I wish I’d known about…

[Lucylasticplease]

I wish that I’d read about Toxic 10 earlier. It might be in all of the wonderful information that it available at the start of the programme but, if it is and I read it, it didn’t sink in - just like the information about my other friend ‘Slow Jogging’ didn’t.

This week has been made so much easier because, following my W7R3 challenge on Monday, someone else asked about why the first part of a run is so much harder. The answers introduced me to my new friend, Toxic 10, and the first two week 8 runs were far more bearable! If only I’d known about it sooner. Perhaps this wouldn’t have been my third C25K attempt and I’d have been running for 2 years!

If you are in the first few weeks of C25K, read about it - it’ll make you see that you are normal and that it really, really does get easier!

[OrigamiWolf Graduate]

Yes, it made a huge difference to me too. I think I did read about it early on, bit since I wasn't running anything like ten minutes, it didn't really sink in. It's incredibly useful in the later runs when it's so hard to understand why the start is soooo hard.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

In the first paragraph of the guide to the plan, healthunlocked.com/couchto5... which is brought to the attention of all new members, there is a link to the FAQ Posts, healthunlocked.com/couchto5... which it is recommended that everyone should read.

It is a lot of information to absorb, which often can not be fully appreciated until you have experienced the circumstances in which it is relevant. However I would recommend all new runners to read as much as they can about running, from as many different sources as possible..............there is such a lot to learn.

If you follow the fundamental advice of running/jogging at an easy conversational pace, at which you can speak aloud, clear, ungasping sentences as you go, it should not make much difference whether you actually know about the Toxic Ten or not.

[Hidden]

Running, like any new interest is a learning curve. You are learning about yourself and your body but also about the practice itself. Reading this forum and all the pinned posts here helps a lot but perhaps its tricky to take it all in at once.

[LanciaA Graduate]

Yes, this has all been part of a steep learning curve! I find it less of an issue when I run in the afternoon, usually at the weekend. I guess I am more relaxed mentally as well.

[John_W Graduate Ambassador]

Just remember: the more effective your warm-up, the less toxic your 'toxic' will be