Hooray "Officially a runner" but if so why do I find it so hard!!

[karenmac70]

I had another blip shall we call it W6R3 on Monday where I had a funny thing going on mid run. As usual I found it all very hard but got to the halfway mark and then a couple of minutes roughly after that I thought I can't do this stopped, decided yes you can, started again, thought you have ruined it now so stopped then thought but don't give up so started again. This in all took around 60 seconds and I then ran to the end. So run not a success, but did leave me feeling see you could have done it had you not been so stupid.

My daughter had joined me for her first run as she thinks this running lark has toned mum up I will have some of that so whatever I have at least motivated her. She is finding week one hard and has a stomach problem that is being investigated (possible coeliac disease) so have told her just to give it her best. She was up early today so as not to hold me up and I thought her enthusiasm is enough that I cant just give up without a good reason, so today I officially by Laura became a runner!!!

I wont say I couldn't have easily given up at any single point but had my own music with a good beat in one ear and Laura in the other, Laura's early indications of 5 mins, 12 and half drive me mad but when she said 20 I was elated. I kept thinking you love this song you can't ruin it by remembering you failed during this one keep going so I did.

Now for some advice, my legs are very very heavy and have been since W5R2 and of course the two repeated runs W5R3 and W6R3. Is this normal as my thighs just haven't stopped aching. I was exercising in other ways the days in between but have stopped this to make sure I am recovered but my legs don't improve. Any ideas?

[PamJK Graduate]

Well done on finishing it. Fantastic achievement. Just goes to show how much of this is mental. (Are we all mental )

I'm afraid I can't answer your question about your legs (hope they feel better soon) but how do you get your music in one ear and Laura in the other? How can you switch Laura's music off? Thanks!

[karenmac70 Graduate in reply to PamJK]

Thank you this has been much more a mental struggle than a physical one so we must all be mental lol

I can't get rid of Laura's music completely I just turn her down so that I can hear when she speaks and have my other music from another ipod on an earphone in the other ear. As this is louder its that I am listening too when running and as soon as I hear Laura speak I listen with the other ear. Its not perfect but it works for me as I am not yet ready to ditch Laura, I feel I need her for the whole course but need better music to keep me running. Good luck!!

[caz1_ca Graduate]

Well done on finishing. It will probably help you immensely having your daughter jogging with you. I didn't feel much like a runner when I heard laura say it either (hahaha) But now I'm 1 run away from week 9 I actually do feel like a runner, so it will come.

I can't help you out the the leg question either I'm afraid. Do you stretch before and after you runs?

[karenmac70 Graduate in reply to caz1_ca]

Thank you so nice to hear that it will come I was beginning to wonder if I will ever really be a runner!!

When I was doing exercises on my days in between they involved a lot of stretching so maybe that's why its now a problem as I have stopped that. Maybe thinking I would give my legs the best possible chance of managing the longer runs has actually hindered it!!

[caz1_ca Graduate in reply to karenmac70]

From what I have been told if you are having sore achey legs to stretch before and after a run. Give it a go it might help.

[karenmac70 Graduate in reply to caz1_ca]

Thanks I will. good luck with your running!

[con-brio Graduate]

Well done. Forget the 60 second interlude... you persevered and won through. It's great that you've inspired your daughter to be your running buddy.

As for the legs, other forms of complementary exercise on your "rest" days are fine, provided you don't overdo things. Several of us have discovered that doing exercises that help build up the core muscles really help (e.g. NHS Strength & Flex). It could just be that you need to stretch your leg muscles after running. This really does help. See this page for an idea: nhs.uk/Livewell/c25k/Pages/...

[karenmac70 Graduate in reply to con-brio]

Thank you, I am going to get back to stretching more especially after the run and hopefully this will sort it out. Thanks for the advice!

[greenlegs Graduate]

The other, rather boring, suggestion, is to try running quite a bit more slowly for one run, to see if that affects your legs less. Some people (quite a few perhaps) need longer than 9 weeks for the muscles, tendons, bones etc to get used to the stresses and strains of running (heart and lungs apparently adapt faster).

[karenmac70 Graduate in reply to greenlegs]

Thanks will give it a try, haven't run for 30 years since I was at school so its quite possible they need more than 9 weeks to get used to it!!!

[suzybenj Graduate]

Good comments from green legs. I have never found running easy and have done plenty. Now way back at beginning on week 2 - but what I do know is that fab feeling of doing a run never goes away no matter how hard it feels. Well done on what u have achieved

[karenmac70 Graduate in reply to suzybenj]

Thank you.....I do feel good when I have achieved a run but just hoping that the fact I find it all such hard going doesn't put me off once I no longer have something to aspire too like graduating.