Feeling a little disheartened

[Greenfingers21]

Hi all, I’ve just finished W3R3

I found this more difficult than the previous time and now I’m facing Wk 4 I’m a bit apprenhensive. After this run I’m feeling like I won’t manage any more. Have you all felt this? And has it been this early into it?

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Well done, you did it.

If it is tough, just slow down.

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.

This post expands on the theme. healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

[Greenfingers21 Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thinking about it I don’t think I’ve had as much water as I usually do in the last 2 days. I’ll definitely keep an eye on that. Thankyou

[Tasha99 Graduate]

I think most people feel like that. Just slow down and trust the programme.

[Carrotcake12]

Greenfingers21 . I definitely felt like that even from week 1. I promise you! Everyone says this but it's true...slow down and pace yourself. Good for you getting to the end of week 3. You CAN do this!!

[John_W Graduate Ambassador]

"I’m feeling like I won’t manage any more"

Why?

[Greenfingers21 Graduate in reply to John_W]

I mean I feel like I can’t manage any extra time than I’m already doing.

[John_W Graduate Ambassador in reply to Greenfingers21]

But why is that? What are you struggling with? In what way is it proving difficult? How do you physically feel at the end of the last running segment?

[Greenfingers21 Graduate in reply to John_W]

It’s mainly my breathing.. I seem to be struggling towards the end. I’m trying to go slower though

[Tasha99 Graduate in reply to Greenfingers21]

Breathing sorts itself out once to get through 5-8 minute intervals. Just breathe how you can till then.

[John_W Graduate Ambassador in reply to Greenfingers21]

OK, we have a symptom! Now we can address it. As you seem to have diagnosed yourself, you're going too quickly. Your pace should be one (everyone has it) where you can actually breath easily and comfortably and you should be able to chat .

Watch these videos which hopefully will help:

youtube.com/watch?v=9L2b2kh...(Not working as expected?)

youtube.com/watch?v=MgvbmbN...(Not working as expected?)

youtube.com/watch?v=UNiNxH3...(Not working as expected?)

[Greenfingers21 Graduate in reply to John_W]

Wow thanks John, watching the videos have opened my eyes.I’m going to be more mindful of my pace 👍

[John_W Graduate Ambassador in reply to John_W]

Hyper2 - see the 3 videos above - they should help you. And yes, it appears that they may be going slower than your brisk walk, which is perfectly fine.

[Devon_straggler Graduate]

You managed it twice and then struggled more with the third time? It's normal. I had one W2 run where I thought that I just couldn't do it (I was just going too fast I realised in hindsight), then later weeks where one of the three runs just seemed like such hard work. As Iannoda Truffe says, there are lots of things happening in your life that affect how you feel. But if you completed, well done, push on with W4 (take an extra rest day if you think you need it), take it slowly and you'll be fine. Have fun!

[Lookslikejames Graduate]

Yes I felt huge amounts of doubt. You will do it, don’t worry. Just relax and take it slow

[katiekatiekatiekatie Graduate]

I finished week three last week and felt exactly the same, but today I have just done the first run of week four and it went well! You can do this! 💪🏼

[Ianastarter]

I know you feel disheartened. I felt like this at the beginning, but then I just kept repeating a week until I felt happy. There should be more credence given to the idea that most folk won't simply go from one week to the other and be done in 9 weeks. That is a fallacy! If your body is like mine it took ages for my lungs to feel that they could cope with one minute, then three minutes then five etc. At each stage I really, really thought that I couldn't go to the next level, but just kept repeating the week until I felt entirely comfortable to step up. If I slipped up, I always took a step back and repeated the prior week. Tell yourself this: I am in charge of my own progress, no one else, and I am only doing this for me. So, good luck and keep going

[Greenfingers21 Graduate in reply to Ianastarter]

I think that’s really good advice to be honest.. I think at the end of the week I’m getting too hung up on not being able to do the next stage. Your right it does not matter if I need to repeat any weeks the fact is I’m doing more than I ever did. Thank you so much for this 😁