W7 and starting to struggle.....!!!

[puressence73]

For most of the programmed I have been running every other day, but I am now thinking that it might be time to start taking a double rest day between the different weeks.

I had been making steady progress throughout the programme, and although I found WK6 R3 a bit of challenge I completed it without to much drama. However, I found WK7 R1 quite difficult even though it was the same duration as WK6 R3, to the point where it was a right slog to get around the same course. I took the usual days rest to find that WK7 R2 was even more difficult than the previous 2 runs.

On my last run I found that I had a fight with myself just to keep going. My legs felt like lead, and I had aches and pains from my ankles right up to my lower back. My calf muscles felt like they were going to cramp up at any second. I haven’t changed anything, and my pace recorded by Nike+ seems to be the same (covering about 4K running, and 5K with the warm up and warm down walk).

Now I have been fortunate to not have picked up any injuries to date, but listening to my body I would say that I am not too far off from picking one up. So I am slowly drawing the conclusion that an additional day of rest may be the best way to let my recover after these longer runs.

Has anyone else experienced the same? I would be grateful for any suggestions as I am committed to graduating, and it would be disastrous to pick up an injury at this stage...

[KANdoit]

Sounds like a sensible plan. Listen to your body. You've been doing this for long enough now to tell the difference between a "I'm wimping out" and a "i need a bit longer to regroup" message from your body. I wish I'd listened...

[Martuo]

Just a thought, but would stretch exercises before/after help?

[Spud Graduate]

IMO Wk7 is the most physically demanding.

Although it is good to "push on" with the programme, if your body is telling you otherwise, listen to it.

The programme does say take 1 or 2 days between runs - so you are still "on plan" even with an extra days rest

If you try to push through, bad runs may also affect you mentally.

Good luck on getting through

[rolphie2 Graduate]

I found week 8 a real challenge i think because mentally I had run for 25 mins so thought it would be easy from then on and of course it wasn't. I took a week off and then started wk8 again and although it wasn't easy I found I could do it and am now 1 run off graduating (fingers crossed). If you feel taking more rest days will help then you should definately do that, I do. Good Luck with the rest of the programme you can do it!!

[Jemimatoo Graduate]

I finished wk 8 today and I am relieved to report I found it much easier than wk 7. I know everyone is different and so find different parts of the program challenging, but I have to say wk 7 was the hardest so far for me. I think it was because I had already run the time in wk6 r3 and so I thought surely it should be easy to repeat it. Actually just like you I found harder every time. I went into wk 8 thinking there was no way I'd manage, but actually I have really enjoyed all 3 runs.

I think you should rest if your body needs it and then go for it with wk 8. Hopefully you'll find it easier than you think!

Let us know how you get on