Taking it slow!

[DonKey44]

Just completed run 3 of week 2, although it's actually my third week because I'm struggling with long term insomnia, which knocks me out some days. I'm absolutely loving my sessions as the country roads around here are beautifully empty and red kites circle above the woodland and fields I pass through. I feel on top of the world during my tiny little runs and continue walking for twenty minutes at the end as I'm used to walking and it's a circular route. However, I'm shattered and good for very little by the time I've followed the warm up and warm down exercises and then showered. I think I may end up being the slowest C25K starter ever, but hopefully I'll get there eventually. I certainly don't want to risk injuries so I may even do each week twice from now on. Anyone else taken it super-slow but still got to the finish line? And is it OK to do the extra (slower) walking at the end?

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate]

It sounds like you’ve found a beautiful place to run and the sessions are going well. It’s absolutely fine to repeat weeks if you want to-we’ve had lots of people do that when it’s suited them best. Perhaps see how you feel at the end of the week. If you want to, you can walk further at the end of the sessions. It’s happened accidentally to me when I’ve found myself further away from home than I’d planned! Sticking to the running timing is important but as long as you’re not tiring yourself out or going over the top, extra walking can be a good thing.

Sorry you’ve been struggling so much with tiredness. That sounds so hard. Have you talked to a gp about it to check there’s nothing more than the insomnia going on?

[DonKey44 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

Thanks for your reply. I think the insomnia is just a very active mind really. And eating too much cheese too late. And looking at screens...my own fault, but I'm working on it...

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate in reply to DonKey44]

None of us are perfect-those habits are really hard to change. Just try not to be too hard ok yourself. It’s difficult.❤️

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

I think that MissUnderstanding has said it all...and as for your next to the last question?? I say. yes... think slower than a slow snail on a go slow... that was me.... I reached the finish line, ( which is actually a new starting line), and carried on.. still here nearly 8 years later... still running, slow and steady and having a blast!

Do try and kick the screen time before sleep... it really is more of an issue than the cheese. A favourite book .. a boring book or just think nice thoughts, like the fact that you are not the slowest, or the fastest.... you are you, doing this your way and in your own time, and how amazed you will be at where the runs take you!

[grumpyoldgirl Graduate]

I get insomnia too and totally relate to those days when I'm fit for nothing. I'm also doing (redoing) couch to 5k very slowly. I've repeated whole weeks and some individual runs. I've taken extra rest days between runs when needed. And I run very slowly (Japanese slow jogging in fact). About to start week 7, and feeling a lot stronger now. I'm also starting to feel an increase in energy, which is very welcome after a long period of post covid fatigue. And I'm also sleeping a little better, although not consistently. But none of it was instant, so I think you just need to be patient, and be confident in the process. It does work, albeit slowly in our cases. I was also wiped out in the first weeks, and so was the friend I'm running with. I don't think the extra walk at the end is going to make a difference to how you feel afterwards. It's the running that's tiring you out. But it gets better!