W7R1 - one of the hardest

[R2Bears]

I did my W7R1 run today and it was really hard to do it. I think hardest since W1. I woke up at 2am and couldn't go back to sleep so maybe that didn't help. My area is a bit hilly and I skipped one of the flat segment near the start of the run to avoid people, then soon after I was huffing and puffing, my chest was tight, I gaged a few times and I still had a long way to go. When Laura said "Running is not about speed, but about building stamina and endurance..." I slowed down so I can keep going. I didn't want to ruin 6 weeks of work and didn't want to make a habbit of giving up. That's the only reason I was able to finish. I have a fear of failing to finish the run. I think it may leads me to take it as "too hard for me", and give up all together. I never skipped or delayed the run in fear that 'my body will go back to what it was and I will have to start all over'. I'm glad I finished this run. But the run wasn't enjoyable. Until now the run was hard but enjoyable at the same time. Maybe second run would be a bit easier.

[Instructor57 Graduate]

Congratulations on completing week 7 run 1 I noticed something you said .

When Laura said "Running is not about speed, but about building stamina and endurance..." I slowed down so I can keep going.

Start at this pace ! And you should find it easier !

That slower pace is the one to do all the run at !

Your nearly there , you can do this !

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Welcome to the forum and well done on your progress.

W7R1 is obviously no more physically demanding tha W6R3, but perhaps your preparation was not as good.

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...

This guide to the plan is essential reading healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

and includes advice on minimising impact, stretching after every run, hydration and strengthening exercises, all of which will help.

Enjoy your journey.

[Frenc Graduate]

Well done for finishing what was a hard run for you. Waking up at 2am would definitely have made a difference, I know it would with me, and I doubt I would have got out there. Laura is right, by slowing down, we find it so much more manageable, even if it’s so slow we feel like we’re going backwards! I bet that, combined with a better night’s sleep will mean your next run is a lot more enjoyable. 😊😊😊

[Ian5K Graduate]

They say no two runs are the same, so the next will be easier.

You’ll probably sleep better. I would plan a different route if you can, to avoid the gremlin of the previous route, maybe cut out the hilly bit too.

Now you’re at week 7, it’s going to take a lot to ruin all your hard work. It’s really not going to happen like that. We get bad a day but never bad enough to go back to day 1. The bad day is over and done with, and you did it. 🙂

[mistystream Graduate]

You get off days occasionally. I did the week 7 day 1 this morning too, starting out i thought damn i've got to all the way over there, along that road, down that hill, up that hill and back along this road. Setting off at a slow steady pace, I concentrated on my breathing and making sure the pace was comfortable, said hello to a lady walking her dog, and checked out the magnificent view across the fields... Next thing I knew I was running up that hill and back along the road i'd set out on.

Don't be hard on yourself, you've achieved shit loads! just an off day.

If it helps... i repeated week 4 as i felt that i wasn't ready for week 5 and it helped considerably. I also repeated week 6 run 2 and that helped too. If you need to repeat a few runs before progressing so what! Rome wasn't built in a day and you're still getting out there and being active.... stay awesome.

[Chillipeppers1]

We’ll done for getting this far, I haven’t got much advice for you as I’ve only just completed wk4 r3 but my wk4r2 run was tough so I slowed right down which is tough for me but it worked and I felt soo much better and felt I could have gone on for longerYou’ve got this, your next run will be easier 👏

[R2Bears Graduate in reply to Chillipeppers1]

At wk1 r1, l felt I was hardly moving forward when I was doing the last segment of the runs and didn't want to have that feeling again, but I will take the advice to slow down and try to be patient with the progress. Thanks👍

[R2Bears Graduate]

Thank you all for your supports. I was hoping for some pep talks and sure enough I got them! I'm reading the links from Iannoda's post now, so much information! Not knowing how far I would go in the program, and starting with 90 second run, I did zero preparation. I will read through this and avoid days when my condition is not good, and will slow down until my body becomes fitter. I do feel much better now and feel positive. I honestly can't believe I'm becoming a runner, life is good 😊