C25K..just keeps getting harder

tandroes

I'm on my 6th week of couch to 5k, but i messed up on week 5 last week and did the first day 3 times, so i'm doing week 5 over this week, but today is the second day and it says run 3/4 mile or 8 minutes! I mean, running 5 minutes has been hard! When did everyone else start feeling like it's super hard? I think running around the neighborhood is easier than the track because on the track i know exactly how much farther i have to run before i can stop. (my husband is doing it with me and times us on the street so i'm not constantly looking at the time) any advice on how to push through it?

auntv77

Are you running with music? Find your favorite 2 songs - that is about 8 minutes! And as a reward for finishing the week you get to download a new song? That is my reward for weight goals, fitness goals, etc. New music = new motivation!

wigglentwink

This is going to sound very strange, but stick with me.

When you start running longer distances, you have to be in the right "headspace." If you are thinking about time or distance, you are focusing on the wrong thing. Set the timer and think about anything else in the whole world. You have to be relaxed, drop your shoulders a little, breathe big and go for it. If you have to look at the timer, you will be pleasantly surprised about how far you went when you weren't focusing on it. I ran 4.89 MILES the other day doing just that...and I am a fatty!! Can you BELIEVE IT! Also, I usually like to run by myself since I am ultra competitive and don't like to be "behind" or slower than anyone. I find I run much faster on my own than I do in a group or with a partner. It's easier to zone out.

LessMe2B

Curios to know what people have to say here, as I'm just finishing week 2 and thinking week 3 looks like a big jump in running (3 minutes). :noway:

fridayjustleft04

I don't run for distance at all. I'm too slow, so I stick to time. I also use a podcast that tells you when to run and when to walk, which helps if looking at your watch is a problem for you. I personally like to see how much time I have left. Makes me concentrate on keeping my feet moving. I think so far, week 5 has been the hardest in terms of endurance. 8 minutes is a long time to run. (I'm on week 6). 20 minutes felt like forever, but you can do it. It's around week 4 or 5 that it becomes a mental challenge more than a physical one. Just keep telling yourself to keep your feet moving and you'll be fine. Don't worry about speed at all. C25k does get harder in some ways, but easier in others. I thought I would die after week 1 day 1, but running for a minute is easier..I mean, I can do at least 20 now. It's harder because it becomes mind over matter. If you can keep your feet moving when your head is screaming for you to stop, you've got it made.

ukhennin

Week 4, when you actually started running more than walking, is when it got hard for me. I also strained a calf muscle while strength training so that didn't help either. It still feels so good though when you finish a day that you didn't think you would make it through.

flea2449

I did the same thing you did on week 5! I'm glad I wasn't the only one! LOL!! Yes, it's hard but you have to be your own coach. Talk yourself through it and you will make it. I never would have thought I could jog 20 minutes straight, but I did it! You can do it!

kiwicakes

I used to jog a little bit when I was in college, so it didn't get hard for me until the 25 min run. I think it was W6D3, I was stuck on it for a week, I'm at W8D2 now, I'm sorry to say but it just doesn't get any easier...

What helped me though is running slowly, I think at one point I was running less than 5m/hr... but it helped me kept on running the whole time. Once you are able to go without stopping, you can then focus on speed.

Don't give up, just stick with it, eventually you will build endurance.

missxlaur

I just finished Day 2 of Week 4 and I find it to be very hard, but doable. I'm doing it on a treadmill and running between 6-6.5 mph for my running intervals, but I think that next week (Week 5) when I have to run for longer than 5 min I might slow it down a little. I also agree with the comment about the headspace. The more you think about the time or distance, the longer it takes to do. Literally think about anything else, sing your favorite workout songs out loud, watch tv, think about tv, do anything other than think about the time.

Hope that helps!

fridayjustleft04

Curios to know what people have to say here, as I'm just finishing week 2 and thinking week 3 looks like a big jump in running (3 minutes). :noway:

It is a big jump; that transition was probably the hardest for me, but you can do it, I promise!

CeejayGee

I got to week 4 and it was too hard. But yet, at the same time, I felt like C25K wasn't reallly pushing me enough. Strange that those things can exist at the same time...but, they did. I felt like they were requiring too much in terms of time intervals, but that I could have done a lot more shorter intervals for a longer period of time overall. So, I just started doing my own thing - running really short intervals for a long period of time. In a few weeks, I'll probably go back to C25k, but not yet. I'm also jus tworking on endurance in walking - how can I expect to run 5k if I can't comfortably walk it, etc. This past week I walked 3-4 miles every single day, just working on endurance. At some point, I"ll add the "speed" of running.

missxlaur

What helped me though is running slowly, I think at one point I was running less than 5m/hr... but it helped me kept on running the whole time. Once you are able to go without stopping, you can then focus on speed.

AGREED

jennyocox

I'm on week 3. I just look straight ahead and focus on the end of the road and my breathing. I actually find it relaxing to focus on my breathing. I can't listen to music because I get too distracted and when I get distracted I'm more likely to get hurt

I agree with the 'concentrate on something else' theory though. The more I check the time the harder it seems to be. If I focus on distance instead I find it easier.

tandroes

that's a good idea.. i run with my husband though so i'd feel bad... but we could both use our ipods...

Atlantique

Week 5 was hard for me as well. I had to really slow down, which was difficult to do running outdoors. That's the one good thing about a treadmill--you can set a reasonable pace and keep it!

Britt22706

When I did C25k I was never a runner, but I powered through this! You can do it!! BIG TIP: don't run faster than your body will allow you, If you start to feel tired, slooooow on down. Your body will eventually get used to it and be able to run at a faster pace for longer, but for now, I would just go just faster than a fast walk, and you should be able to do the entire time!

JRena225

I'm on week 2 day 2 and thought I was gonna die the first time I started lol. And when I went to week 2, I was like oh no, they done added another 30 seconds!!! But i'm doing it and thats the main thing!

JenBrown0210

I absolutely loved couch two 5k. It is the reason I can now run a 5k. I didn't follow the program exactly though. I found it hard to run and then stop and then run. So at week 4 I started running for about 10 minutes then walk 2 run 10. . I did that then just ran a littles longer each week. It took me a total of 7 weeks to be able to run for 30 minutes. I found it horrible waiting for it to tell me stop running. I hope this helps!

MizzDoc

Well I am here to say it does not get any easier. But I will say that with each segment/day that you do, your endurance gets better and better. So in time, the intervals won't be as much as a physical demand but more of a mental demand.

I have read many websites, forums, blogs, etc. about C25K and people's progress. In the end, many of them say it is mind over matter. The program is designed to push you 'just a little bit more' day by day, week by week. Now I NEVER thought I would be able to jog for 25 min straight but here I am doing it (well almost doing it, lol).

You do have to stick with it though. Don't focus on time, or speed, or even distance. Been there, done that, and it doesn't help. Only serves to psyche you out and make you more nervous. Just stick with the program, watch your pace (don't go too fast or to slow- which can be an issue as well), and stay focused.

Music is always good or you can download the millions of individual made podcasts that coach you through the intervals.

I am currently finished with Week 7. But I have had such a hard time finishing the 25 min. without stopping, I plan to do W7D3 over again. I find this week to be super hard for some reason. Sometimes you have to repeat and that is okay too. But trust, if I can do this (jiggly booty and all this weight), then YOU can to!

tandroes

This is going to sound very strange, but stick with me.

When you start running longer distances, you have to be in the right "headspace." If you are thinking about time or distance, you are focusing on the wrong thing. Set the timer and think about anything else in the whole world. You have to be relaxed, drop your shoulders a little, breathe big and go for it. If you have to look at the timer, you will be pleasantly surprised about how far you went when you weren't focusing on it. I ran 4.89 MILES the other day doing just that...and I am a fatty!! Can you BELIEVE IT! Also, I usually like to run by myself since I am ultra competitive and don't like to be "behind" or slower than anyone. I find I run much faster on my own than I do in a group or with a partner. It's easier to zone out.

you are right... every time i find myself thinking about other things, i'm always further than i think i am

MizzDoc

I'm on week 2 day 2 and thought I was gonna die the first time I started lol. And when I went to week 2, I was like oh no, they done added another 30 seconds!!! But i'm doing it and thats the main thing!

^5!

And that is exactly how you have to look at it. Just get out there and do it. Take each segment, one by one, and do them the best you can. Your body, amazingly, will do the rest!

I remember I almost fell out on W1D1, lol. How would have thunk it?

tandroes

I don't run for distance at all. I'm too slow, so I stick to time. I also use a podcast that tells you when to run and when to walk, which helps if looking at your watch is a problem for you. I personally like to see how much time I have left. Makes me concentrate on keeping my feet moving. I think so far, week 5 has been the hardest in terms of endurance. 8 minutes is a long time to run. (I'm on week 6). 20 minutes felt like forever, but you can do it. It's around week 4 or 5 that it becomes a mental challenge more than a physical one. Just keep telling yourself to keep your feet moving and you'll be fine. Don't worry about speed at all. C25k does get harder in some ways, but easier in others. I thought I would die after week 1 day 1, but running for a minute is easier..I mean, I can do at least 20 now. It's harder because it becomes mind over matter. If you can keep your feet moving when your head is screaming for you to stop, you've got it made.

i have definitely experienced this already and i think of every reason why i need to stop but don't let myself...

bassettpig

It seems to me I have read that it is perfectly acceptable to repeat any week or weeks that seems very hard in this program. That would be my advice, for what it's worth.

As others have said, and also from personal experience, it is all a matter of perspective. There comes a day where your EASY run is what your HARD run used to be--you'll realize that and go "holy cow! I made it!"

mosneakers

This is going to sound very strange, but stick with me.

When you start running longer distances, you have to be in the right "headspace." If you are thinking about time or distance, you are focusing on the wrong thing. Set the timer and think about anything else in the whole world. You have to be relaxed, drop your shoulders a little, breathe big and go for it. If you have to look at the timer, you will be pleasantly surprised about how far you went when you weren't focusing on it. I ran 4.89 MILES the other day doing just that...and I am a fatty!! Can you BELIEVE IT! Also, I usually like to run by myself since I am ultra competitive and don't like to be "behind" or slower than anyone. I find I run much faster on my own than I do in a group or with a partner. It's easier to zone out.

This is awesome advice and I totally agree!!

I had to repeat week 5 and never thought I would get through it - it was way too much. But, I stopped looking at the clock and just wanted to finish it! Today, I finished up week 8. There was something that happened - and I think it was around week 5 - it's hard to explain it, but something clicked! I was a runner! I had never been a runner and now I was! I was committed to something and I wanted to finish it. (Not to scare you, but) today I was to run 28 minutes non stop. I ran 30. I pushed myself to make a nice round number - it felt amazing.

There is no magic formula here. When you want to stop, slow down a little. No one is going to think any differently of you and you will be continuing to run. Not stopping is the best thing you can do (unless you are in utter pain and you feel that something is wrong). Sweat is not wrong - telling your body to push through it is not wrong - repeating week 5, 6, etc is not wrong! You can do it!

Vhovell

This Couch to 5k sounds really good...is it a programme or could someone let me know where to find more information? I'm currently on Day 2 of 100miles/100day challenge and today jog/walked 1 mile in 15.25 minutes so i am really interested in the C25k

Any information greatly appreciated!

Good luck to all you sound like you're doing great!

UpToAnyCool

I thought I was going to die during Week 5.

I did two things when I thought the runs were getting too challenging:

- repeat the run more than the 3x (the program I used said to do each run 3x, w/ the exception of those runs that really bump up mileage during Week 5 and 6 - i think those are broken down into 3 diff. runs per week)

- slow it down

Running really slowly might not sound appealing, but it's how I was able to do the Couch to 5K and improve. :flowerforyou:
I know you can do it! I'm a slow jogger, but I've since done a few 10K all trail runs, etc. and managed not to not die!! :laugh:

tandroes

This Couch to 5k sounds really good...is it a programme or could someone let me know where to find more information? I'm currently on Day 2 of 100miles/100day challenge and today jog/walked 1 mile in 15.25 minutes so i am really interested in the C25k

Any information greatly appreciated!

Good luck to all you sound like you're doing great!

you can google it... the one i found is a 9 week running program... i think it will be really great once i get through it lol

UpToAnyCool

... i think it will be really great once i get through it lol

it was literally the 'gateway drug' to exercise and running for me - no joking! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

TheMaidOfAstolat

If you want some inspiration...read the books by Dean Karnazes. If you read one chapter a week...it will keep you going. My 'signature' is one of his quotes...I try to live by it. I have a 5k I am doing on Saturday...it's on a mountain and the temp is supposed to be in the upper 80's...I will have this quote in my head throughout the race. Remember...pain and struggle is fleeting...but glory is eternal.

tandroes

Thank you for all of your responses everybody.... i will remember all these things tonight when i feel like my feet and lungs are on fire and i want to quit! hopefully i will have the same success story a lot of you have! i have never been a runner (and i still don't like it) but i hope i feel differently at the end of this and am able to keep going farther...

ardeornellis

I have the c25k app on my droid phone.. I also play my favorite music.. I am on week 4 day 2. I have completed the program in the past... Like others have said, it is mind over matter!!! I try to think about something else while I'm running and I don't allow myself to look at my watch. I just listen for the ding.. If it's getting hard I just keep telling myself that I'm not going to die, and wait for the ding:)... If I look at the clock and watch the time tick down, it takes FOREVER!! Learn to watch around you, the sunrise or sunset... God's beautiful creation all around. I have to zone out and go to that place, otherwise it's like watching water heat to a boil....