week 6 - need advice!

darkling_glory

Okay everyone, I need your wisdom... up until now I've been cruising along on the program. I haven't had to repeat anything.

Yesterday I attempted w6d2 and utterly bombed it. Couldn't even finish the first 10 minutes. I chalked it up to a combo of too big a lunch and too much heat.

Today I made sure to drink a lot of water and went out again. It went a little better. Made it through the first ten ok. Then I got to the second interval and started feeling it. Made it 7 minutes before I had to walk the rest of the way.

So... are these just flukes? A couple bad days weather-wise? Should I push on to day 3 or repeat day 2? I feel like I rocked that 20 minute run and don't know why I'm struggling now.

Thanks in advance!

Rays_Wife

Honestly if I were you, I would take a rest day then go on to day 3 of this week. No need to torture yourself again. If you made it through the 20 minute run last week just fine, and were able to run the majority of todays runs you should be able to do W6D3 run which is 25 minutes straight. Reason being at around week 5 I found it easier to run continuously than break my stride once I got on a roll. Sometimes the stopping and starting can really mess with you. Luckily from here on out, you no longer have walking breaks. Aside from the warm up and cool down, it's straight running.

Also you will have good and bad days of running. Some days I felt light as a feather and great, full of energy and bounce. Other days I felt like my legs were heavy as lead and I was struggling to put one foot in front of the other. When you feel like you are starting to struggle during a run, just focus on your breath. Don't gasp for air, relax yourself and get a rhythm to your breathing in time with your foot strikes. And SLOW DOWN if you have to. Unless you truly have pain or feel faint, just keep moving. It doesn't matter how fast you go - endurance comes first. Running is more of a mental game than anything. I would focus on getting to the next mailbox, the next tree, the next telephone pole. Don't think about how far you have left to go. Really get in tune with how you feel running and try to enjoy your body moving.

Great job getting so far! You are doing wonderful. Just remember to hydrate well, have a light snack about an hour before you go and not a big meal You can do it! Friend me if you like, I just completed the program today.

darkling_glory

Honestly if I were you, I would take a rest day then go on to day 3 of this week. No need to torture yourself again. If you made it through the 20 minute run last week just fine, and were able to run the majority of todays runs you should be able to do W6D3 run which is 25 minutes straight. Reason being at around week 5 I found it easier to run continuously than break my stride once I got on a roll. Sometimes the stopping and starting can really mess with you. Luckily from here on out, you no longer have walking breaks. Aside from the warm up and cool down, it's straight running.

Thanks, Andrea! That's what I was leaning towards. So, I think that I will move on to day 3.

And congrats to you for finishing the program! Very exciting!

lizo11

I agree that taking a day off and then going into day three should be fine. Strangely, that was the same place I got hung up on when I did it the first time around.

Try to remember to take it one day at a time, and you will be fine!

darkling_glory

Thanks, Liz! It's nice to have this support group! And I wouldn't have done it without you! *smooch*

darkling_glory

I DID IT!

Got up at 5am this morning, put on some Britney, and went to it! 22 minutes non-stop running! I felt great at the end, too. Tired, but not like I was going to die.

My hubby gave me some tips to help my breathing, but I think morning runs are just more my speed. I like running on an empty stomach, and the temps were just gorgeous. 65-ish and cool.

GOOD-BYE intervals! Hello long runs!

Jaccyber

Wonderful job. Great job on your achievement. :drinker:

cobracars

Good job! Yeah, today in Chicago you're better off doing it early this morning. I did mine at 6:00am but i'm only in the middle of week 3.
I've been walking 2 miles on the days in-between, but when I get to the later weeks I may change to complete rest on the days I am not doing the c25k.