Resuming my C25K journey tomorrow

[Cheey]

Hi, everyone. I have been feeling a bit low about my running. My last consistent run was 21st December . I was at Week 7 Run 2.

To be honest, I was struggling to complete 25 minutes without stopping. And i think that really discouraged me. I was doing Week 7 for the 2nd time. But each run was worse than the run before.

I have run a couple of times sporadically in January. Only managed 8 mins of continuous running.

I plan to resume my C25K journey tomorrow morning. I plan to start at Week 4 Run 3.

I am excited about running again but also dreading it.

I feel so upset about my running. It doesn't make sense why i feel so defeated/upset even before running. I just do. I can't understand it.

I do feel exhilarated after a run.

Please, how can I maintain my interest in keeping on with the C25K...how can I make it more of a love relationship than hate.

[Instructor57 Graduate]

Hello and welcome to the forum and the program !Well, you reached week 7 that's great , and if you managed to get to week 7 then you are more than capable of finishing the program !

What made you start it in the first place ?

Are those reasons still there ?

Also you say that you feel great after your run and that's great .

I have certainly never come back from a run and thought I wish I'd not done that !

So having reached week 7, you are physically able to complete this program!

It is now just your head that needs convincing !

Have a look at this post .

It may just help you .

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

Relax and enjoy !

[Cheey Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

Thank you. That was a great read. I really appreciate it.

[Yoganut Graduate]

Hi Cheey

I recently restarted C25K and I'm now on Week 6. As it was quite a long break I decided to just start at the beginning again, as though I was a newbie, to make sure I didn't do myself a mischief!

In the past when I've lapsed I've restarted at Week 1 but just run one of each week until it feels a bit challenging and then continued from there. I figure that way I'm more likely to make good progress and less likely to hurt myself.

How to stay motivated? Find good stuff to listen to alongside the training? Vary the route? But most of all, I heed those wise words not to "go too fast!" It's far nicer taking it steady and smelling the roses along the way...🌹

All the best on your journey 😊

[Cheey Graduate in reply to Yoganut]

Great advice. 😁. Thank you.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Welcome to the forum and well done on your decision.

I suspect that if you were struggling to finish runs then you were probably pushing too hard. Slowing down to the recommended easy conversational pace makes it more achievable and for most, more enjoyable.

Counterintuitively, it is an easy conversational pace running that builds your stamina and endurance, not fast running.

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.

[PJRunner Graduate]

Slow down is my advice. I finished my c25k journey slower than I started just to get to the end of the runs. I now do my warm up walk nearly as fast as I used to run but that didn't happen until well after graduation. There is no such thing as too slow. 🐌

[Cheey Graduate in reply to PJRunner]

Many thanks. I will definitely keep that in mind.

[John_W Graduate Ambassador]

" I was struggling to complete 25 minutes without stopping"

Why? What was going on at the point you had to stop?

[Cheey Graduate]

At the point i had to stop, it was usually around the 15 minute mark. I feel tired but also i start to feel unstimulated. And i start thinking 'I can't continue doing all this for another 10mins'. I then start to feel every muscle but know that I am not spent. I still have more to give but my mind starts going 'you are tired', 'give up', '10 minutes is too long', 'this is not interesting anymore'.

I feel my legs start having a moan and then i stop.

I take a couple of minutes and start again. But once I take that break, I keep taking breaks.

If it is a 20 minute run, I could run without stopping.

Reasons i stop - both physical and mental.

I know it sounds so self-indulgent or melodramatic, but this is what is going on with me during the 25 minute runs.

[Luna2021 Graduate]

Good on you for keeping going, I'm in a similar position and have started again recently which gave me confidence and out of the mental block. I'm currently on week 4. You can totally do this ☺️

[Cheey Graduate in reply to Luna2021]

Thank you. I went running. I thought I would start with week 4 (having been in week 7 prior). But quickly found that was too much. I went with the advice from Yoganut. So I did a run from week 1, then a run from week 2.

[WiredWeasel Graduate]

I always have to push myself out of the door! Quite often dread the run, but it true and weird, I do feel better once I’ve done it and don’t regret going for a run. I’ve stop started the programme 3 times; finally finished this week. Other stuff came up; but don’t have a go at yourself because if it. I also redid runs if I didn’t feel quite ready. I always listen to something too. I prefer spoken word generally, but there are times when it isn’t distracting enough and I find myself hanging in for the 1 minute to go encouragement! So I am coming round to listening to more music which is better at stopping me thinking about how much I’ve still got to go. Especially if you make up silly alternative lyrics…

[Cheey Graduate in reply to WiredWeasel]

😄making up alternative lyrics. I like the sound of that. I will try it.

[Cheey Graduate]

Thank you for all the very helpful advice, everyone.

I have another run today. Awful weather. Hope it's better soon.

[Cheey Graduate]

Update:Many thanks for all the advice I got on here.

Since restarting my C25K journey with all your advice in mind, I found out, Yes, I was going too fast.

I found out that I couldn't just restart back at Week 7 that I had stopped at (not even week 6 or week 5..... or even Wk 4).

I found out that there is no rush to be a C25K graduate.

I found my joy in running again.

I started from week 1 and gradually found myself getting better and realising my previous mistakes.

And yesterday, I ran for 20mins (Wk 5 R3) without stopping and I was still very comfortable afterwards.

Tomorrow or later this week (I am on night shifts from today), I would start Wk 6 R 1. And I am looking forward to it.

Thank you.