In need of a little boost - attempt 3 of W5 R3

[GardenGnome12]

So disappointed. Just attempted R3 W5 for the third time and failed 😞 On the first 2 attempts I went too quickly and got thwarted by hills in the latter stages. Determined not to be beaten, today I chose a flatter route and set off at a slower pace only for the technology to get me. About half way through I realised that the Couch25k app had stopped (not unusual in these 'ere rural parts but thought "That's okay, run keeper is working and it is a straight forward 20 min run" A bit later I thought I' d have a look to see how much longer I had only to find that run keeper had stopped - I think I must have accidentally pressed stop as I put it back in my pocket at half way 😞 Think I had done about 15 mins at that point, couldn't face going on and not knowing whether I had really broken thya 20 minute threshold or not. Really don't want to give up but feeling as if the running gods are against me at the minute.

[JetsNanna Graduate]

You must be fed up. Do you wear a watch or Fitbit type gadget? I wear my Fitbit and I check the time when I start running so that even if Runkeeper stops I know when I have done my allotted time.

On a positive note - a 15 minute run is not to be sniffed at. I bet you couldn’t have dreamed of doing that 5 weeks ago. Take the positive from this and try again on Tuesday 😊

[GardenGnome12 Graduate in reply to JetsNanna]

Thank you JetsNanna. You are right - I couldn't do 5 minutes 5 weeks ago let alone 15 😅 Had my watch on - will make sure I look at it before I start running next time....

[JetsNanna Graduate in reply to GardenGnome12]

You can do this! Think positive thoughts, make sure that you are well and truly hydrated at all times not just on ‘run days’ and stay slow. I KNOW that the next time I read one of your posts it’ll be “I only went and completed W5R3!”

[Irish-John Graduate]

I used a small digital kitchen timer to track my runs. I'm not a "techie" by a long shot, and your experience tells me that there can still be problems with apps and phones and such.

Anyway - don't quit before trying this. It worked for me when my running felt pants.

Next run instead of "slowing down" run as SLOWLY as you possibly can. Sounds nuts- but you'll quickly discover a few things.

It's bloody hard to truly run slowly, something in our brain doesn't equate when it comes to pace - even after four years the hardest thing for me is being able to regulate my speed, we unconsciously want to run "fast" and our pace picks up without us realising it.

Your "slow" is therefore a heck of a lot faster than you think, and probably even less fast than your fast Try it and you'll see what I mean

By focusing on running SO slowly - as in not breaking into a 'walking step' - you can monitor your body and how you actually run. I found all sorts of ways my body was misbehaving that I hadn't realised - tensing my chest and ankles, ever so slightly keeping a foot at a slightly unnatural angle etc. All those accumulated wear you out faster.

And don't forget - 5k in 30/8weeks weeks is aspirational. Ive never done five in 30, and it took me around 16 weeks to graduate - but went on to HMs and now seeing if I'll be able to complete a FM in October.

And I'm still "slow" - if I finish the FM at all I'll be thrilled, if I finish it in anything like six to seven hours I'll be ecstatic - but I have so much fun I don't care Don't quit before the payoff comes rolling in

Wishing you many happy miles in your future

[Elfe5 Graduate]

Hi GG, how frustrating after laying your plans so well. - But your legs are all the stronger after a bit of extra practice. 😄

Have you ever looked at the Japanese Slow Running clip on YouTube? I found it very helpful because it made me realise how slowly and gently it is possible to go - well worth watching.

You can do it! 😄

[Dups Graduate]

Don’t be too disheartened, I’m useless sometimes with technology and pressed pause accidentally or something when changing my playlist, so I lose track of what I’ve done! But the way I see it , it’s still a run. Good luck on your run👍🏻

[Instructor57 Graduate]

Oh no, so disappointing !

But ! Not the end of the world .

It's just made me remember my week 2 run 2 I think it was when I had a shoe failure 😂

I was running in very old trainers at the time that I had not even worn for about 10 years .

I was halfway through the run when the sole came away on the left shoe, just a few seconds later the same thing on the right 😂😂😂

I ended up stoping and tying the soles on with the laces so I could walk home about 15 minutes away !

The rubber was completely perished and just crumbled 😂

[nowster Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

Unexpected moccasins? 👣😁

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to nowster]

Something like that 😂

[Cookieclub]

You sound like you are doing brilliantly. I would never dream of trying a hill or at any other speed other than Snail 🐌. Don’t worry about the Tech it’s getting out there that counts 👍👍👍

[Hidden]

Well you know how the saying goes..... "Bad things come in threes."

Proverb. If an unfortunate event has already occurred twice, it will most likely happen a third time.

I would say you are due a break in your run of bad luck and next time you are going to crack it. Don't give up. Remember everything you have achieved so far. Sounds like today's run was a good practice run for the real thing. Good luck 😉🍀

[KimberlyAubree]

I think u are doing super I’ve not even attempted wk 5 as yet but u did really well to keep going x

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

Oh tech is a pig at times, these aren’t fails they are practises, sounds like you are ready for the real thing next time out so keep it slow and don’t press any buttons

[Lizcanrun Graduate]

NOOOOOOOO!! You poor thing! Stupid technology! You must carry on - you can definitely do it if you've done the other runs. Just think of this as a sneaky practice run, have a glass of wine and give it another go this week. Good luck!!

[Dodgylungs Graduate]

Sounds to me like you would have done it this time around anyway. Just use a normal watch if you need to. If you ran 15 minutes I’m certain you would have managed the last 5. So now you know you can do it just make sure you have a back up timekeeper! Congrats on running the heats. The final is in two days! (That’s how I would look at it).

[JulesL69 Graduate]

You’re doing really well, it must be so frustrating damn technology!

Don’t give up, just think where you have come from, for me certainly was the couch. You will have built stamina over the weeks and your fitness level will have improved... keep going 😃

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

Only the tech stopped this run... sounds to me like you’d have aced it otherwise. I always lock my phone to prevent accidental taps on any stop buttons.

Maybe the running gods just thought you needed a couple of practice runs here... that’s all ok, you’ll be a stronger runner next time because of them.

[GardenGnome12 Graduate]

Thank you all so much for your support and encouragement. It was just what I needed. You are all amazing and I look forward to my next post being able to tell you all that I did it 😁

[John_W Graduate]

Maybe use a simple stop-watch? Or a watch ? I'm serious - we make this too complicated sometimes,