to come.
Love your post and your observations, keep them coming 😊
Thank you for your kind words <3 And advice, that is very true isn't it! I want to be able to keep going so I need to remember to look after my body especially in the early days x
Great stuff! And inspiring - I need to inherit some of that confidence. I'm on W7R2, and getting it done, but not feeling confident at all. Still haven't dared call myself 'a runner'. Still haven't admitted to many people I know I'm doing it. This is my first post here! Finally accepting I might be interested in fitness! I think if I inherit a bit of your confident spirit I might feel a little more motivated and comfortable - maybe push myself more! I'll give that a go!
I wanted to ask about how you track your pace. I'm sure I'm quite slow, but I have no idea at all as to what counts as fast or slow. I'm very keen to learn a little about my own speed, relative to convention? What are you 'fastest' compared to? Are you using some kind of app, perhaps?
Well you've come so far on the plan I personally would class you as a runner! The confidence is my natural messed up reaction to being anxious - I'm very lucky! I'm either in isolation hiding and crying or something takes over and I'm the life of the party.. luckily running has brought out the best.
This is your first post, this place is brilliant! Check out some of the positive feedback I've had on my other posts and on the news feed the other runners post all sorts of questions and advice and share their journey it's wonderful.
I use the strava app. It tries to get you to sign up to premium but just ignore that, you don't need to pay anything for it. When I press start on my music and the C25K app, I also press start on strava and it records my constant pace and distance throughout. At the end I get an average, and I can even see how my pace changed throughout the run it's really good, I recommend :). I am the fastest compared to my previous runs also recorded with strava. It gives you your personal best and it records them all for you so you can see how you're changing/improving x
Oops - I thought I'd replied, but seemingly not. I must have hit the wrong button. So - sorry for my delayed reply.
Thanks so much for the insight. Strava was great - I wanted something basic - a chance to look back at routes, see how I'm progressing etc. Great stuff. It's helping me move to trails running too (finding routes to local countryside) and I think I'll find much more pleasure running trails over roads. So - thank you! I might soon be able to call myself a 'trail runner', at least!
And I feel you on the anxiety front. Got my own anxiety diagnosis (plus a little PTSD - I like to be open about these things), but mine manifests as self-doubt or talking too much. But running is absolutely helping with my mental health/mental wellbeing!
So thanks sincerely for the encourage and advice. It's helped!
Wow thank you for your lovely reply, better that it’s delayed because I get to hear that I’ve helped someone! I’m so pleased to hear this 😃 enjoy those trails 🐎
I’m yet to see any mental improvement from the running but still early days for me, I am holding out hope always best to be honest and open I think x
For me the mental health gain hasn't been explicit. If I set off feeling a little crap, I might come back the same, or only a little improved. But over time I've felt a general benefit - like the overall impact of all the runs together is cathartic. And now I'm able to do longer runs (I found W1/2 so, so hard - but did a 28-min run yesterday!) that time away from things and alone is so meditative! But I can still very much be an anxious mess at the wrong time in life. Actually, Sunday was a tough day, and then being alone for 25 mins to do a run... that did have an immediate calming benefit.
Well done for pushing through. Please don't even think about your pace at the moment - this is still the early part of the programme and you don't have to beat any records, just carry on with the plan slowly and steadily! You are doing great, but slow is the mantra at this stage. There is plenty of time to build pace after you finish, it just isn't worth risking injury or burn out at this stage (but maybe you're young and very fit!) Good luck.
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bit early but I thought prevention of any injury is probably the best thing.
W4R1 - Wooohooooo 16mins of running in total and I'm still alive!
W3R1 done without style
WK6 R3... I DID IT!!!!!!
W9R3 - it's G-Day! 🎓
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