Week 7 - running slower with no running "high" - Couch to 5K

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Week 7 - running slower with no running "high"

ForbiddenPlanet profile image
ForbiddenPlanetGraduate
6 Replies

The 25 minute run for W6R3 was the first run I found quite hard. What surprised me was that a few hours afterwards it was as though someone had pressed my "off switch". I was like a zombie for the rest of the day.

So I studied online material and made changes, for example, to my hydration and diet for Week 7. I think the most significant change I made was that I started running more slowly - putting me outside the benchmark time for 5K / 30 minutes.

I am completing the Week 7 25 minutes runs with no problem at this slower pace, without being exhausted afterwards. But I do miss the after exercise high I was getting from the earlier weeks when I was running faster and which lasted all day.

I'm wondering if others have experienced this effect during the C25K programme?

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ForbiddenPlanet profile image
ForbiddenPlanet
Graduate
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6 Replies
Grannyhugs profile image
GrannyhugsGraduate

Glad you are still running but sorry you've temporarily lost the high , it will come back. Slowing down was definitely the right thing to do. Nobody says you should be on track for a 30min 5k at w6. You will be amazed how much stronger you get over next few weeks. At w6 I was aiming for a 50m 5k. Graduated last Thursday and managed 32 and a bit 5k yesterday. I'm 57 and hadn't run before started this in august. Have faith. I got an extra high just for running 5k, will get another one soon hopefully when I hit 30min 5k, you dont want all your highs to arrive on the same day 😉 happy running

ForbiddenPlanet profile image
ForbiddenPlanetGraduate in reply toGrannyhugs

Thank you. There's no way I was going to give up on the programme, and I realised that at age 62 I just have to dial back my expectations and be more sensible. I will take encouragement from your post that the high may return, in time.

Also, I suspect on age graded basis your 5K time is pretty good!

Grannyhugs profile image
GrannyhugsGraduate in reply toForbiddenPlanet

Just wait and see, make a note to post to me a week after graduation to tell me how much your timings have changed from this week. Happy running

SueAppleRun profile image
SueAppleRunGraduate

Those highs will come back and running for longer is tiring, just enjoy that you are able to and think back to week 1. I don’t know anyone who found it all easy

I love the longer runs we can do now and the time flies by even though we are slow runners

Grannyhugs profile image
GrannyhugsGraduate in reply toSueAppleRun

Slow is good. I was out with a walking group today of more "mature" people. Beautiful countryside, wonderful chats, covered 9.5km in 3 1/2 hrs. And we are aiming for half that distance but in 30mins - maybe puts our running speeds so early in our journey in perspective 😀

ForbiddenPlanet profile image
ForbiddenPlanetGraduate in reply toSueAppleRun

Thanks for your kind words. Yes it is lovely to be running my favourite walk, overtaking all the walkers, and thinking I used to be one of them.

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