W8 R1 … Struggling!: I’ve just completed W8 R... - Couch to 5K

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W8 R1 … Struggling!

MissCat1 profile image
5 Replies

I’ve just completed W8 R1 and who would have thought that extra 3 minutes would be such a struggle!

It’s the first run that I’ve felt nauseous and faint afterwards, also the first time I’ve had to lie in a bath rather than shower as my legs are no longer able to keep me upright. Jelly legs!

It has made me want to give up, maybe 25 minutes is my personal limit. Disappointing as so close to graduating but I don’t want to feel like this again 😔

Does anyone have any suggestions to help recovery? I’ve had a pint of water and a yogurt but still feel sick and it’s 3hrs later!

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MissCat1 profile image
MissCat1
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5 Replies
Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate

Oh dear. there could be many reasons why this happened.

Did you push harder, go faster... ? You could be sickening for a bug...the bath may not have helped .. . was the weather cold or humid...?

f you still feel sick, now, it does sound as if it could be some kind of bug...

BUT,. . we are not medical experts and if you start to feel worse, or any other symptoms that you are concerned about get worse, or new ones appear, then do please, ring the NHS helpline.

Try to stay hydrated and see how you feel. Keep us posted please.

Annieapple profile image
AnnieappleAdministratorGraduate

🍏Unfortunate to happen at this stage of the program. As Oldfloss says there could be many reasons including going down with something. Please don’t despair. Take some extra rest days until you feel 💯percent. Take OldFloss’s advice & seek medical help if necessary. Once you feel good try your 25 min run again to gain back your confidence in running. Then try 8:1 again. Don’t forget to run really slowly 🐌 so you have room left in the tank to complete the run. Make sure you are well hydrated on run and rest days. Then like magic it will happen. You will see. This is just a blip. Let us know how you get on!

John_W profile image
John_WGraduateAmbassador

Oh dear, sorry to hear this.

What did your day look like yesterday? What did you eat before going out,ie for breakfast, lunch, dinner etc? Are you menopausal? How did your breathing feel? Were you jogging or running?

Cmoi profile image
CmoiGraduate

Sorry to hear of your experience  MissCat1 , and I can quite understand why you don't want to repeat it.

The How to run C25K FAQ at healthunlocked.com/couchto5... has lots of useful ideas, so perhaps read or refresh your memory of it?

In almost four years of running I've felt nauseous twice. On both occasions it was because I overdid things by adding quite a lot of unplanned distance, and I hadn't eaten or drunk appropriately for those runs. Of course, as already suggested, you might just be coming down with something.

In your situation, I'd be taking one or more days off, then giving another 28 minute run a go at a time when I was well-rested and suitably fuelled and hydrated.

I also find it helps me to think of the final part of any run as being just a fraction of what I've already done and therefore achievable, never as an extra challenge.

Happy running!

Lentlily profile image
LentlilyGraduate

I wonder if it's a combination of going down with something and not having enough fuel on board for the run? I've had two incidents of jelly-leg weakness & faintness and I know it was because I was hungry in both cases. It did effect my confidence when it happened on the first 25 minute run, I started thinking 20 minutes was my personal limit but I plodded on and the confidence boost came with the first 28 minute run which felt wonderful. Hope you have had some good rest by now and feeling better, I'm sure there are some great fun runs ahead of you.

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