Stuck on week 5 run 3

[Southernrunner]

I am stuck in week 5 limbo, i did run 1 and run 2 twice so that i felt ready to progress to the next run. I have tried run 3 three times. At around 10 minutes my calves are so sore that the only thing to do is stop and stretch then get going again, the first attempt i only stopped about 30 seconds then had a further 10 second walk at around 17 minutes but ran the rest. The second attempt was worse, I had a deep tissue massage the day before and my legs were agony. Today I ran 11 minutes then pain pain pain and although i ran another 5 minutes i mostly just went for a walk. I am stretching, hydrated, have well fitted shoes and taking rest days. Any suggestions? Is this just muscle fatigue because I'm not used to running and carrying 15kg more than last time I did the programme? Do I stay on this run and just try and increase till i get to 20 minutes then move to week 6? I could run more than 20 minutes just not all in 1 go!!

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

Take a couple of rest days or even 3 and then go again, run as slow as you can from the start so you can carry on running for the time. You have done so well so far.

Even after over 3 years running , if I set off too fast (and fast for me I mean) I struggle to keep going for 20 minutes.

Oh, and something that helped me a lot was squats, start with just a couple if you find them hard but do that couple every day until you can increase the number. I do 10 at a time but several times a day and over time my legs are stronger

Most of all, have fun and don’t beat yourself up, to run at all is a huge achievement 😀

[Comte Graduate]

First of all, never run in pain. It is perfectly OK to run for a time and if there is pain to stop and walk. Once earlier on this year, I developed a pain in the knee while running, which is unusual for me, so I took an Uber home. With calf pain you may be running too fast so slow down and also take plenty of days rest between runs. Two or three days rest or more if necessary, between runs.

[Dendev75 Graduate]

well done so far! 👏🏻 How fast do you run? Could you slow down your pace? I thought I had a slow pace until I was asked (on here) ‘can you comfortably hold a conversation?’. As a lone runner it felt too weird to talk to myself so I decided to see if I could sing along with my music and I couldn’t. I consciously slowed down my pace further. I also read, on here, that not just stretching before a run but dynamic stretching is the safest way to keep injury free. I tried various ones on YouTube and I make sure I do dynamic stretches before every run and I also do some post run stretches when I return, so far so good. 🤞🏻

[Southernrunner]

I think the virus that snuck up on my later in the day was a lot of the answer to the problems in the last run. Wicked muscle aches. Having a few rest days and will take all the strength and flex tips into account for attempt number 4. Thanks for your support