Is running in mud harder?

[HattieCooke]

I attempted w8r2 today, but ended up walking for 3 minutes at the half way mark (I paused the run at that point so I did run for 28minutes in total)....

I run in the woods and it was SUPER slippy today and there were loads of puddles... at one point I had to hop over a mini stream.... in the woods it felt so hard , but as soon as I got back on the concrete I felt like I could go forever... is it in my head or is it harder to run on mud and puddles?

Should I attempt w8r2 again or go back to w7 until I’m more comfortable?

[nowster Graduate]

Hose that woman down before she trails the muck into the house! 🤪

Running in slippery mud is very difficult with normal road shoes.

[Frizzbomb67 Graduate]

I think so. I run on a trail that can be very wet and muddy. I spend my time dodging puddles, skirting round the worse bits, jumping bits and constantly changing direction. My legs really feel it although I love it!

[Helm108 Graduate]

It's way harder! You're navigating so many more obstacles, trying to maintain your footing and not slip and fall, and keep yourself running, all at the same time. I'd question anyone who says it's easier!

I'd say definitely stay on W8, you sound comfortable with it. Perhaps do R2 again to tick off the second session of 28 mins non-stop and go from there?

Hope you had fun splashing about in any case!

[Rennur Graduate]

Yes it is. Why do you punish yourself so much Hattie? It's Couch to 5K, not Bear Grylls Survivor.

[shuffleido Graduate in reply to Rennur]

That made me laugh out really loud 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[HattieCooke Graduate in reply to Rennur]

Haha. I don’t like running on the road incase someone sees me giggling along. Imagine a penguin running... that’s not far off what I look like lol

[Pnegirl Graduate]

🕯️I'm just holding a minute's silence for your once white trainers 🕯️Yeah, running in mud is definitely harder. I always think I'll slip or sink lol so try to avoid the really muddy bits now but I used to run on it all the time when I was doing c25k. You definitely notice the difference when you get back on concrete

[NotPrime in reply to Pnegirl]

There’s snow on the hills round me so I thought you had brown shoes covered with snow 🤦🏼‍♂️. Yup running in mud is hard work, can be made easier with some grippy trail shoes. Knew I’d turned into a trail runner when I stopped running round puddles and started running through them 😊

[Pnegirl Graduate in reply to NotPrime]

Haha, I had to look again then to see if I'd looked at them wrong 😂

[HattieCooke Graduate in reply to NotPrime]

Haha. It felt cold like snow, there were a few puddles I just couldn’t avoid so my feet were wet through. I really enjoyed it though. Gutted I let myself walk x

[HattieCooke Graduate in reply to Pnegirl]

Hahaha I think they like 10 mins in the washing machine.

[Tasha99 Graduate]

Yes it is far harder but fun!

[Couchphoenix Graduate]

Sounds bit treacherous HC, maybe try W8R2 again but choose a safer route away from mud and puddles. You said it yourself, as soon as you were on the concrete you felt you could go on forever 👍🏃‍♀️