Completed Week 4 at the second attempt

[ClutchingAtStraws]

I have just got back from completing Week 4 Run 3. I failed Week 4 Run 1 at the first attempt and went back to week 2 and carried on from there. I am still finding it really hard and I don't care what anyone says, I am running as slow as it is possible to run and there is absolutely no way of holding a conversation while jogging... not a chance! I think I am going to find Week 5 very tough!

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

Try running a little slower, IannodaTruffe a expert advisor here on C25K advises new runners to run at a conversation pace, so from on run a little slower.

[ClutchingAtStraws Graduate in reply to AlMorr]

I have watched all the slow running videos. I can't go any slower, it is impossible! According to my Garmin my jogging rate is 16.5 min/mile. That would be 5K in a little over 50 minutes. I normally walk at exactly the same rate!

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate in reply to ClutchingAtStraws]

Don't worry about pace, as a experiment about a year ago I 'walked' my 5K running route in 48 minutes, a week later I set my metromone app at 156 beats / cadence /steps a minute and RAN the same route in 52 minutes, as long as you are in running mode, even if it is slower than walking you can still run whatever run you do, by the way never use the word fail on this forum. 😊

[Rennur Graduate]

If you are concerned about pace, you might want to double check how far you go by using the measure distance on googlemaps (laptop version is better).However you should just keep going and believe you will get faster. It might happen after you graduate, because you will.

[ClutchingAtStraws Graduate in reply to Rennur]

My route is exactly 2.59 miles (4.2K). However, I am usually still at least 10 minutes walk from home when I have finished my 5 minute cool down walk. I don't mind that, I do a lot of walking and can walk for miles. I use all the information on Garmin connect. I can get all the distance information, heart rate, pace, elevation etc etc at any point on the course I need to look at. I am not worried about the pace. I know I am slow, very slow. I usually start too fast and immediately recognise that and slow the pace down. Not sure why I haven't worked what rate to start at at the beginning. I guess it is not until I start jogging can I judge it. What I do struggle with is that when jogging I can't hold a conversation, no way, and after a while my legs feel very heavy and it is like I am dragging my feet along! I am not worried about the conversation bit as my breathing seems ok and I have chatted with a work colleague who runs 5K runs every 3 days and he stated there is no way he could hold a conversation either. I will have to wait an see what the next few runs bring!

[K25K Graduate]

I have a Peleton bike. From that I’ve learnt that there is skill to breathing. This may take a while but try to deepen and lengthen your breaths. When you inhale, inhale longer etc.

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate]

You are making progress. It's easy to forget how long it took us to become unfit, so trying to reverse that process in just a few weeks is very difficult. You are slowly rebuilding your cardiovascular fitness. As this improves you will feel things getting easier. You are doing it the right way so as not to push your body too hard.

The only fail would have been failure to try, but you did so you're still on the right path 👍🏻😁

[ClutchingAtStraws Graduate in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Thanks and I agree. It doesn't seem long ago, though, when I had the fitness. I guess time flies! I don't know whether you have looked at my profile but I used to be very fit and it seems like that was only a short time ago!

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate in reply to ClutchingAtStraws]

Yes, I did check. Time flies once we get over a certain age. It wasn't that long ago I thought I would die trying to run up hills... strange it hasn't happened yet 👍🏻🤣 over 30lbs lighter and much, much fitter and stronger than I've ever been.

[Slothgoesrunning Graduate]

Ok here’s the thing. Ideally we would all start out on C25K running fast and being told to slow down and in doing so realise that now we can run and chat. Not the case. For many on here (probably most) the start of C25K is hard - really hard and getting through the run intervals however you manage it, is all you are able to focus on. This is normal so please don’t beat yourself up about it. Keep to the program and each week will prepare you for the next (even when you think no way). The breathing and slow easy pace and eventually the chatting whilst running, will all come in good time. I am only doing the latter now a year after graduating. For now just be proud you are getting out there and doing it in whatever way suits you.

[ClutchingAtStraws Graduate in reply to Slothgoesrunning]

Thanks. I will definitely keep going. I think for some of us, well certainly me anyway, the C25K course progresses too quickly.