Today's run sucked! What am I doing wrong?
PandaCustard
Posts: 204 Member
I'm on week 3 of the Couch-to-5k. After a brutal first day, it's been going pretty well since. However, today sucked.
I did the 5 minute warm-up walk then jogged for 90 seconds, no problems whatsoever. I then did the 90 seconds walking and headed into the 3 minutes jogging. Felt okay after that too, a bit more tired but not feeling horrible. After the 3 minutes walking I went back into the 90 seconds jogging and hit a wall. My legs felt so weak, like they were going to give out underneath me. I had to stop after 60 seconds. I decided to give myself a little more time walking after that, so I walked for a minute and a half and set into jogging again. Hit the wall again and could only go for 30.
The problem isn't that I'm out of breath (though I am breathing pretty hard). My legs just feel so weak. When I was nearly back home I felt like I was going to collapse, not from exhaustion but from weakness. The other problem is that my legs are the strongest and most muscular part of my body. So what am I doing wrong? Should I eat more carbs (ate 146 out of my allotted 296 yesterday)? Am I not drinking enough water (drank a huge glass before the run and my entire water bottle during)?
I did the 5 minute warm-up walk then jogged for 90 seconds, no problems whatsoever. I then did the 90 seconds walking and headed into the 3 minutes jogging. Felt okay after that too, a bit more tired but not feeling horrible. After the 3 minutes walking I went back into the 90 seconds jogging and hit a wall. My legs felt so weak, like they were going to give out underneath me. I had to stop after 60 seconds. I decided to give myself a little more time walking after that, so I walked for a minute and a half and set into jogging again. Hit the wall again and could only go for 30.
The problem isn't that I'm out of breath (though I am breathing pretty hard). My legs just feel so weak. When I was nearly back home I felt like I was going to collapse, not from exhaustion but from weakness. The other problem is that my legs are the strongest and most muscular part of my body. So what am I doing wrong? Should I eat more carbs (ate 146 out of my allotted 296 yesterday)? Am I not drinking enough water (drank a huge glass before the run and my entire water bottle during)?
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Replies
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You're going to have your ups & downs as you progress. I don't drink a lot right before I run. Hydration needs to be done in advance. For me, I'll get up, have a protein shake & a bottle of water or two, then wait for 30 minutes or so before I get ready to run. Then I'll have a small cup of water about 10 minutes before I run & I'll chew a piece of gum right before I run. Also, an extra day off every now & then doesn't hurt, because you may have been tired from something you did the day before.0
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Try slowing down a bit. That should do the trick.0
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Don't get frustrated. You have to build up endurance and that takes time. I had this happen a lot during c25k. Just mark it as a success, enjoy your rest day, and keep a positive attitude for your next run. Not every run is a good run. Some of them are just miserable and I question my sanity!0
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All runners have bad days. When I was running there were days I would have a great time, feel great after the run and enjoy. Every once and a while I would do the same route and the run just totally sucked. I felt winded, I couldn't get my stride and it was not fun. It happens. Don't worry about this run and make the next great.
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Thanks for the suggestions. I'll give both a try. I drank right before I ran so I'll try to wait next time around. I also did some rebounding and strength training yesterday and my legs were on fire afterwards. I'll also try slowing up some... I noticed I was going faster than my snail's pace today, haha. 0
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running has its good days and its bad days. could be a number of factors.....hydration, nutrition, mental, stress/exhaustion, etc. Don't get discouraged, rest up, and be ready to hit the next day of C25k with a vengeance!0
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Yes, all runners have good and bad days. You could also just be tired/worn out if you did a rigorous weight lifting routine the day before. I'm not familiar with the program you're doing but be sure to give your body time to recover. I've noticed my best runs are often when I haven't been out for a few days.0
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Yes, all runners have good and bad days. You could also just be tired/worn out if you did a rigorous weight lifting routine the day before. I'm not familiar with the program you're doing but be sure to give your body time to recover. I've noticed my best runs are often when I haven't been out for a few days.
I usually do it three days a week. The last two it's been Monday-Wednesday-Friday, and this week it's been Tuesday-Thursday so far. Think I should slip in one extra rest day this week?0 -
If I drink too much water, I'm done before I start!0
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If your run sucks, that means you're doing it right. I hate running. I do it alot for the positive effects (and that it's mandatory for me), but I don't have to like it.
On a serious note, some days just suck. No rhyme or reason. Keep at it.0 -
Similar things have happened to me working through a similar program. I actually made my 6 week program a 12 week program and just repeated each week two times before moving to the next because I wasn't sure how my quickly my fitness would improve. Whenever I had crappy days like this, I just made sure to maintain the cardio workout for the full time by slowing the pace or switching to walking at a faster pace or even biking. One other thing that I did that made a big difference for me was concentrate on strengthening my legs early in the program for 3 days a week - leg curls, squats with medicine ball, and lunges. Now, some days I will go into the gym feeling like the run is going to suck before I get started, but then it turns out great or the other way around.
Good luck.0 -
we all have bad runs. i find im at my best early morning weekends. im well rested & my mind is mostly clear. those days, i feel as if i could run forever.
happy running!0 -
Some runs suck. They suck because of what you ate (or didn't), what you drank (or didn't), how you slept (or didn't sleep), how stressed (or not stressed) you are, how hot (or cold) it is, whether Jupiter is in alignment with the sun (or the moon's cycle or possibly the distance of the earth from the sun), and sometimes, runs suck because it's Thursday and Thursday is a sketchy day at best.
It doesn't mean you've done something wrong, it means that one of your runs sucked. Don't look at an individual instance and assume you've done something wrong. Look for a trend.0 -
Thanks for the advice and encouragement, everyone. It means a lot. I've *never* been a runner before (minus running some in soccer when I was 8 and the couple of laps we did when I was in karate) so this is a whole new world for me. I definitely won't quit at this point... I don't remember the last time I was able to go so far. 0
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To me it sounds like you brought your body to the point of exhaustion. I'd say your doing it right!!!
your legs will get better, don't worry.
and as was stated, if you need to slow down, do it.0 -
All runners experience bad runs. Its a reality that we all share. Put in perspective, its bad runs that make those great runs special.
If you are only running every other day, I wouldn't add any more rest days but rather examine possible other reasons for having had a bad day.
Did you have a bad lunch day? Not enough protein? Too much protein? Upset stomach? Didn't sleep well? Life happens.
In the same vane, examine the reasons to run. Life Happens, and the stress relief and endorphins released by running will leave you better equipped to handle the negative aspects. I find I am an immensely more positive person when I can squeeze in those runs. Did you know that runners live on average 7 years longer than people who don't run? That number increases greatly when its you, a non runner and a grizzly :laugh:
Keep it fresh... try not to run the same route every time out. A change of scenery is often helpful in keeping you motivated. This is the very reason I can't run on a treadmill... it's boring. Some of my best runs are those that add an element of adventure (i.e. running up Johnson Canyon near Jasper was one of my favorite runs... challenging and the wilderness was breathtaking)
Run with a friend... if you can't find a friend to run with, consider Run Clubs at your local running store. Running can be a great social experience and gives you someone to talk with. It's great therapy. In Canada, Running Room has a free run club on Wednesdays and Sundays. Everyone is welcome! I believe most chain running stores offer similar programs as well.
Never be discouraged by what you have done... at least you have had the strength to do it. Take a few minutes, examine your reasons for a bad run, and then discard the negative aspect because it's all behind you. Remember, you've still run further than that person who has never left the couch.
Keep it up! Running is awesome and so are you for trying!0 -
in my experience, some days running 7 miles is easy peasy. And other days, running just one is brutal. I don't know why this happens. I bet there's a lot of factors. I just chalk it up to that's how it is.0
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Years ago, I read an article about running - it said for every 5 runs, one will be fantastic; three will be ho-hum ok; and one will really suck. Hey, if it were easy, don't you think everyone would be out running 5k's?!
And I second the recommendation to slow down. Most new runners miss the mark on pacing, heading out way too fast. At this point, it isn't about speed, it's about building endurance. The speed will come after your body is used to the 5k.0 -
I would also suggest slowing down. Likewise, I will echo many others by saying we all have very bad running days. That is typical for runners of every level.0
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I second slowing down. I'd also add that I've been running for 15 years and some runs are just bad for no discernible reason! You have to put it behind you and move on.
If you find the whole of this week on C25K tough, there's no reason why you can't repeat it, then the next step up will feel that much easier.0 -
My suggestion is to keep a log/journal for your run days. Quickly jot down what you've eaten/drank and the time. Maybe note if you are feeling tired or had a tough workout the day before. Then do your run, and record how you felt during the run. I did that in the beginning to find the trend for me. Now I know what I need to do to enjoy each and every run, and I can predict a bad day so I don't feel terrible if my prediction is true.
edit to add:
My idea of a bad day is a lack of energy and doing a short distance, which isn't that bad really. I always enjoy the run, but on my "bad" day the enjoyment is short lived because I run out of steam. 0 -
I'm on week 3 of the Couch-to-5k. After a brutal first day, it's been going pretty well since. However, today sucked.
I did the 5 minute warm-up walk then jogged for 90 seconds, no problems whatsoever. I then did the 90 seconds walking and headed into the 3 minutes jogging. Felt okay after that too, a bit more tired but not feeling horrible. After the 3 minutes walking I went back into the 90 seconds jogging and hit a wall. My legs felt so weak, like they were going to give out underneath me. I had to stop after 60 seconds. I decided to give myself a little more time walking after that, so I walked for a minute and a half and set into jogging again. Hit the wall again and could only go for 30.
The problem isn't that I'm out of breath (though I am breathing pretty hard). My legs just feel so weak. When I was nearly back home I felt like I was going to collapse, not from exhaustion but from weakness. The other problem is that my legs are the strongest and most muscular part of my body. So what am I doing wrong? Should I eat more carbs (ate 146 out of my allotted 296 yesterday)? Am I not drinking enough water (drank a huge glass before the run and my entire water bottle during)?
You are doing nothing wrong, it was just a bad training day.
What really counts is how you handle that bad day, are you going to persevere or are you going to get disheartened.
Your training sessions will go through cycles like this throughout your life, you can never, ever expect to have great sessions every single time.
Just put this particular session down to a bad day, why that bad day occurred is anybody's guess, from you being slightly under the weather to the heat or the cold (depending on the temperatures where you are) to what you ate (or did not eat), to how much sleep you got (or did not get)..... hell, the list is virtually endless.
Now do you see just how many possibilities can interrupt your previous great sessions.
Just continue, it is all part of your training.0 -
Do you use any sort of tracking app for your runs, other than C25K? I use MapMyRun, which is a gps program that keeps track of distance, average speed, current speed, time, etc. and plots it all on a map. It was SO helpful for me when I first started because I could simply take a look at my phone to check my pace and adjust my run accordingly. A lot of runners, even experienced ones, sometimes struggle with pacing, so a real-time program that keeps track of it can be a huge help. It also keeps track of all your workouts and sends a weekly summary, so you can see your improvement over time. And as a bonus, it's a free download in the app store for iPhones and Droids! Keep your chin up and try not to get too discouraged by one bad day. You got out there and got moving, and that is what's important!0
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a lot of people have already said this, but I feel it bears repeating. All runners have bad days. It doesn't matter how many miles you log you will never put bad days behind you. The more conditioned your legs, heart, and lungs become you will most definitely have fewer. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other. It sounds super cheesy, but when it comes to running it's all you can really do if you want to be successful.0
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Do you use any sort of tracking app for your runs, other than C25K?
I don't, only because I don't have an iPhone or an Android. I plotted the route on Google maps, so I'm currently doing 2 miles for each running day this week, and each run takes 25-35 minutes depending on how slow or fast I'm going that day. I guess that's not terrible... before I started I could barely walk/jog a mile!0 -
How much are you eating? You may not have enough fuel for your body.0
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How much are you eating? You may not have enough fuel for your body.
It depends on the day. High-end about 1700 to 1800, low end about 1300-1400. Since I've started I've had two eating days that weren't good in my book... one was 2100 and the other was 800 (really tried to eat more, I just couldn't!! ><) It usually just depends on how hungry I am each day. I notice I eat more on my strength-training days than my cardio days.0 -
Could be anything and people react differently to different methods/tricks/situations. Is it hotter today than normal? My legs feel like cement sometimes when it's hot/humid.....so like right now, it's been around 105 in the evenings when I normally run, so I've switched to running in the early AM.
I also like to have a GU pack or a tablespoon of peanut butter about 15-20 minutes before I run as the carbs give me a little "kick" of energy. After a long run (more than 45 minutes) I have 8 oz of low fat chocolate milk as a recovery drink...this helps (for me, anyway) replace the glycogen I burned during my run and makes the next days run that much easier. 0 -
How much are you eating? You may not have enough fuel for your body.
I would somewhat disagree that this is your problem when you are just beginning running and not on workouts that are intense for over an hour. Just my opinion.
I think running in general you have good days and bad days. You may have not ate well for the week, may have drank alcohol three days ago, not slept well, stress at home or work, weather may have just been bad, you can guess and guess and simply may just not have been a good day. It could be diet, hormonal, stress, attitude, so many factors could come into play.
What I find, is my worse runs are followed by some of my best. It takes the lows to appreciate the highs. I worked hard when I first started running to race a 12K about 2 months after I started running. It went well. Three days later, I set out for a run, and fell... my first and only ever fall. I was bloody, bruised, hurting... I went seeking answers... what "I" found out, was that really with me, it was my body was more fatigued than I'd given it credit for being. I had let my form down, not had a lot of body awareness, mentally didn't focus. I learned a valuable lesson, that if I start out on a run, and just am not "getting it" - I will return and head out a different day. I brain train my running and follow my body's lead. It's made me a better, safer, my aware runner.
I don't do a lot of carb kicking before I run, mainly because I think our bodies get used to and train to what we know about them. I read a great article on whether cyclists really needed to fuel, and the summary of the article was IF you train you body to want it - you will need it, but if you train w/o them, your body will work more efficiently. I generally don't fuel until mile 10 of a 20 mile run and may have some caffeine just to get me out the door with a cup of coffee, it helps me get my body going a little "faster" for response to my running.0 -
How much are you eating? You may not have enough fuel for your body.
I would somewhat disagree that this is your problem when you are just beginning running and not on workouts that are intense for over an hour. Just my opinion.
I will second that opinion.0
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