stuck on week 7,cant get through the barrier my brain has created, HELP please

[emmmabee]

I have really enjoyed the couch to 5k ,looked forward to it but now stuck in limbo land as cant get through week 7,done first run but now in a big rut wondering whats going on? and how to get going again x

[gypsydepp Graduate]

Whats the problem?

Why are you stuck?

You have done so well to get to week 7 please dont stop now !!!!!!!

[emmmabee]

not sure why its so hard this week, havent been feeling to good,not ill to be off work but just sluggish and not usual bouncey happy self, i dont want to stop and will keep going just wondered if anyone else ever felt like this? or is it just me having a bad week ?

[Katsmeat Graduate]

I haven't been feeling on brilliant this week either - very sluggish and tired and despite graduating on Monday (which was my toughest run yet) I struggled to do a 20 minute run yesterday. Do you think it's the weather?

I'm determined not to give up though. Every minute I run is one less spent on the couch! I will do 20 minutes again until it feels comfortable and then build back up.

Keep going, don't give up now!

[hollyO Graduate]

Iam struggling too, but I think its when the long runs arrive and we are really testing our bodies now. Mine is in shock I think!

Katsmeat has good advice above.

I know of a couple of people who are just waiting for me to give up - I'm going to show em!!

Good luck and I will be thinking of you when I am shuffling through W8R3 on Monday

[Anonymous36 Graduate]

I've also felt the same this week, my legs are heavy and I feel generally fatigued. My runs have been ok but I put that down to running with others at running club and not wanting to quit while I'm surrounded. I normally run every other day but I've taken an extra rest day today and may also take tomorrow off too. I have been on long slow walks though so as not to get my butt too comfy on the couch

Keep at it, next week your blogs will include all sorts of positivity

[Hidden]

I found week 7 really hard work this week too, run one was my worst run so far and I was really disappointed. I used my own music to do the other two and that really helped.

[keepingon]

The key is to slow down, remember you have three 25min runs in week 7, slow down for the first one, if you want speed up a wee bit for the next do it, and a bit more for the third. Work on your endurance first, speed can come later.

I went from hitting the wall at 18min on Thursday, to 25 min Yesterday (I slowed down).

[Hidden]

I am also on week 7 this week, and like the other runners' reported I am also experiencing difficulty with the runs, in fact run 1 was hard physically and mentally, plus I was as stiff as a board the next day. That has never happened to me before. Somebody elsewhere on the forum suggested an isotonic drink and my colleagues (I work for the NHS) suggested that possibly dehydration is behind the stiffness. So both suggestions seem to have a common theme and I have an isotonic drink for today's run. Keep up the motivation, there's a lot of support here on the forum and it has been a great support for me this week

[emmmabee]

just been for a run with my friend who is doing week9, she runs slower than me so was a good boost and i managed 25mins ! yippeee,she was more puffed trying to keep up,(i only jog but have longers legs !lol) so it worked well for both of us,but i will slow down if i find it hard as i thought i was slow but realised just taking the pressure off going slower really helped,plus having someone to chat to,or gasp too! i love this forum its making such a difference to me ,thank you all xx