finding it hard 😏

[Colouringlover]

I’ve got to the point where all my runs, well jogs really have no breaks in them and I’m finding it really hard to run 25mins non stop. I’m taking it really slow because I’ve had loads of trouble with my calves, ive recently had my gait done and got some running shoes (which I’m struggling with) I’ve been to a sports injury place and had my calves massaged because there are knots in them that just won’t budge - I’m beginning to wonder if it’s all worth the trouble!

Ive been given some new calf stretches to do but feeling really deflated that I can’t do more than 20mins without struggling. Has anyone else been like this?

ps I’m 54 and prior to C25K I hadn’t done any exercise apart from walking, gardening and the usual kind of daily tasks of housework and my desk job

[Annieapple Graduate]

🍏🤗Aw that’s a really tough entry into running!! Don’t despair!! Some of us just take longer to get sorted out. I am going to give you a link to FAQ about the program.

Take a break from running until those calves are sorted. Walk in the running shoes and if they don’t feel right go back and tell them!! Once the shoes feel right and the calves have settled, start the program again either from scratch or any week that you can comfortably manage. Remember to run really slowly at a pace that you can breathe and talk! Hope this encourages you to continue your journey. Let us know!

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

[Colouringlover in reply to Annieapple]

Thanks for the advice, I’ll try walking in my shoes around the house to see if it helps. It might just be me though, having never run before & no real exercise until now it’s more than likely my bday saying what the heck are you doing to me woman!! 😂

Thanks for the link too, I’ll have a read of that today

[Lentlily Graduate]

I'm sure Annieapple's advise is correct and will help you on the practical side but if it's any consolation from a moral support point of view I found the transition to twenty five minutes really hard too. Once I got through that it became a lot easier. We're all different of course and you have calves & shoes to sort out but there is light at the end of the tunnel and you will get there, honest, I have but there were definitely doubts along the way!

[Colouringlover in reply to Lentlily]

Thank you Lentlily it’s nice to know it’s not just me. Part of me just wants to give up but the other part says no you’ve come to far to just give up so I’ll perceiver for now and keep trying 😊

[Annieapple Graduate]

🍏🤗😊In the end you will be so glad you did persevere! Please keep in touch!

[Colouringlover in reply to Annieapple]

Thanks Annieapple, I really had to try hard tonight on 1st run of wk7 but I persevered because another runner shouted well done to me which spurred me on to keep going & I did it!! Didn’t enjoy it mind you 😂

[Annieapple Graduate in reply to Colouringlover]

🍏😊👍That’s the best news ever!! Well done!! 👏

[MissUnderstanding Administrator]

I hated week 7. I was tired from the weeks leading up to it and found every run a drag. I missed the walk breaks (which ironically I couldn’t wait to drop in the weeks leading up to the continuous runs!). It was fine again once I hit week 8.

It’s absolutely ok to take a drop down week and do a few shorter runs, or add walk breaks, or more rest days than usual. You can rejoin the programme when you’re ready. This doesn’t mean you won’t make it to the end, or you’re not built to be a runner. Listening to your body is a good thing and the sign of a strong runner!

[Colouringlover in reply to MissUnderstanding]

Thanks for the support, I tried again tonight and just about managed the first run on wk7. A few times I could have quite easily given up but another jogger passed me and said well done which spurred me on to finish - can’t say I enjoyed it but at least I finished it 😊

[MissUnderstanding Administrator in reply to Colouringlover]

That’s a great update. Some of the guided runs I’ve done encourage you to think of a positive about the run you’ve done. “It ended” is occasionally my positive!! Whether you loved it, hated it or something in between, your legs did it and that’s enough. Those runs are tough mentally and you showed real toughness to get through. Well done!