W7R2 feel deflated

[PollyGray]

I listened to the voice in my ear suggesting try an alternative route so I did. Living in a rural areas I headed for a different country lane. Omg it had so many inclines I had to stop for breath several times and keep pausing the app 😔 I have done so well on the flat I am really disappointed with myself. Should I repeat this week or continue on my usual route?

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate]

Well done for trying a new, unknown route!

I certainly wouldn't restart the week! Only you know how much delay was involved, if you feel you really didn't complete this run, sure, do it again but just this one run.

Hilly routes (when you're ready to give them a go again) will make you a stronger runner.

Maybe try that route again, but even slower... a good tip for hills is not to look at the top. It's demotivating, just watch the surface moving under your feet and the 6 or so feet ahead of you. So long as it keeps moving.... you're doing great!

Don't beat yourself up. Every day is a school day! 😁

[PollyGray Graduate in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Thank you GoGo_JoJo I know the inclination was too much as the muscles in my legs are still burning. I will carry on following my old route as its the same distance next run. I might even find it easy after todays gruelling session

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate in reply to PollyGray]

You'll certainly appreciate the flatter course more! If you need to shake things up try it in reverse. It can stop your brain from wanting to slow and stop at the "usual" points 👍🏻

[John_W Graduate Ambassador in reply to PollyGray]

That burn is a good sign - it means your muscles were being worked than normal and will now strengthen in the next day or so. You will be feeling DOMS - Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness, which can last for a few days - it's perfectly normal when doing something different.

[nowster Graduate in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

My own tip for hills is to do the opposite. Run "tall", look at the horizon, take shorter steps and make sure your back is straight, not arched. (That's actually good advice for running in general.)

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate in reply to nowster]

Back straight and small steps but depending on the hills watching the top is mentally draining, you just never seem to get anywhere until the very last bit... I remember one in particular with a strong headwind... if I hadn't been watching the close ground I would have sworn I was going backwards 🤣

[Sparky313 in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Different for different people, I look at my feet/pedals but others look at the horizon, try them see what works for you.

[Lockdownpositive in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Hah! I know exactly what you mean. I hit what can only be called a speed bump not even as grand as a hill and felt I had stopped running. I managed to make it over though!😁

[drun]

PollyGray Well done for trying another route, we all have runs that don't work out and there is always another day. I had to keep changing my routes during C25K as my running time got longer. I ran up one or two short and steady inclines which have got easier over time. The key thing is to run slowly 80% of our running should be at conversational pace and only pushing harder for the last quarter of the run.

Continue following the instructions on the app and you will get there. It's six months since I graduated and I'm still learning and I do often run my C25K route to gauge my improvement.

Keep up the good work and enjoy.

[alpacagirl Graduate in reply to drun]

The rural lanes from my house are all hilly and so I’ve done them from day one - they don’t necessarily get much easier but you do get used to them and I have learned just to go very slowly up them taking small short strides so that I can keep going - with the reward of some lovely downhills😊😅

[PollyGray Graduate in reply to drun]

Thank you drun

[Pigpog Graduate]

Well done PollyGray for trying a new route! You gave it a go and it may not have worked out but there's no need to beat yourself up. Repeat that run if you think you need to and as others have said, try going really slowly up the hills as you will improve your strength. I am lucky with my route as it's generally pretty flat. I'm not sure how I'd do with hills, probably not well. You are doing so well, put that run behind you and move on. The next run will be great! 👍😁🏃‍♀️

[PollyGray Graduate in reply to Pigpog]

Thanks Pigpog 👍 when you had that difficult run in week 6 I think it was? did you repeat it or just carry on to the next run? I know I’ve worked hard as my legs are still aching and as John_W said its a good sign.

[Pigpog Graduate in reply to PollyGray]

As I had completed the run, even though it was difficult, I just moved on to the next one, put it behind me and haven't looked back since! Everyone has a bad day sometimes, just move on and if your legs are aching, it's a sign your muscles are working well. Just make sure you have your rest days in between. You got this! 👍

[Hidden]

Hi, I’ve started walking uphills more as I’m starting week 7 on Monday. My intention is to add very short hill start between 10 and 20 seconds to start, 2 reps to start only once a week to begin with. I hope it gives me strength to tackle unexpected inclines on a new run.

[PollyGray Graduate in reply to Hidden]

VeganDave I might try that too so I develop some strength for future runs with inclines because today was a battle for me.

[Hidden in reply to PollyGray]

I live in Wales and have a few local hills. It important not to do too much to start with, only a few seconds, 10-15 would be good. After, walk back down the hill and start again, but only a few reps to start with. I run Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings and walk local steep hills Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings. The other days are rest days. Good luck. 🙂

[Popstess Graduate]

Well done for trying a new route. Please please please don't feel disheartened. You're doing great! You haven't been running a hilly route so makes perfect sense your body would find it a struggle, combined with the fact the runs are now pure running and no walking breaks. If I were you I'd repeat w7r2 until you can do it without stopping then move onto the next. You're doing amazing, would you have even thought about running up a hill 7 weeks ago? I know I wouldn't have! 😂 my routes are mainly flat but when I come across even I slight incline boy do I feel it!

[PollyGray Graduate in reply to Popstess]

Thanks Popstress 👍

[Magellan Graduate]

If this new route goes up and down in short stretches, I would persevere with it, maybe not every time but once a week. If it’s mostly uphill for half then mostly downhill for the rest (or vice versa) then leave it, and find a route with intermittent up interspersed with down.

Given where you live, sooner or later you’ll probably want to be able to run long hills, and that will come to you, if you’ve got some practice with short slopes. Good luck.

[Beachcomber66 Graduate]

These posts show how different we all are! I did C25k using the same flattish route just because they built now disused railways that way!! I just thought that it was sensible to keep the number of variables down to a minimum so that I could assess progress. Well done for trying something different, you are braver than I was!

[Kirst13 Graduate]

I live in a hilly area. What works for me is turning around when it feels too much. Sometimes just 20 paces back downhill is enough to help me tackle the hill again!

[amisfit Graduate]

I am having similar problems but also it seems whichever route I take after 10 mins I run out of pavement. Back home I have a proper outdoor track but here I am very limited. One path I took narrowed considerably very quickly and I found myself on a single track lane. Currently I am running up and down the same 10 minute stretch albeit I am only at the end of week 4 but it is flat. Sounds like you are nearly there.

[Hidden]

Hi polly my week 4 run 2 was so hard I felt like throwing towel in but keeping going and well done for braving hills xx

[Mumofgirlies2 Graduate]

Don’t feel down after all you did complete it which is always an achievement. I wouldn’t repeat I would go back to my old route and continue on that way. Inclines are hard especially when you don’t expect them and it does add an extra level to the run which will make your legs so tired much quicker. You did well to finish

[girlsjustwannarun Graduate]

The track I run is quite hilly and I still find it tough even though I’m used to it! But running the same route from day 1 helped me and although when I see an incline coming up I have to psych myself up, I do know it’s doable. I would stick to the route you’re used to to complete C25K and then when you’re more confident have another go at this route, maybe do a shorter run and see how you get on. Best of luck!

[carapebble]

I agree with girlsjustwannarun, its better to stick to the same flat route. There are hills in every direction from where I live in Cornwall so I drove (sorry Planet!) to somewhere flat to do C25k. I would never have completed it otherwise. I've since tackled more hills and still find them tough and demoralising. Changing your route means it's hard to assess your progress.

[Aspire24 Graduate]

I don’t like hills even after a few years but add them in gently and my tip would be to use your arms to help propel a bit, gives you something else to think about too. I also have a couple of markers on the way to show myself I am making progress when it feels like your running on the spot 😂. Be easy on yourself 🏃‍♀️

[apatsyf Graduate]

Don't underestimate the difference even a slight incline(s) or rougher surface can make to your run - as others say, I would stick to your usual route until you have finished C25K then when consolidating add some different routes, hills and paces/lengths of run. OR, decide, once a week, to slowly do a new, hillier route, with the two rest days after. Also, as everyone is different, you may decide, as I did, to repeat whole weeks once or even more which for me worked well as it gave my body more time to get fitter. You are doing great - keep it up and don't worry - it's YOUR journey, so you can do it the way feels best for you!🤗🤗💪🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[PollyGray Graduate]

Thanks for all the support and guidance everyone its very much appreciated and I don’t feel so disappointed now. So its onwards and upwards but certainly no hills for a while otherwise I will never graduate 😆👍🏃‍♀️

[Shrekswife Graduate]

Keep going, you're doing well and should be pleased how far you've come.. i used waste bins or street lamps as a goal saying to myself just to the next one. Inverably I did and still do stop going up a hill but stop take a breath and carry on.. good luck

[BaddieThePirate Graduate]

Apparently different muscles for flat and for hills. People who train on one, tend to dislike the other. So train on both! Mix it up a bit. Of course hills are harder, so be kinder to yourself when you do them. But don’t stop doing them 👍

[PollyGray Graduate in reply to BaddieThePirate]

Great thanks BaddieThePirate will try very gradual though 😉👍

[lyfleppard]

Congratulate yourself on trying a different route, and if it was particularly hard work, congrats yourself again for being brave. If it didn't work for your C25K program, don't be disheartened - remember it for a different time - hill walking is also a great way to improve stamina and strength, so count it as an achievement , even if you choose not to repeat it!

I second the tips about reversing your usual route - if you have one route, you actually have two! You might be surprised at how different the reverse route can feel - running fresh through what would otherwise be the exhausted end of the run, and noticing the reversal of even slight inclines.

Keep smiling and keep moving! Well done!

[PollyGray Graduate in reply to lyfleppard]

Thank you