Graduated this morning but...

[PATON2009]

First post here ,on the morning I completed week 9 run 3. Every week done perfectly and stuck to it rigidly. I am chuffed with myself being a non-runner since primary school but... I found the run this morning really hard, the worst yet.. I did not skip like a gazelle. Legs were really like lead and mentally it was tough. I left three days between second and third run so had plenty of rest. Felt like giving up after 5 minutes in. So even though I've graduated I feel a bit like a fraud because it was not easy, far from it. Is this normal? Thought I'd be skipping over the finish line but far from it. Does this just mean I'm just never going to be an elegant and graceful runner? 🤔 Should be feeling high but a bit despondent instead😒

[2718281 Graduate]

First, congratulations on your graduation!!!

I think it's perfectly normal how you feel, there will always be days when running feels easy and days when running feels really hard. Sometimes you will know, there is some correlation with what you did the day before, but sometimes you won't be able to find any reason, it just happens, I think you should be proud, you went out, wanted to give up after 5 min but pushed through and completed your run.

[PATON2009 Graduate in reply to 2718281]

Thank you for that 😊. I think I'll view graduation as start of a long journey. A bit like when you pass your driving test.. that's when you really start learning how to drive!

[nowster Graduate]

Hey! You did better than me.

I twisted my ankle at some point during the last few minutes of the graduation run and foolishly ran on the injury until I'd finished the full 30 minutes. I then did a very long walk home on an injured ankle.

That earned me a swollen ankle from a pair of ligament sprains on the same foot, four weeks without running and two visits to the physio.

That was nearly a year ago.

Like you I'd not run at all since school (and even then I was rubbish at it). My usual position in sports was "left behind".

A year on, and many miles under my feet, I now think of a 10km run as a "just right" distance. I'm planning to do one this lunchtime (weather permitting).

There are good days and bad days. Some days you feel like you could run up a mountain. Some days it's like you're dragging a ball and chain round with you. This is normal.

[PATON2009 Graduate in reply to nowster]

Wow thank you! That makes me feel so much better. What an awful graduation run you had but you didn't let it put you off.. That's inspired me 😊

[Instructor57 Graduate]

Congratulations on your graduation!Remember, this is just the start of a journey , you now have the minimum strength and stamina to run for 30 minutes , BUT, you are still a new runner , it may not feel easy and is still work in progress.

I notice you mentioned your legs felt like lead !

The first thing I would ask is are you fully hydrated ?

Are you drinking a minimum of 2.5 litres a day , even on non running days ?

This will make a huge difference to how your legs feel .

Also are you trying to run too fast ?

Just a thought !

But again, congratulations and you are certainly not a fraud 😁👍

[PATON2009 Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

Thank you, I think you're right about the hydration. I am not drinking enough water and didn't realise how much this could affect me. Duly noted!

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to PATON2009]

Check out this post

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

Congratulations on graduating C25K. Extra kudos for beating a tough run to get there, we all get them. You felt like giving up, but you didn’t... that’s a runner right there. I have had 10 mile runs that were easy, followed by 5k runs that I’ve struggled to complete... it’s like that sometimes!

Now, you should be feeling great... you’ve beaten a difficult challenge and that tough run... go easy on yourself and celebrate your achievements! Enjoy some relaxed consolidation and all your future running adventures.

[PATON2009 Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Thank you 😊I'll stop beating myself up and just put it down to a 'off day'. You're right, it's all about the mental challenge and pushing through so I'm going to let myself be proud now!!

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

Congratulations on completing run 3 of week 9 and graduating from C25K, well done, now go and celebrate your wonderful achievement with 🍷 🏃🏾 👍 🎓

[PATON2009 Graduate in reply to AlMorr]

Thank you! 😊

[Frenc Graduate]

I felt similar on my last run of C25K - a little bit flat. I think my week 9 run 1 was the one where I felt absolutely brilliant, I really wanted to have been able to swap the runs round! BUT! You graduated and you are amazing! Well done 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆.

[PATON2009 Graduate in reply to Frenc]

Thank you! I think I was expecting to feel euphoric but I'll focus on the fact I did it no matter what state I was in at the end 🤣

[PATON2009 Graduate]

Thank you😊 yes I was the same with run 1 of week 9, it felt totally OK. This morning was a whole lot different but despite that I'm going to be proud! Onwards and upwards 👍

[Cmoi Graduate]

Congratulations on completing C25K PATON2009 ! I've no idea whether you're ever going to be an elegant and graceful runner.

I'm certainly not, I'm more of a bonsai ent. I completed C25K at the end of June last year and yes, there are days when running is easy, and plenty of others when I want to give up after two minutes, let alone five. There are days when I have to force myself to get out there, days when I get back still wondering why I went out there, and the occasional day when everything comes together and the fabled "runner's high" is incredible.

There'll always be good runs and bad ones. It's how you feel long-term that counts. Find what you enjoy, and happy running!

[PATON2009 Graduate in reply to Cmoi]

Thank you so much😁 it's good to know that I'm not weird... Really looking forward to that runner's high happening at some point!

[Pinkpig20 Graduate]

Yes, be proud however your run felt. If it was tough, all the more reason to feel proud! There will be days that are easier than others. Many factors could make it tough eg illness, lack of sleep, not eating well, dehydrated, day at work, poor shoes……

[Hidden]

What an achievement. Be proud. Certainly no fraud. As everyone else has said, you have good runs and you have bad runs. Even those who have been running for a long time.

I graduated about 3 months ago and go out 3 times a week without fail. Sometimes I can do a 5k and other times really struggle. Yesterday I only managed 19 minutes !!!! It happens.

Congratulations on reaching a milestone in your journey. Your body will appreciate it.

[PATON2009 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thank you 😊

[AmySherlock Graduate]

I just did run 2 of week 9. My first run this week was horrible-so slow and I couldn’t make it up a hill. Was so disappointed. Today was much better - ran the whole thing - gave me my confidence back. Will do my third run on Thursday and celebrate no matter how hard it is!!!! It definitely is a mental challenge as well as a physical one. Congratulations what an amazing accomplishment. Be proud of you!!!!

[PATON2009 Graduate in reply to AmySherlock]

Thank you 😊Good luck on your final run! 👍🏆💪

[hamit Graduate]

Well done RUNNER, . 👍👍👍👍👍

[PATON2009 Graduate in reply to hamit]

Thank you 😊

[Grannyrunning Graduate]

Congratulations 😀 I finished it about 4 weeks ago and have really had to force myself to carry on. I still feel like you do now and can run 30 mins but is no where near 5k. It really is psychological and you still have to go through the mind barrier. My fitter and mainly younger family members who run 5 or 10k regularly tell me that the first 2k of any run are always really difficult to do and they want to stop, I think that as your body warms up during a run, it becomes easier

[PATON2009 Graduate in reply to Grannyrunning]

Thank you😊 I didn't realise before I started this just how much is in the head not the body.. That's an eye opener for me! I'm feeling proud today and won't let the wobbles get to me!

[newbie-nick Graduate]

It is truly spectacular that you have graduated! We are all so happy for you.

As for being a good runner... do you remember when you first started to read? Janet and John type books that you didn't necessarily fund easy? Now you could read War and Peace with ease. It all falls into place and grows without realising it. Do you remember your first weeks' runs? Were they easy or hard? If you were to do those now would you find them easy? In other words, it WILL all come together as you progress. After all, it is just a mere 9 weeks since you didn't run, and now you are doing 30 mins, or 30 times longer than your first run. Give it time and the runs just get easier.

Yes, you will have bad days and you will have excellent days, but the progress will be an upward graph.

Now, stop beating yourself up and go and celebrate!! YOU DESERVE IT!!!

[PATON2009 Graduate in reply to newbie-nick]

Thank you so much for that pep talk!! Really appreciated and you're so right in what you say.. Give it time and effort and the rewards will pay off but there will always be good and bad days... Just like life in general! 😂

[newbie-nick Graduate in reply to PATON2009]

Oh, that is so very true!Happy running, and how nice it is to see your graduate badge!!!

[CressidaB Graduate]

Aw never mind, try to think more of your amazing achievement and give yourself shed loads of credit for getting there. This is an amazing achievement. In my limited experience of running I am finding I have good and bad runs, ups and downs, but overall the trajectory is improving fitness and getting better at running. Congratulations 👏👏👏👏

[PATON2009 Graduate in reply to CressidaB]

Thank you so much 😊🙏

[Jamesfan73 Graduate]

Don't put pressure on yourself - everyone is different. I graduated last September, and pushed through to 5k (which took me 43 minutes) but I've only done that once since, and I still can't run more than 3K comfortably. I will never be able to cover any decent distance, but I have long accepted that my body is not really designed to run!

[PATON2009 Graduate in reply to Jamesfan73]

Thank you 😊 I'm realising the day after just what an achievement it is and that feels good. Accepting that there will be off days is just par for the course I guess!

[JetsNanna Graduate]

All of the previous comments cover the congrats, hydration, good runs/bad runs side of things and they are all right.

I’m going to say this - it was a graduation run at the end of a nine week program. It’s not meant to be easy. It’s meant to develop your physical stamina and mental strength and, from what you’ve said, it’s done that. It will, in the main, get ‘easier’ but even after months and months of running you’ll have runs that are tough for no apparent reason - the key thing is to file those runs away somewhere and then forget about them.

All that said - you graduated whether it was easy or not. You still did it. You should be congratulating yourself just as we are all congratulating you - you’ve done it and you are a runner whether you feel like one or not. Be kind to yourself because easier runs will come in time 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼😊

[PATON2009 Graduate]

Thank you so much 😊 I look forward to those easy runs and the fabled 'runners high'. I'll just keep going! 👍

[DylanTheRabbit Graduate]

Congratulations! Yes the odd dud run is normal. It's a shame one cropped up for your graduation. 🏅 Regarding runners high, I'm finding that slightly longer runs at a slower pace works for me (I haven't done much longer runs yet but hoping they will feel at least as good 🤞🏼). Maybe something to experiment with.

runnersworld.com/news/a3558...

And a little bit about runners high and effort at the end of this article

nfpt.com/blog/benefits-of-s...

[PATON2009 Graduate in reply to DylanTheRabbit]

Thank you 😊 these are really interesting reads. I already feel like I'm quite slow so I'm obviously on the right track! I think upping my hydration may work too

[Chesterlove Graduate]

I had great days and days when I was despondent. I completed C25k a few months back and still throw in a run that lets me down but there are more where I feel great. Drink drink drink water - every day - bad I’m sure you’ll love it in due course, just relax into what’s right for you.

[PATON2009 Graduate in reply to Chesterlove]

Thank you😊 I'm realising now just how important hydration is and I'm going to try to get up to 2.5 litres the day before the run so see if this helps with the lead legs!

[Chesterlove Graduate]

Try and do it every day, if possible. That’s my mission at the moment. It means I have to forfeit tea!

[PATON2009 Graduate in reply to Chesterlove]

That's a problem for me🤔😂

[Rain_runner Graduate]

Congratulations on finishing 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 I graduated on 26th June and continue to run 3 x a week, 33 minutes each run and last night I had a really awful run where I had to walk a little as my lower legs were just aching ( shins & calves ) I still find some runs hard now, not happened since the beginning of c25k so don’t be hard on yourself, fantastic achievement 👏🏻👏🏻

[PATON2009 Graduate]

Thank you😊 and hope the legs get better. You're doing really well sticking to the three runs a week, that's my goal now.. To hit 31 mins!