Week 6, Run 3 - Tell me it gets easier :p

[anthony_jeannot]

Finished week 6 run 3 today, and, after feeling like things were getting incrementally easier since the end of week 4, this was by far the hardest run mentally and physically for a couple of week, and the slowest I've done since the end of week 4.

I definitely had a chuckle to myself thinking about how happy I was to see the end of intervals given how much I wanted a walking break during the end of that run.

A question to set up my expectations. Now that these extended runs are the norms, did you find the end of the program became progressively easier (as the intervals did) or did you find it to be a steady progression that keeps you slogging until the end?

[steviej99 Graduate]

Good news and bad news. Good news is that it gets a little easier the more you run the stronger you get. Remember to keep it slow. The bad news - if you want to run further or faster then it gets a bit harder! If running for 30 minutes was easy then it wouldn't be doing you any good would it!! Sounds like you're doing great. Good luck and enjoy your running

[Roxdog Graduate]

Those last few weeks required some mental strength and I needed to dig deep, so getting 'easier' wasn't quite how I experienced them, but I just got used to running and built strength and resilience. Taking 2 rest days sometimes helped too, no harm in having an extra day off here and there. Good luck

[Cmoi Graduate]

I found Week 9 easier than Weeks 7 and 8, probably because I'm quite goal-focused, though technology blips in Week 7 didn't help.

For Week 7 run 1, I told myself I'd run 25 minutes before, so could do so again. For Week 8 run 1 it was "Three extra minutes, that's not a big deal" and for Week 9 run 1 "Two more minutes and you've cracked it!"

For runs 2 and 3 each week I repeated my "You did it before, you can do it again" mantra.

Being in the right frame of mind was and remains crucial for me. I'd also strongly recommend taking more than one rest day between run days if your body's telling you that you need it.

You can do it - happy running!

[Smile23 Graduate in reply to Cmoi]

Like your methodology that would work for me. I am already telling myself only 5 minutes more😁

[anthony_jeannot Graduate in reply to Cmoi]

These framing devices are so brilliant. Thank you.