Struggling

[Katiem30]

Does anyone else have days where the run just feels impossible? But other days it's fine

[Instructor57 Graduate]

I would suggest just about everyone!

Which run are you on ?

Are you having any specific issues?

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

..and so say all of us....x

[Katiem30 in reply to Instructor57]

Week 8 run 2, this is my 3rd attempt to finish this run today though 🤢

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to Katiem30]

Actually, week 8 run 2 was probably my hardest run of the programme.it was my first run after 16 days off with injury !You are nearly there now , you can do this !

Then hopefully during consolidation it starts to be a bit more comfortable and natural 🙂

[Katiem30 in reply to Instructor57]

Fingers crossed I get it completed tomorrow, it's so frustrating 😫.. thank you for your support xx

[Cmoi Graduate in reply to Katiem30]

I might have misread, but if you've run today please don't try again tomorrow Katiem30 , give yourself a rest day instead. It's really important to take at least one day's rest between run days for the first few months of running, so that your body can recover.

I know you're a long way through the programme, which is great, but have you read the How to run C25K guide ? healthunlocked.com/couchto5... It has lots of useful tips!

Good luck - you can do this!

[Katiem30 in reply to Cmoi]

I just didn't feel like I could have classed today as a run, I will try again Friday xx

[Cmoi Graduate in reply to Katiem30]

Don't worry! At worst it was a practice run, and honestly, you'll help yourself more by having a rest day than forcing yourself to run tomorrow.

I seem to remember not being very keen on week 8 myself - the longer duration made my route more difficult, but there wasn't the yay-30-minutes triumph!

If it helps, you might like to try breaking the run down mentally into do-able segments, each no longer than the previous one. So, for example, 14 + 8 + 5 + 1. It's a technique I still use on longer runs. 😀

[nowster Graduate]

Absolutely! This is perfectly normal.

It can be things like lack of sleep, other health problems, the weather, the phase of the moon, which side of the bed we got out of, a butterfly flapping its wings in the Amazon…

[Beachcomber66 Graduate]

I think that I picked up pace towards the end of C25k without realising it.

I moved into “I don’t care how slowly I run, I am just determined to run for the allotted time.” mode and snailed my way through! It worked for me.

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate]

The more you run, the more you’ll realise it’s often just one of those days and it doesn’t mean you’re a worse runner. You’re just a runner having an off day. As you get more experienced, you’ll find strategies to get through those sorts of runs and you’ll get better at knowing when it’s best to call a halt and come back another time.

Sometimes you can find a reason-dehydrated, not enough fuel, eating too close to running, tougher than expected new route, tiredness, stress, coming down with a bug, setting off an bit quickly etc. Often you can’t. It honestly happens to us all.

Just take it as steady as you can and perhaps think about how you can talk yourself through to the end. The chunking strategy described by   Cmoi is a really good one that I use too. Maybe think about a route you’re confident on. Pick music you enjoy. Really good luck to you. You can do this!

[Irish-John Graduate]

Yes There have been runs where I just pulled up, thought to myself that 'I just don't want to do this today' and walked home. Then, other times it feels like I can run to the horizon

I've never been able to figure out 'why' except to think - we are not machines, but very complex and complicated biological entities, and sometimes something can get just a wee bit out of kilter, other days everything synchronises perfectly Most days - the vast majority - we lie somewhere around the middle

[Sue2023 Graduate]

Absolutely…Think we all do 😐But don’t worry . You will get there .. just take your time and don’t run too fast .. think this is where I was going wrong . Slowed up at times but kept going . You will get there . ☘️