Oh those first 5 minutes...

[redsheep]

They really are the worst for me. I'm not sure why but I really feel like I'm not going to make it even half way during those first 5 minutes. Maybe I'm not setting off at the right pace. Luckily by the time Laura tells me the 5 minutes are up I've settled into a nice comfortable pace and I feel like I can do it.

I ran W7R1 using the W6R3 podcast tonight as I didn't have a chance to put week 7 onto my ipod yet, so have a new podcast to listen to for R2.

It was a lot cooler when I ran last night but my face still felt like it was on fire the whole time. I've been bumping into the local athletic club on my runs recently. Everyone exchanges big friendly smiles when they pass which is quite nice. They're all about half my age and running twice as fast without a bead of sweat of their brows, or a hint of red in the cheeks of course!

I won't be doing W7R2 till Tuesday next week as I'm walking in the Peak District this weekend and think my legs will need the rest. I'm interested to see how my fitness is for walking, after all this running.

[Soozz Graduate]

Well done, Redsheep, you did it! And you certainly did the right thing by listening to the W6R3 podcast - the music for W7 is not good, and there isn't that much of Laura either. I went back to using W6R3 after something I spotted on this blogsite. Hope you have a lovely time in the Peak, you'll be galloping up those hills after all this running!

[redsheep Graduate in reply to Soozz]

Oh disappointed to hear about the music for week 7. I was looking forward to a bit of a change.

[Ilovechocolate Graduate]

I have the same thing for about the first 10 minutes though. My pace is quite slow to start off and I have quite a steep incline to contend with. I think it is more in the mind knowing how long the route is. I am going to change my route to an easier one and see if this helps.

I don't know want some people think when they see me but by the end I am bright red, sweaty and my breathing must seem like the death rattle!

From week 7 onwards, I used the c25k app so I could use my own music.

Have a great weekend.

[redsheep Graduate in reply to Ilovechocolate]

I've been reading a lot on here about people running up and down hills. I don't know how they do it. It's totally flat where I am. It must be so much harder with hills!

I have downloaded the app but I'm a bit reluctant to use my own music at this stage in case it's not the right pace and I think I still need Laura in my ear for now. Will see after this week.

Yeah, I will never look "good" running, lol!

[Elizadolots Graduate]

I also struggle the first few minutes, until I 'settle in'. Doesn't bother me too much, I know it doesn't last long! Good luck and well done so far!

[Legion Graduate]

It seems to take me about 15 minutes running before I 'hit my stride', and I do a 10 minute walk before that, as I was finding 5 minutes wasn't near enough to get 'warmed up'. I spend ages telling myself how I must be able to do it because I've done further before. After 15 minutes I seem to get past the mental battle, although if I'm on a 'hilly' route then my legs and lungs genuinely start to complain a bit by then. I think it's starting to get a little easier to accept that those first few minutes struggle are all in my head...

[Oldgirl Graduate]

Well done on getting to week 7 Redsheep and don't worry about looking hot and sweaty I always do and just say to myself they maybe think I've just done a marathon

Its funny how many people take a while to settle down to a steady stride, I put a question on here a while ago about this subject cos it sometimes takes me 10 minutes to feel comfortable. I suspect the longer we do this the easier it will get, fingers crossed anyway.

[Lu25k]

Oh, I have the same problem. Once my heart rate starts going up and I start breathing more heavily, there's always a moment when my heart sinks and I think, "There's no way I can run for that long" [whatever the length is for that day]. So I have to try to talk myself out of that or ignore the inner monologue. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other.

I learned today that just because my body quickly starts feeling stressed after I begin running, that doesn't mean that the stress is going to keep increasing. I just have to trust that if I keep the same pace and keep on, I can handle it, and it's just a matter of time before I've got the whole distance behind me.