Hello all! I’m completely new to couch to 5k and I’ve joined the forums just to get a bit of inspiration and advice as I continue.
Just to give a bit of background I’m 34 years old and earlier this year I was diagnosed with MS. I’ve got the ‘best’ type called relapsing remitting and to look at me you probably wouldn’t think there was anything wrong. But I suffer with extreme fatigue as my primary symptom. Doctors recommendation….exercise. So I originally set out (consultants permission form in hand) to seek out a personal trainer. But nobody would touch me with a barge pole. Trainers in my area just started ignoring my messages as soon as I mentioned the MS. Even though I was given the green light and in some aspects fitter than other people might be starting off in that I’m not overweight.
Anyway that’s what brought me to couch to 5K. My 15 year old son is doing it alongside me which has been a tremendous support.
I’m only in week 3 and I have found it tough being that I’ve NEVER ran before…even for a bus in the rain! But I’m finding it extremely rewarding as well.
The problem that I’ve got is that I’m not feeling a continuous improvement like the app suggests I should? What I mean by that is I might find the second run of the week 10x harder than the first. But then the third run of the week easier than the first run. But then go into the next week and feeling like I’m starting all over again. I wondered if this is normal? Or should I be repeating weeks because of it ? I also wondered if it’s because after my third run I have two days rest before starting the next week?
I’m struggling to determine what kind of struggle is normal for a complete novice or what is potentially an issue of my condition.
Thank you 😊
Written by
CollyHP
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As to the feelings that you are getting for different runs... well, for all of us, each run is so different...many folk find the second run of the week harder than the first, others, the last week ! One week following a prior week may feel much harder than an earlier run.
The weeks follow each other, each week is different and so it is with us, and despite the feeling that you are not improving, your body is, very slowly adjusting to this new situation.
It is quite literally telling you, that this is all so unusual.
The way forward is to try not to overthink, ( you have enough in your head already), and to go with each run, slowly and steadily,
Take the rest days, at least one and if you need more, then you take them... you may choose to experiment and see if for you, you need more rest days or just one in between runs, but always take at LEAST, one
Some strength and stamina work on some of those rest days will help enormously, Here is a link to exercises for all parts of your running body, but, on our Strength and Flex forum there is loads of information!
Good to have the support of your son... he may move faster than you?, so you maintain your own happy pace...
It is very early days, you have a very life impacting illness, BUT you are doing the right thing, and, as long as you listen to your body, it is your every best guide.
Run the runs to suit you, if you feel you need to repeat a run then of course, you should but if you complete it, then maybe with an extra rest day, move on.
I honestly believe and hope, that as you progress, you will begin to feel the benefits?
Here are some links that you may already have read, but they may prove useful?
Please, do keep posting, your successes and any setbacks, we are here, to support and encourage you and you will find so much of that here! Sharing your runs too, will help so many forum friends also!
Very, very well done you for starting this..
We shall watch for your posts as you move forward!
It's full of helpful information to guide you through the program.
I can't really help in suggesting the improvement you will feel as I have no experience of your specific condition , however, what I can tell you is that it's not unusual to find some runs (even in the same week) to feel tougher or easier than others !
I started at age 63 and had also never run before .
Also remember this is a progressive training program so will of course increase from week to week.
What I found around week 3 was my recovery between runs was improving , but again, everyone's experience will likely differ !
Just take it slow , have a couple of days rest between runs if you feel you need it.
Stay hydrated and keep the runs slow .
Do keep coming back here and let us know how it's going !
Welcome to the forum and well done on your progress.
I have advanced prostate cancer which has forced me to stop running, but during therapies, such as chemo, which can be accompanied by fatigue, the advice was to increase exercise, where possible. It works to a great degree but you may on occasions find that it is beyond you, as I did half way through five months of chemo.
If it is beyond you, accept that and learn from it in a positive way, rather than beat yourself up. Celebrate what you can do. Don't get frustrated by what is currently out of reach.
Progress through C25k, life and indeed any disease have many similarities, which I have been posting about in recent months. healthunlocked.com/user/Ian...
That progress will not be a constant upward or downward curve. Expect surprise hiccups alongside little victories and own them all, because they are what makes you into YOU.
I always found R2 of C25k the toughest and after analysis decided it was purely psychological. I was cautious facing R2, so did not push too hard, whereas for R2 I was a bit cocky, knowing that I could do it, and consequently pushed too hard. By R3, I had a more balanced view and also my body had developed to be more capable, so it was a doddle.
There is a lot of psychology at work when learning to run but probably the most important thing to remember is that physically this should not be a real struggle. An easy conversational pace is the one at which your body develops optimally and at which enjoyment will be maximised, so keep it easy. Harder and faster is not better, especially in your circumstances. Too many people make C25k and running more difficult than it needs to be, simply by pushing too hard.
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