Stuck in week 5 of the C25K

anitagirl8
anitagirl8 Posts: 9 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Started doing the C25K for the first time and it was going well till I hit week 5. I just can seem to jog five minutes. I have already done week 5 twice and starting to feel really frustrated. Any recommendation on how I should proceed? Has anyone had the same experience? I'm weigh more than 200 lbs and have never run before. I have excellect running shoes as I had shoe fitting with gait analysis.

Replies

  • ozigal
    ozigal Posts: 173 Member
    I did Week 5, day 1 yesterday and found it okay. I was expecting it to be much worse. I actually had a heap of energy left over and ended up running a set of 5x200 metre sprints afterwards.

    Weight wise I am 182lbs. I did all the gait analysis and new shoes back in week 2. I had problems running week 1, day 2. I couldnt get any breath into my lungs at all and my legs felt like they couldnt go any further. When I went back and looked at my stats I realised that I had been trying to run it too fast so I slowed the pace on my next run and all was okay.

    All I can suggest is to slow down. It isnt a race. It's about getting the timing in and if you have got this far, you CAN do it. I found this on the net a few days ago and it's been really helpful for me to put things into perspective:

    http://couch-to-5k.livejournal.com/850437.html

    Hopefully this might help you as well.
  • ashlinmarie
    ashlinmarie Posts: 1,263 Member
    The thing with running is that it is a mental battle as much as a physical one. Even seasoned runners can struggle. That being said, I have used a few different tools to over come those battles. First, I tell myself that I can do it. When I get tired or sore, I repeat in my heard a simple mantra...I can do it, I can do it ....just a little further. I started running at 185 pounds. It is all about pushing yourself and being positive and reaping the rewards when I complete a run. Sure, I have bad days, but the important thing is that I push past it and keep going further. If you can't do the 5, aim for 3 or 4 and try to push past it.
  • wilmaln
    wilmaln Posts: 36 Member
    It took me about a year and a half to finish all 9 weeks! Or better, as you, I was never a runner, I actually hated to run long distance! But about 2 years ago a good friend of mine introduced me to C25K (the British NHS one). We started together, but having less weight to loose it was easier for me, and we kept interrupting. Then after about a year, I started by myself, and managed to go further. Then other "problems" occurred (I think I was using excuses to drop out). At last just before last summer I put my head to it and tried. At the end of the week, even if I thought I could go on to the next one, I just did. And by last Autumn I had finished the plan and moved on to C25K+!
    What I mean is.... the next time, give week 6 a try. Start very slowly, even if it feels like you are walking fast rather than running, and just try and get to the end. If it works, repeat for day 2, and on day 3 maybe just try and up a bit the last run. While I was running, sometimes even the prams were faster than me! But I ignored their speed and followed my speed :-)
    As an alternative, you could try and download a different week 5. Maybe the music on your makes you run faster than you should? It's just an idea... :-)
    I have just finished week 1, after having stopped completely during the winter due to the snow and ice on the roads. It's incredible, but having run two months for 30 minutes, 3 times a week, and then stopping for over 5 months... I lost all the training! Oh well, at least now I know I can actually do it!

    Good luck :-)

    ln
  • anitagirl8
    anitagirl8 Posts: 9 Member
    Thank you for your comments. I wil try as some you all have recommended

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