I started the programme full of hope and excitement. Weeks 1&2 were incredibly tough as I suffered some agonising calf pain. I didn't give up, did as I was told and by week 3 my calves were fine and everything seemed to fall into place. I run before work and used to get a massive buzz afterwards. Like most, I lived in fear of W5 run 3 (even had nightmares about it a few nights!) but when I did it almost "easily" I was elated. I thought I was through the worst. Week 6, runs 1&2 were surprisingly unpleasant and number 3 really tough. Just did w7, run 1 and whilst I didn't stop, I really hated most of it and didn't get my buzz afterwards, in fact it has been eluding me since W5r3. I'm really worried I have lost my enthusiasm and am concerned I will graduate and then stop. Please, please, please tell me you felt the same and got over it!
Thank you,
Stephanie
Written by
Stephanie-j
Graduate
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Please don't give up, it will come right honest! I too completed W5R3 without any problems and then really struggled and hated week 6, but I kept going and this morning completed W9R3 and can't tell you the high it gave me, still buzzing! Had a few runs over past couple of weeks where it took me a good 20 mins to find my pace, but then other days it's great!
You'll make it to week 9, just be positive, Laura is right when she says about it being in our heads that we can't do it, definitely mind over matter! And the community blog is a great help!
For most of C25K I didn't enjoy running. There was always something else that hurt! Even after my first 10k I was adamant running wasn't for me, it was incredibly tough. But, I had a couple of days off, and suddenly found myself running again! I enjoy running now. Not so much training, that's still tough. But a gentle jog, that doesn't push the limits, is really quite relaxing.
If you can get to a point where you can maintain a slow-ish pace well within yourself, everything starts to feels comfortable. It's not the kind of running that'll improve your pace, it's not training as such, but it feels great and should be part of any training plan, I think.
So, my advice would be to stick with it. Once you graduate keep up with 30 minutes or 5k three times a week and see how you feel after a month.
I was fine until week 8 and then I started to feel like you do now. By my graduation run I hated running. However, I didn't want to give up because I could feel the benefits plus I really enjoyed the earlier stages of the programme. When I thought about it I realised I didn't enjoy running for long periods - 30 minutes running to me is tedious. So, since I graduated I have gone back to W5r3 and stuck to 20 minutes but worked on getting faster. Once a week I am running W1 - I walk the walking bits but run as fast as I can for the minutes. I'm really enjoying my running now and don't feel like giving up at all. I'd say keep going to graduation to prove you can do it and then think about what it is you enjoy and do more of that.
Tha fact that you enjoyed the running up until a few runs ago suggests that you're just going through a tough bit right now, whilst your body adjusts to the longer runs. I have no doubt that the feelings of 'elation', 'massive buzz' 'hope and excitement' will all appear at different times in the weeks and months after graduation. Those feelings just aren't there all the time; a lot of the time it is hard and you will use very different words to describe running!
I know what you mean exactly, I was really struggling by week 9, but I was running on a treadmill and now I am running outside. I recommend doing a park run or something, with other people or a new route. I also find that the runs I am most dreading.. I enjoy the most! Weird huh. I hope that you get your buzz back, I am sure you will
Your comments reminded me how much I struggled with weeks 8 & 9, they took me about 4 weeks in total to get through! I now realise that it took me a while to understand my pace, I slowed down and focused on just getting through the runs. Now I play more with runs, long runs, recovery ones, speed work and get joy (most!) of the time as I get to know my running self/capabilities. You have adventures to come!!!
Thank you so much for all the lovely and encouraging answers, it really makes a big difference to know my feelings are normal at this stage. It is still very early days and there is still so much I need to work on (breathing and pace being top of my list, distance a pipe dream!). I shall try to be patient and persevere.
Congrats, Sam, on graduating today, you inspire me to carry on! Ultimately I would like to get to the "everything starts to feel comfortable" stage you mention Andystev and my aim further down the line will be to mix it up à la Katsmead. I was a sprinter in my leaner and younger days and would like to do some interval training when my endurance is not an issue anymore.
Once again thanks for all the replies, I will think of them to keep me going when things get tough on my next outing, it will make a nice change from counting the many snails and slugs I encounter in my local park (the slimy creatures seem to be mocking me, then again I am one of them, what with my impressive pace, ha!)
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Don’t look forward 😞
Looking forward to week 4
W2 R2 - Looking forward to R3 
Looking forward to Week 9 😊
Week 2 Run 2 and looking forward to it.
