Week 3 run 3 - repeat- done but with a struggle!

[Fitness2025]

After a couple days off I decided it would be best to repeat week 3 run 3. Found it tough and feel like I have 0 stamina and got a stitch which went away. I ran very slowly at snail pace. Nervous for week 4! 😭

[CBDB Ambassador]

Sometimes there are just days like these. And then the next run sometimes surprises you!

Wishing you a fabulous, energetic, feel-good week 4 run 1.

[Fitness2025 in reply to CBDB]

Thank you!!

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

Well done for completing that run, if your snail pace gave you stitch I think you could go slower.....then slower still, it's not about pace at this stage it's about keeping going. Believe me, I'm returning from an acute illness that's left me with a chronic illness, and my first few runs saw me plodding along, tears of joy for the fact that I was running and tears of sadness for what I'd lost and how slow I was, but it's paying off, I'm increasing my time running and getting stronger every week, so, go as slow as you think you can then slow down some more, drink loads of water every day and hopefully over time you will find it a bit easier. Week 4 is a bit of an increase in time, listen to music or sing as you run and you'll find that every run prepares you for the next, then come back and let us know how you got on 😁

[Fitness2025 in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thank you!! I think I just want to be at a stage where I'm not struggling as much and running feels a bit easy

[SueAppleRun Graduate in reply to Fitness2025]

I didn't really start to enjoy running until a few weeks after I finished C25k and suddenly one day I realised I could just keep going and I was smiling, keep at it and you'll get to that place

[John_W Graduate]

In what way did you find it tough?

What is making you feel you have no stamina?

[Fitness2025 in reply to John_W]

I think its during the 3min runs where I want to give up and that's making me feel like I don't have any stamina because I no longer want to continue. I still did it but it was tough because I wanted to stop running.

[John_W Graduate in reply to Fitness2025]

OK, but why did you want to stop running? Why did you want to give up? What was 'tough' ?

Is this mental or physical? If physical, what's going on? Is it the legs or the lungs ?

[Fitness2025 in reply to John_W]

Not sure sorry I can't describe it. I guess it was more mental. I think it was just an off day because today I managed to complete week 4 day 1

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Maybe slow down... if you are struggling... then ease back. Maybe start to pop some core strength and stamina work...that running body needs some support

Lots of ideas on the strength and stamina ideas on the strength and flex forum!

[Fitness2025 in reply to Oldfloss]

Thank you!

[Fatboytryingto-run]

just the fact that, you are giving it a go , is a major step in the right direction, think about the positives , I try telling myself the glass is half full , even though I know it s best part empty , if you run out of steam , slow down is the greatest info , my head still thinksI can run around the school field in hot UK summer , that was 50 years ago 🥳 , good luck , it takes time , you will get there

[Fitness2025 in reply to Fatboytryingto-run]

Thank you!

[ZingPoppo]

As others have said, slow and slower is ok! Also make sure you are well hydrated and don’t run too soon after a large meal. Good luck with the next run, it does get easier with time.

[Fitness2025 in reply to ZingPoppo]

Thank you!

[JeremiahObadiah Graduate]

It’s ok to not enjoy the process, obviously it would be lovely to skip out of the door singing The Hills Are Alive.. but I think many of us have to coerce ourselves to put on the trainers and get outside.

Are you feeling any ‘after glow’, despite not liking the actual plodding? I devised myself a chart and wrote down all the details of each run with a big red tick as I drank my post run reward coffee. It felt like an achievement and a visual victory as I notched up runs.

It is really ok to repeat runs or weeks and to allow yourself an extra rest day. You want to gradually ease your body into the running habit building stamina and fitness. When I redid the C25K I adapted it to be much more gradual so almost by stealth I increased the running and my legs strengthened.

Watch the Japanese slow running video to get an idea of how slowly and gently you can run and still benefit.

I hope that you can beat the bit in your head that tells you you don’t enjoy it and get to the point where you feel the sense of achievement and purpose afterwards which can counteract those negative feelings. When you read on here about the gremlins and toxic ten minute starts, you realise that so many of us grapple with the same problems. Getting the trainers on and the foot out of the door is to be applauded!!

Come back and let us know how the next run feels.

[Fitness2025 in reply to JeremiahObadiah]

Thank you! Yes I feel better after I run. I feel a little stronger. I did Week 4 day 1 today and I completed it. I'm glad I did it. I pushed through and found a flatter route and went slowly.

[JeremiahObadiah Graduate in reply to Fitness2025]

Well done. Keep on keeping on . And keep telling us . It’s all positive even if the voice in your head says it feels negative.

[Fitness2025 in reply to JeremiahObadiah]

Thank you! Yes I agree

[Madwife60 Graduate]

Well done for keeping going which is a major achievement in itself. I know 3 minutes feels like a lifetime when you are struggling. However each time you run you build up a little more stamina and so long as you keep at it you will get stronger and fitter. It’s your journey so make it fit you - if you need to repeat then that’s ok. If you need to slow down that’s ok. I still struggle the first few minutes as my body adapts to moving at speed rather than sloth. I look at it as a bit like a choke in an old car - once the engine heats up it runs smoothly but it takes a few minutes. The only rule is to try and keep going but always at your pace. You can do this

[Fitness2025 in reply to Madwife60]

Thank you!

[Cmoi Graduate]

Pretty much all your posts describe your runs as a "struggle" or in similarly negative language. Yet as far as I can tell you've completed them all. Maybe it's time to try a mental reset, framing things as success despite not feeling great, and reminding yourself you can do this. Because you can.

[Fitness2025 in reply to Cmoi]

Thank you! I think I used language such as that because I wanted to be completely honest in documenting my journey. But upon reflection I agree I can use more positive language.

[Cmoi Graduate in reply to Fitness2025]

I'm all for honesty, and I'm not trying to force you to be happy about your runs when you're not. The Pollyanna approach doesn't work for me.

However, if your head is constantly saying things like "this is difficult, I can't do it, I might as well stop" there's a strong chance your body will follow. I find that running is as much a mental as a physical game, and I have a whole range of strategies to keep me going, especially when I'm finding things less than fun.

The FAQ on here include one on positive mental attitude that you might like to read at some point, maybe once you're into week 5.

[Fitness2025 in reply to Cmoi]

Thank you I appreciate your advice. And I will read the FAQ 🙂

[Jell6 Graduate in reply to Fitness2025]

Even if I don't enjoy the actual run, I always enjoy the "after run". For me that is a positive, so every single run is positive, (even if it felt quite crap at the time!)

[drl212 Graduate]

Every run is different!

Give Week 4 Run 1 a try - slow and steady. If it works great, if it is difficult, drop back and repeat runs from Week 3 again. Its all experience and knowledge about what works best for you.

Do keep is posted...

[Fitness2025 in reply to drl212]

Thank you! I did that run today and completed it

[drl212 Graduate in reply to Fitness2025]

Brilliant!!!