W8 struggles

Up to now have been managing the extra times each week but this one is not going well R1 I managed 23 mins so redid this Saturday and managed all 28, this morning for R2 only just managed 25 so will redo this one on Wednesday, I know that weather not helping as so humid but why are those extra 3 minutes defeating me?

[girlsjustwannarun Graduate]

Don’t overthink or stress about it! Just take it slow, and I mean slow and you will get there! Sometimes it’s just mind over matter as well, so try and take your mind elsewhere and focus on your breathing and really pacing yourself. You will do this!!

[anthony_jeannot Graduate]

Hey Lesley,

I found week 7 incredibly difficult and then found week 8 R1 a bit easier but then W8 Run 2 is the closest I've come to stopping early (outside of week 3 where I twinged a calf and couldn't run for 2 weeks)

I don't know if it is the same for everyone but I think for me it is two fold:

1) Physical tiredness - I think my body is still taking a while to get used to the back-to-back-to-back longer continuous runs. I feel like at the start of every run it's a little tight and lethargic and then by the end of it it is too. I have a suspicion that if I gave myself an extra couple days rest it would be better physically but worse mentally. Which brings me to point 2.

2) Mental - the novelty has worn off and there is no respite re: intervals again in the program. So, when the niggles and the difficulties kick in, the gremlin that says quit is half thinking about all the times I'm going to need to feel like this again until the end of the program (and the fact that I told myself I was nearly done 2 days ago and here I am again).

I am hoping that in week 9 they both pick up:

1) Because I've been doing the continuous runs long enough the body adapts better

2) Because I can countdown the runs in the program left.

Obviously, I don't plan on stopping running at that point, but I will need to find a new mental framing device

[nowster Graduate in reply to anthony_jeannot]

On the mental "boredom" side it may help to vary your running route a bit. I started doing that in Week 7.

Five runs left to graduation!

[anthony_jeannot Graduate in reply to nowster]

Great advice, I've been trying to vary here and there but I'm in a pretty busy part of the city and there are only so many routes that don't end up going on busy streets / via traffic lights / cobble stones or uneven running surfaces.

[Hidden]

Managed W8R2 this morning!! Had distraction of watching two dogs playing for my last 5 minutes which really took my mind off the feeling that I couldn't do it 😁

[Elfe5 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

That’s great, well done! 😄👍🏻

I think your word “distraction” is key! I use music & a wide selection of radio four podcasts. (It took me a long time to be comfy without something to listen to). Varying your route gives fresh interest - even the same route run the other way round can be good.

You are doing really well, I will start polishing the podium for you! 😄

[Hidden in reply to Elfe5]

Thank you! Had changed route previous 2 runs (one I competed and one I didn't) back to usual field this morning. Couldn't do it without music in my ears!