Week 8 struggles

[PaddleboardPrincess]

I don’t quite know why but I’m finding week 8 hard yards. I felt pretty positive at the end of week 7 but the first 2 runs of this week have just been pure slog. For some reason I haven’t got into the zone, my breathing has been all over the place and I’ve spent the entire run just wanting it to be over. Am not sure what’s changed from last week! Hoping to turn a corner on tomorrow’s run. 😬

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

The longer runs are often a mental challenge, so find a distraction so that the last things you think about are time and the physicality of running. If music doesn't do it, try podcasts or audiobooks. I used to give myself a running commentary on everything that I could see, hear, feel and smell as I ran, in full florid sentences. Others use podcasts or audiobooks.

If your breathing is all over the place you are probably going too fast. Can you speak aloud, clear, ungasping sentences as you run?.........if not, you are going too fast.

How is your preparation? Everything going on in our lives can impact on our performance as a runner. Restedness, hydration and nutrition are at the top of my list of variables that need to be optimised to enable enjoyable running.

Relax, prepare well and pace yourself without thinking about the running and it will all come together.

[PaddleboardPrincess Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thanks so much - Ianno. Great advice. I’ve been running without any music - just have the app on speaker on my phone and think you’re right about needing the distraction. I like the idea of a running commentary! I can probably speak a sentence but not sure how clear I’d be! Prep wise I think the hydration probably could be improved and the sleep (too much late night election coverage)! Thanks again. I’ll see how it goes tomorrow!

[shuffleido Graduate]

Good Luck with tomorrows run. I found the the first one of week 8 really hard, fighting Gremlins, run two was still hard but much better the the first one and I've just finished run 3 and it was somewhere in between the other 2 runs!! Just hoping that Week 9 is gentle with us.

[PaddleboardPrincess Graduate in reply to shuffleido]

Thanks shuffleido! Glad it’s not just me. I just want week 8 to be over! Huge well done on getting through it. Onwards...

[LauraRuns Graduate]

Weirdly enough I also struggled with week 8’s runs but found the week 9 ones a lot easier even though they were longer! So don’t give up, keep going, you’ve got this 🙌🏼🏃🏼‍♀️ It may well just be your body adjusting to the longer running times.

I’m sure you are but drink plenty of water on your rest days as that also helped me a lot too ☺️

[PaddleboardPrincess Graduate]

Thank you Laura! That’s reassuring. X

[Peter44 Graduate]

It's strange, I had a run like that last night, w9 r2, had a few issues going on at home, might have been the reason, but it's the first time I've felt like that! 🤔

[PaddleboardPrincess Graduate in reply to Peter44]

Thanks Peter. It’s odd isn’t it? It’s certainly shaken my confidence a bit but I’m hopeful things will pick up. Hope your next run is a good one!

[Imoca]

I tried in the first few weeks with no music, music, dragging a child with me but nothing was helping. Then my physio suggested an audiobook, well I couldn't find one I liked for free (I'm tight like that) so switched onto podcasts. Ran to My Dad Wrote A Porno, for 3 runs and people must have thought I was a loon, grinning and chuckling. Onto other things now but yeah, comedy works for me !

[LouiseA Graduate in reply to Imoca]

Omg I love that podcast! The Pomegranates! 😂

[PaddleboardPrincess Graduate in reply to Imoca]

That’s such a good idea. Thank you!

[Bambi2020 Graduate]

I found week 8 runs very tiring too and not as enjoyable but week 9 runs were so much better so it must be a week 8 thing!!

[PaddleboardPrincess Graduate in reply to Bambi2020]

Thanks. So good to know I’m not alone!

[Chesterlove Graduate]

Couldn’t agree more. Just done week 8 no. 2 and feel miserable that my legs ached, heart rate higher, breathing more difficult, resulting in my mind being in the wrong place. If a bit of a hill (tiny) came up I’d turn around and go back on myself! Disappointed. Thought I was improving.