Middle of week 7, it's the first twenty five m... - Couch to 5K

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Middle of week 7, it's the first twenty five minutes that are the worst.

Gazter profile image
GazterGraduate
4 Replies

I mean really, murder. Every single minute I wanted to stop. I try to take my mind off it by having upbeat songs on my playlist, and it works to a bit. But each 25 minute run feels like forever.

There's no high or anything. Of course, there is the elation at completing the day and to be fair, following the five minute cool down, and about forty minutes of chilling out i feel no worse than i did before the run.

This is my third twenty five minute run....

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Gazter profile image
Gazter
Graduate
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sfb350 profile image
sfb350Graduate

I was lucky and did two of my week 7 runs while on holiday. The first one was hard work as I jogged around the caravan site without any real idea of speed or distance - I was more accustomed to the treadmill, which gets quite mind-numbing on the longer runs. The second time I ventured into woodland along a trail that was quite challenging in paces - it wasn't easy but it was much more interesting/engaging and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I think with the longer runs, the mental challenge is greater - have you tried making it more interesting by changing route or finding a variety of surfaces/inclines to run on ?

juicydee profile image
juicydeeGraduate

Interesting, sfb350, I've been doing some running round the park to get a flat route for some (slightly) faster runs, and I find it really tedious and aimless. I find I much prefer to 'go' somewhere.... Now I'm doing longer runs I'm currently thinking of getting the bus somewhere and running back (or vice versa!).....

Gazter, I did find weeks 7 and 8 very tedious (though I put it down to having fast-forwarded from week 6 in order to get the distance in before a 5k race).... I suggest you keep going and let your body get used to the new sensation of running longer. Also, be sure you're not heading off too quickly - I've found that's sure way to take the joy out of a run. I ran 7k in an hour lst weekend, so that'd be a speed of 7k per hour, which is not very fast at all! But it was a fantastic run (in the rain!) and I got an extreme high afterwards!

Really hope it improves for you.......

SaCl profile image
SaClGraduate

I know what you mean. I've just done W7/R1 for the second time and the first time around I found this week SO hard! I think W8 was easier - the combination of finding the run simpler, as well as the increase in distance gained being a confidence booster - I'm looking forward to getting back into it. I'm just looking forward to getting the next two runs down and getting over this psychological barrier. Keep going!

brownfox profile image
brownfoxGraduate

Well done for finishing the week.

I have a little fantasy that I'm an early hominid loping tirelessly through the veldt and I can do this all day because it's what I evolved for - and then the second I

a/ notice other people

b/ cross a road

c/ wonder if I should be going faster, it all comes crashing down and I swear I can feel the muscles in my legs tightening up and my lungs squeezing and my heart hammering. Happy days.

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