It was with great trepidation that I set out to do Week 2 Run 1 and I was proved right to be worried. I managed the first three 90 second runs, but by the fourth I could hardly breathe, my legs were like lead, my chest felt like it was going to explode, my head was pounding and it was taking all my strength to put one foot in front of the other - even to walk. For some reason I'd got it into my head that there would only be 5 runs so I did my best to pull it together and kept telling myself "just one more run to go, just one more run to go" and I made it. Imagine my horror, then, when 2 minutes later Laura tells me to run again. I tried really hard to do it, but after about 25 seconds I had to give it up and go back to walking.
To be honest, I have no idea how I got home. I could hardly move, I was crying (which didn't help the not-being-able-to-breathe situation) and just seemed to be in a total daze. By the time I did get home I was in a right state and felt so sad and such a failure. I considered going back to Week 1 and asked the advice of Community members. The answers, advice and encouragement I received was invaluable and I thank all of those who took the time to respond, it meant a lot and once I'd calmed down I decided to try again on Wednesday and take it from there.
Week 2 Run 2 was hard-going. Again, by the fourth 90 second run I didn't think I'd manage it, but I did! I did all six of the 90 second runs. Now, as I've stated before, my light jogs are probably brisk walks to most people, but I'm doing it and trying my hardest and that's all I can do.
Week 2 Run 3 yesterday was also completed and when I got home I felt much, much better. However, I will be repeating Week 2 before moving on. I'm not being a defeatist, I'm being a realist, I'm not ready to jog for any longer than 90 seconds at the moment, so instead of not being able to do it and feeling like a failure, I just want to be a wee bit more comfortable and help get my confidence back up. I don't have a time limit to work to or a deadline to reach, I want to be able to run with my children and that's my only goal. If it takes me longer to get there then so be it.
But I will get there. In my own time.
And thank you to all the Community Members out there who have taken the time to offer their help and advice. Hope you're all doing ok with your own C25K plans and beyond!
Written by
bexbridge
Graduate
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Hi Bex - THANK YOU! I just did W2R2 this morning, and found it hard. i was expecting wk2 to follow the pattern of Wk1 (ie OMG!/better.../hey, this is OK) so thought today would be better than W2R1 where I found the final 20 secs of each run difficulat. was still struggling today big time and came so close to stopping but managed to hang in there until Laura woke up! Made the mistake - which i said I wouldn't do - of listening to Wk3 - 3 minutes! How on earth am I going to run 3 mins when I'm struggling at 70 seconds? But something you said really touched a cord which is that there's no time limit - like you, I'm not aiming for a particular race, I've lost enough weight already that people comment on it, so if I need to, I can just do it again - assuming that Wk3 really is that much of a problem. So, again, Thanks for giving me the pep talk Good Luck
Right. Point 1: You can't be a failure - you have run further and for longer than you ever thought possible. That is an ACHIEVER!
Point 2: Well done on not being concerned with how long it takes. You will probably find that once your body adapts to this strange new activity, you'll progress more quickly.
However, don't fall into the trap of not moving on because you don't think you'll be able to do it. You won't know unless you try. Running is as much a mental effort as a physical one.
Many of us, yes me included, hit brick walls (I couldn't finish the final 90sec run of Wk2!) but pushed on anyway and found it wasn't as difficult as we dreaded it would be.
Really well done to you and to dylanski - you'll have good days, very good days - and baaaaad days. They all count!! Just try and stay positive!
Your blog really moved me, Bexbridge. You will get to the end of this, because you've got the right attitude - it isn't a race, it's a journey to better health and understanding yourself better - and for many, a journey to being kinder to yourself too.
Getting the balance between knowing when to push and when to bide your time is tricky, and we all probably make mistakes on both of those as we go along. But if we keep moving forwards, it doesn't matter too much!
Your children will be so proud of having a running mummy!
My blog last week was 'how on earth am I going to run for 3 mins when I'm struggling to do 90 secs? Some of the wonderful people on here advised me to slow it down a little, so that's what I did and it worked. I ran for 3 minutes and lived! Like you I'm not in a great hurry I just want to get there. Xx
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Consolidating - Week 13 of C25K - Run 2
C25K week 2
Week 2 - C25K on holiday
Week 2 down and more determined than ever..
Week 6 the down and the ups!!
