Week 4, Run 2

[LauraRuns]

Hi all,

I completed the second run of week 4 today at lunch time and although I managed to do all the running sections without stopping to walk, I felt like I was going *so* slow (much slower than usual), my legs felt really heavy and it was just hard going. I haven’t been recording my runs on runkeeper/strava so far as I think I’ll be disheartened if my pace is a lot slower compared to when I last did C25k back in 2020 - which I imagine it is. I know speed doesn’t matter at this stage, but I’m just feeling very unfit this time around!

Will keep plodding on and trusting the process, but thought I’d post and share my experience as we all have hard runs every now and then and I know reading other people’s posts about being resilient and pushing through always gives me the motivation to keep going. Hoping the third run of week 4 feels a little easier… 🤞🏼

Until then, I hope everyone’s runs go well and aren’t as sluggish as mine!

Laura

[StoneDragon Graduate]

Well done on getting out there and completing that run Laura. I felt slugglish on this exact run too and was willing the walking breaks to arrive with every step. As you said speed isn’t important at all right now, you’re building your stamina and fitness back up, so don’t be hard on yourself. Completing the run is enough.

I actually found run 3 of that week much better so hopefully you will too.

I’m still resting up with this cold, I thought I had it beaten but it had other ideas!! W6R1 will have to wait until I’m feeling better.

[LauraRuns Graduate in reply to StoneDragon]

Thanks StoneDragon! Glad I wasn’t the only one finding week 4 a bit tricky, here’s to hoping that run 3 is better like it was for you.

Hope you manage to get on top of that cold of yours soon so you can get back out there, always best to take the time to feel better before pushing yourself too hard when it comes to runs I think. Good luck for week 6!

[Dustybn71]

Hi there! Well done for reaching this far. It takes guts and commitment to keep it going and not to stop and give up, so give yourself a pat on the back. I'm onto my week 6, and I ran today doing run 2, which is 2x 10 min runs. I might attempt the 25 min run tomorrow albeit I appreciate I should have a break between runs but I start work again on Wednesday and I am on for 7 days so I might struggle to run as much. However keep believing and just put one foot in front of the other. The most important thing I've come to realise is the breathing and how to manage it. It is not perfect yet but I've gotten this far, so it is getting there. I love the feeling when I finish a run, as I'm sure you do too. Take your time and think about how you will feel once you finish your next run. Good luck and enjoy!

[LauraRuns Graduate in reply to Dustybn71]

Thanks Dusty! Well done for getting to week 6, sounds like you’re doing great. Running is definitely a mental battle but getting the breathing right is a challenge sometimes for sure. Enjoy your next run, hope it goes well for you 🤞🏼

[Annieapple Graduate]

  🍏LauraRuns thanks for sharing this & you have had some great replies! The go slow is no problem at all… it gets you through the runs that feel more difficult… A good warm up routine & some added strength & flex will all help to support your running. You can’t beat the post run feeling of completing a run that you could have given up on… well done 👍

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Slow is great, slow rocks and it really is the new, fast! I love slow and steady..it takes you exactly where you wish to be!

The rusn are great, or not so great, but they all count... Try to pop in a tad more strength and stamina work.. loads of advice here and on the strength and flex forum!

Your run... your pace... just do it and enjoy it

Snail pace, ace pace !

[LauraRuns Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Thanks Oldfloss, appreciate the support and advice ☺️

[drl212 Graduate]

Terrific to get to Week 4 Run 2. Speed isn't important at this point and your consistency will improve that.

I had similar feelings during the C25K and was advised that it was probably the Toxic Ten. And sure enough as I got into the longer runs, after about ten minutes, that feeling would go away.

At this point, as OF tells us: Slow and Steady wins the race.

Do let us know how you get on...

[LauraRuns Graduate in reply to drl212]

Thanks drl213! Appreciate the support! Looking forward to overcoming the toxic 10 as it’s a real struggle right now!

[Cmoi Graduate]

When my legs feel heavy it's usually because I'm not well-hydrated - might that be the case for you? Or maybe it was just one of those runs. Whatever, you completed it! 👍😀

Fwiw I never recorded any of my C25K runs because I knew I'd get hung up on numbers. Over four years on I still don't record all my runs. I stopped when I realised that gawping at data was sucking most of the joy out of my running.

As far as pace goes, yes, in order to develop your running and minimise your risk of injury it's strongly advised that you do C25K at a pace at which you can speak full sentences, rather than hammering along as fast as you can.

However, you're only 29. That's 35 years younger than I am now (eek!) and 30 years younger than I was when I started C25K. That means that your body is likely to be more resilient and capable of recovering faster than mine, and that you can probably run faster than me - your "sluggish" might well be my "bat out of hell!" I'm not good at running fast, nor do I enjoy it.

Nonetheless"slow and steady" didn't suit me during C25K, and it doesn't now. I have the boredom theshold of a gnat and have always run in hilly countryside, so adapting my pace to the gradients and terrain has always worked best for me.

Potentially you have decades of running ahead of you. I hope you have lots of fun.