What’s happened?

[CanIStopNow]

After having managed 3 x 30 min runs per week since finishing C25K why all of a sudden did last night’s run become impossible to do? I just couldn’t do it! Only managed 1 and a bit, I walked for a bit then tried again and had to give up in a sweaty sad mess. What happened? That can’t be normal…….. can it?☹️

[Annieapple Administrator Graduate]

🍏 it is very normal to have runs that turn into nightmares! Sometimes it’s because we are going down with something like a cold etc.. it can even be a bit of burn out if we are running them on the the same route and listening to the same music…sometimes it’s sheer exhaustion… busy days & not enough sleep… sometimes a bit of a mental block…

My advice is to take a couple of rest days now . If it’s physical get better before attempting another run. If it’s burn out change things up a bit… a new route, different playlist.. do two shorter 20 min runs & then a a longer 30min. Join NRC free app & get some excellent coaching and fun runs. You may even like to try an early morning run…

Have a little think and let us know what you think maybe the reason!

[Frenchie84]

If you menstruate, check to see where you are in your cycle. There are some weeks where our bodies are going to be worse at endurance exercise and some where we have so much energy, we feel we could take on a marathon. So take that into consideration and try not to be so hard on yourself. Even a 'rubbish' run is better than no run at all

[Cmoi Graduate]

I'm not you CanIStopNow , but I can say that I found it far, far harder to motivate myself immediately post-C25K than at any other time.

I did C25K because a non-sporty friend had and I decided that if she could, I could. I'm also generally very project-focused.

So when I finished C25K my brain was telling me "You've completed C25K, goal achieved, you don't have to do this any more." Bam. Guess what? My body agreed and wanted to stop. Fortunately, two things intervened: 1, I'd taken a route where there were no short cuts back, and I didn't fancy a long walk. 2, I was too pig-headed to give up.

I run in the countryside and an approach that worked for me was finding something else to concentrate on during the run: sights, sounds, scents, textures. Other techniques were telling myself I'd just run for another minute or to the next tree/bend/gate, and also mentally breaking the run down into ever-decreasing chunks.

Those approaches might not work for you, of course. The trick is to find something that does. Happy running!

[ktsok Graduate]

Totally normal. Some days it comes easy, other days are a dirty slog. I’m so pigheaded that I tend to persevere and finish in a disgruntled mess, but I’m not convinced it’s the right approach - maybe our bodies need to rest, and we need to listen? Maybe we’re not psychologically up for it for some reason? Another one of life’s mysteries! Don’t worry, your running legs haven’t disappeared 🙂

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Yes. Some you win some you just run... some you don't. Sometimes the best run can even be no run... Rest up as Annieapple suggests, and listen to your body...it is your best guide.

[August122 Graduate]

These replies are so reassuring and encouraging. I too have struggled to progress since graduating from C25K and feel cross with myself as to why I cannot consistently run for 30 mins and it still feels so hard. I guess we are still ‘beginners’ and the advice here that any run is better than no run. I try to remind myself what I could do at the very beginning and realise how far I have come. Keep running and relax is my advice, you’re doing great!

[misswobble Graduate in reply to August122]

just relax and try to have fun out there 🙂👍. A pleasure rather than a chore 😀

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate]

Everything that everyone else has already said!

Another thing to consider - are you hydrated? If you don't drink enough water your legs sort of feel heavy and everything is twice as much effort. The trick is to drink plenty on the day before you run as well as a glass or two before you set off, so you're nicely topped up and don't have to keep weeing when you're out and about