I'm Back!!!!!!............. again ;)

[epld]

After abandoning the program after week 4 lat year, I am back and raring to go. I wish all you guys a very happy and 'fit' new year and hope to share this journey with you all again!

[greenlegs Graduate]

Welcome back! May you be running for 30 minutes before Easter!

[epld in reply to greenlegs]

Oh Thank you greenlegs!! I appreciate it! All the best to you too.

[mark909 Graduate]

What made you quit last year? What changes can you make so you don't quit again?

[epld in reply to mark909]

Last October I fell sick (bad case of the flu- nothing serious) and I couldn't run for about 2 weeks. After that break in the pattern it was just very difficult to get back- I tried a few times but gave up. I am quite unfit and the program is quite tough for me, so that discouraged me further and I just stopped!

It is really encouraging that you asked me this, but I am not entirely sure how to foolproof my plans. My only plan is to stay determined and push through when I feel discouraged. Do you have any suggestions?

[mark909 Graduate in reply to epld]

Did you try and get back into the program from where you left off? The flu would probably have weakened you and you start to lose your fitness after 10 days of inactivity. If this happens again it's a good idea to go back a week or two to build up your fitness. I'm injured at the moment and haven't been able to run for 5 weeks. I had managed to get up to 10 miles but thinking I will have to start from scratch when I start again! It's very annoying but I'm looking forward to starting running again also.

[epld in reply to mark909]

I went back a week at first, but that didn't work so I went back two weeks. I'm now starting over completely though. I hope your injury heals soon and you can run, but surely you don't have to start from scratch!?

[mark909 Graduate in reply to epld]

Thanks I hope it heals soon as well! I'm going to take it easy when I start again as I don't want my injury to flair up again. It's more of a case of building up the strength in my foot again rather than any fitness issues.

[SBG356 Graduate]

Welcome back epid! If you are determined to complete this and graduate you will I am sure! Best of luck! Sue

[epld in reply to SBG356]

Thanks for the encouragement Sue! I WILL graduate this time

[Rollertoaster Graduate]

Welcome back! Make sure to get on here when you're finding it tough, we'll keep you on track!

[epld in reply to Rollertoaster]

Hey hey! Thanks! I will make sure to keep posting this time How are you doing? What are you doing post C25K?

[Rollertoaster Graduate in reply to epld]

Hi, I'm good thanks! I have been continuing to run 2 or 3 times a week, working on the 5K+ podcasts, focussing on building up my speed mainly. I have just broken the 5K in 30 mins barrier, woo! I am going to start the B210K podcasts this weekend.

New Year, new running start for you! This time I KNOW you'll do it! Take it slow and steady, don't try to achieve everything at once (you have to save some challenges for later!) and you'll make it. Concentrate on just jogging REALLY slowly for those intervals and don't worry about speed and you'll make it! There's plenty of time for speed once you have built up your stamina first.

[Rollertoaster Graduate in reply to Rollertoaster]

Oh and also I wanted to say that so much of this programme is about the mental challenge. Believe you can do it and you will! Trust the programme and you will succeed!

[greenlegs Graduate]

I've just been nosy (nosey?) , and read back through your older blogs - I can't help but wonder whether perhaps you were trying to run too fast?

I was pretty unfit before. I'd been very anaemic which didn't help - once on iron tablets my resting pulse rate dropped about 10 beats/minute, without having done any more exercise - probably explained why I used to get out of breath so easily - not enough oxygen-carrying blood! Anyway, it made me do quite a bit of reading about starting up with exercising, and the biggest useful thing that I found was about pacing yourself. There is a lot on here about pushing through pain etc (even Laura says it) but I'm not at all convinced it is the most effective way.

If you are starting from very unfit, although you can build up heart and lung fitness fairly quickly, it apparently takes weeks or months to build up the muscles, ligaments etc (I'm no expert, so may have got this wrong!), and if you want to actually get fit without any injuries, slow and steady is a much better plan. (Says the fool who did an extra minute of running after Laura said stop today.) My running is about the same speed as my walking - and sometimes it is slower. But I am still running. And I have definitely already got a bit faster, only into the third week, as my stamina is gradually building up.

I wonder if a poll has been done to find out the average time people take to complete the programme? Because it doesn't actually matter - what does matter is that everyone doing this, at whatever point, is being active for 30 minutes, even if it is only walking.

I'll get off my little soapbox now! Oh, and going slower often means I even enjoy it! Very best wishes - it takes courage to start again.

[epld in reply to greenlegs]

I'm glad you were nosy, because I like the advice you've written :). You're probably right! Maybe I did try too hard. And it is SO encouraging that I'm not the only one whos running is no quicker than walking! Maybe the trick is to go a little slower and I might just start to enjoy it! Thanks a million, I will try going slower on my run today

[gdeann Graduate]

Welcome back!!!! I too, was very unfit when starting. Not so much weight wise ( I had lost most of the weight) but because I prefer to sit compared to doing any activity. The entire program was very difficult for me, each run was a struggle. Even after Graduation, each run challenges me and I feel my stamina still improving. That said, I am so happy I did it! You will be too! Best wishes for a great 2013! Gayle

[epld in reply to gdeann]

Thanks Gayle, I did read a few of your blogs earlier, and its so good to see you now have a graduate badge! Congratulations It gives me hope that I can do it too, because like you, I really struggle too. I will keep at it and hopefully in a few months time I can graduate. Cant wait! And Happy New year! Esther.

[Anniemurph Graduate]

Welcome back! I agree with Greenlegs - perhaps you were trying too hard? It took me 50 runs rather than 27 to complete, but I got there, and even though I have had a minor blip over the last couple of months, I still class myself as a runner - albeit a very slow one

Anyway, all the best for this time round - you can do it!

Annie

[epld in reply to Anniemurph]

Hi Annie, Thank you so much for your encouraging words. It is so good to know that there is hope for me. I too did almost double the number of runs I was supposed to do. But hopefully this time around I will keep at it till the end. All the best to you too! Esther.

[smhall Graduate]

Welcome back, Esther!! I think that so many have given you great advice!! I have to echo all of them that stress slowing down and taking it at your own pace!! We are so worried about "Running" that we get discouraged and quit. Just remember with each run, that it isn't to finish quickly, but just to FINISH!!

You can most certainly complete this program!! I have typed this so many times before, but it is so try that I must do it again!! This is a great program, believe in it!! More importantly, BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!!! It isn't a matter of "can" you do this...it is a matter of WILL you do this!! YOU CAN DO IT!!! YOU WILL DO IT!!!!!

Now, with a nice steady pace and positive thoughts running through your mind...

Keep Running!!

Steve