Couch to 5k Week 6

granola26

Hi there,

I'm a bit of a newbie to this so any help is much appreciated!
I've been doing C25K for a couple of weeks now (I'm a treadmill user) and so far I've been doing great and I'm super proud of myself for getting this far!
Recently I've really been struggling to find motivation to do my runs and I've been stuck on week 6 for a while trying to repeat runs I'm struggling with such as the 25 minute with no break. I just feel a bit deflated. Any advice on how I can overcome this?

AmyRhubarb

Are you maybe trying to run too fast? Slow down, going as as slowly as needed to complete the time. If you still struggle with it, maybe try going back to week 5, then give week 6 a shot again?

c25k is a great program - made a runner out of me at the age of 43. You could also try changing things up to keep your mind off the minutes and motivate you a bit more? Add some music, or new songs if you've been using music thus far, changing up your route, even getting a new workout top or shorts can motivate me to get out there.

There is a group for c25k here on the boards as well - you might find some motivation and good tips there: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/47-couch-to-5k-running-program-c25k-

Good luck!

Ohhim

Sign up for a race... it'll keep you on track to finish in time for it.

thavoice

run outside. that breaks up the boredom and is more motivating

granola26

Thanks for the advice guys! I'd love to run outside I just don't have the self confidence to do it yet. There's not many places where I live that I can run as it's very towny. Will definitely try making different workout playlists though as I usually just listen to the radio but the ads can be very off putting! :-)

GillianMcK

Another one for running outside, I couldn't run on a treadmill for 10min never mind 25min without being bored out my skull.
You say you don't have the confidence to go outside, but try not to care what anyone else thinks, you're still lapping everyone sitting at home on the couch, or can you drive to a forest or similar and run there??
I combine my running with the dog getting his exercise, so we're always up the woods running (he get's fed up when we start doing circles and tries to head back to the carpark)!!
Search online for a running group that you could join, all of the one's I know of have runners of every ability, from people that are just starting to ultra runners to sprinters.

sloseph

i thought i'd feel stupid running outside especially at the beginning of the C25K where you're stopping and starting all the time but it turns out no one seems to pay any attention to me and even if they do it's only for a second and then i'm gone

more often then not i'm too busy in my own little world and end up forgetting about other people completely

is it that you are struggling with running for 25 minutes or is it more you're getting bored and mentally giving up because you can't be bothered? i remember when i did week 6 i thought it'd be a piece of cake, i'd already done 20 minutes what was 25 in comparison but i really struggled to keep out of my head while i was running, the voice that had been saying you can do it was very much saying '25 minutes! are you crazy, we can't do that, just go home and have a pie instead' my body felt fine but my mind was pretty against the idea, i think if i'd been on a treadmill i would have jacked it in about 10 minutes in but because i knew i was miles from my house stopping and walking wasn't going to make it stop any quicker

glenelliott5872

I remember week 6 being the tough one. Try running on a softer surface and running a bit slower. Running on grass rather than on tarmac. Outside is better than inside as there is no way to get off when you are 15 minutes away from home so you may as well run.

Stacyanne324

Hi there!! I will be doing week 6 day 2 a little later today and I am really enjoying the program. I have found the continued running is so much easier for me than the stop and start intervals. Once I get past that first 5 minutes and into a groove I can keep going much easier than the on and off again. This week I started the program on my off days with my daughter at her request and yesterday doing week one with 8 one minute intervals seemed like torture!

I second everyone else's advice to get outside. It makes a world of difference. I know how you feel about not wanting to run where people can see you but try to get over that and make it work because you will enjoy your runs so much more. In the 6 1/2 weeks I've been doing this I think I only did treadmill 2 or 3 times and it was horrible. So boring!!

MeanderingMammal

I've been doing C25K for a couple of weeks now

stuck on week 6

Can I just check, how long it's taken you to get to week six?

Are you taking a rest day between sessions or are you running consecutive days?

Notwithstanding the points upthread about pace, if you're not giving yourself time to recover then you may be a bit over-tired, or not adapting to the stresses that running places on you.

Koldnomore

My friend and I started this program just recently also. We are also on week 6, our long run is this Saturday. We also run outside, but I run on the treadmill quite regularly also. I will tell you that treadmill running is nothing like outside running. I can do half hour + on the treadmill easily but outside.. not so much.

The secret to doing this program if you have never done any running before is to go S.L.O.W.. I honestly walk faster than my running speed. It seems counterproductive but seriously..slow down and you will have no problem doing it. Speed comes over time. Run a little quicker when you do the 'short' runs and slow right down for the long ones.

We have not had to repeat a week yet, we do the program every second day and I also lift off days and do a much longer walk/jog in the morning of my C25k days.

BerryH

Another vote for getting outside (I often run from work in central London - you can't get much more urban than that!) and going slow. Really, really slow. No, even slower than that. Think walking pace but with a running motion. Once you've nailed it (and you will!), then and only then can you think about speeding up.

WalkingAlong

I don't have much advice but I agree with Kold that outdoors will be harder. And I totally sympathize but have never found anything for me that makes it easier including speed changes.

granola26

Thanks again guys! I'm just about to do a 25 minute run now on the treadmill again and see how I do at a much slower speed as I think the problem may be that I'm running too fast from the sounds of things! Also it's taken me 6 weeks to get this this point, I have my rest days (ocassionaly more than one if I'm particularly tired) but apart from that I've just been following the programme as instructed. I think on my next run I'll give outside a try as I've heard it's more of a physical challenge to run outdoors. Thanks again for all your helpful comments :-)

SueInAz

Thanks again guys! I'm just about to do a 25 minute run now on the treadmill again and see how I do at a much slower speed as I think the problem may be that I'm running too fast from the sounds of things! Also it's taken me 6 weeks to get this this point, I have my rest days (ocassionaly more than one if I'm particularly tired) but apart from that I've just been following the programme as instructed. I think on my next run I'll give outside a try as I've heard it's more of a physical challenge to run outdoors. Thanks again for all your helpful comments :-)

I hope it goes well for you. One trick if you can't get outside is to set the incline on the treadmill at 1%. That will help to simulate the resistance difference between running on a belt that's moving backwards and running on non-moving pavement.

singing13

One thing that I found helped me was, one (like everyone is saying)--going a lot slower than I thought I should be. Also, I found that alternating speeds between *really* slow and "regular" slow somehow helps my legs (and mind) from getting tired. (This is all running on a treadmill--almost to the point of taking my run outside..still trying to work up the courage. )
I've run a lot off and on through the years, and I could never push myself past running 2 miles straight. This time around with the c25k program, I tried this new way, and just finished week7, day1 with no problem!

granola26

Feeling proud of myself as I managed to do the 25 min run a lot easier that imagined! I really took it slow and turns out I must have been running too fast. I feel I've gained my courage and motivation back now and I'm even looking into booking a 5k run :-) Taking it in baby steps for now and will be venturing outside soon. Thanks for all your help again! Really needed that advice.

BerryH

Feeling proud of myself as I managed to do the 25 min run a lot easier that imagined! I really took it slow and turns out I must have been running too fast. I feel I've gained my courage and motivation back now and I'm even looking into booking a 5k run :-) Taking it in baby steps for now and will be venturing outside soon. Thanks for all your help again! Really needed that advice.

:flowerforyou: :drinker: