Which week did you find challenged you the most?
HannahsMother2012
Posts: 47 Member
im at week 4, and I'm finding it really hard! I know it's not supposed to be easy, and none of the weeks have been for me. This week though, is sooo tough! I'm not complaining, and I haven't given in, I've finished all my runs so far! Just wondering which week you all found to be the most difficult?
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However far you get in the programme that is the hardest week. Each week stretches you further than you thought possible. So look back about how you felt in weeks 1,2 and 3 and see how far you have progressed. A lot of the difficulty you are experiencing is about rewiring your brain, your body will cope, your mind is the weak link. You can always go slower. If you cannot talk to someone, recite a poem etc you are still going too fast. Give up trying to live up to how fast you expect runners to run, just complete the programme at YOUR pace. It works. I tried running too fast, first time out and injured myself and stopped. Second time out I tried the same thing, I got to week 5 day 1 before I stop living up to how fast I thought runners should run. It suddenly got a whole lot easier when I slowed down. I have now done a HM at a faster pace than I did W5D3 on 17 Jul 2014. You can do this, I have complete confidence in you.0
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Most difficult? I think it's looking at the schedule for the next session and wondering if I'll managed. I did W5D2 yesterday and was really worried about running for 8 minutes. But I managed it, and even one time more than in the plan. Now I'm worrying about running for 20 full minutes
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Most difficult? I think it's looking at the schedule for the next session and wondering if I'll managed. I did W5D2 yesterday and was really worried about running for 8 minutes. But I managed it, and even one time more than in the plan. Now I'm worrying about running for 20 full minutes
That's par for the course. Once into week 7, I started to believe it was all possible
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I'll get there
Somewhat annoyingly I'll go on a vacation in two weeks time. I'll still manage week 6 and 1-2 days of week 7, but then I'll be away for 10 days. I don't think I'll be running there as I'm going to Iran: wearing a manteau and headscarf are probably not so convenient, and being at rather high altitudes probably neither. 0 -
Week 5. No way did I think I could run for that long with no walking break. But I just kept telling myself that it is all mental. I can do it. And I did!
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I managed 20 minutes! The rest should be relatively easy now I know I can run for 20 minutes straight.0
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HannahsMother2012 wrote: »im at week 4, and I'm finding it really hard! I know it's not supposed to be easy, and none of the weeks have been for me. This week though, is sooo tough! I'm not complaining, and I haven't given in, I've finished all my runs so far! Just wondering which week you all found to be the most difficult?
I feel exactly the same as you do. The other weeks were tough but week 4 has been the worst to me so far. I plan on repeating week 4 in hopes that it'll get less difficult.0 -
I am on week 7 and this is the most difficult one for me. Long runs are challenging - my legs get heavy and I constantly think that it's ok to have a walking break in the middle. I am pretty sure it's mental, since it feels the worst around 10-15 min, but when I know that I did more than a half it gets easier...0
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I found the past weeks hard but I could finish without problem, but week 4 is more challenging, I did day 1 yesterday and running the 5 minutes parts was very difficult for me0
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Well, I've moved on to week 5, and it doesn't seem as difficult as week 4....YET! My next run is the 20 minute one, so we'll see!! Good luck everyone!0
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I just finished week 8 and on to week 9 tomorrow. I think week 7 was the toughest week for me. Its more mental than anything right now especially having to run on the treadmill.. I can't wait for it to warm up here in WI so I can run outside.
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I am re-doing week 3. I am doing this with a group and we all need to be comfortable to move on. I just hate the hill coming up and having to run that last 90 seconds.
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I just finished week 8 and on to week 9 tomorrow. I think week 7 was the toughest week for me. Its more mental than anything right now especially having to run on the treadmill.. I can't wait for it to warm up here in WI so I can run outside.
What is week9? My c25k app has only 8 weeks...0 -
I'm using the run double app so maybe it's a bit different? Week 9 is 30 minute runs. I just did my first 30 minute tonight and so happy that I was able to accomplish. 0
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There are Several different programs for C25K. The one that I am doing is 8 weeks, but where everyone else's has week 5 with a 20 min run, mine is 2.5 miles. My 20 minute run isn't until week 8, and then my next run day is 5K race day. I guess they figure, if I'm able to run 2.5 miles weeks 5&6, 3 miles week 7, and 20 minutes straight on week 8, then I'll be ready.
Just depends on which app you're going with! I'm starting my first week 2 run tonight, after work. 1.5 miles run/walk, running as much as possible.0 -
In 2013 I did the Zen Labs c25k which had 8 weeks in the programme. I was 48 yrs old and weighed over 14 stone when I started. I thought I would die several times during the 8 weeks, and repeated some weeks as well. I took part in a Boxing Day charity run of 4miles on 26/12/13 then took a break as I'd fallen in early Dec. I really struggled to get back into running in 2014 and never got back above 2 miles. I restarted this year after a break of about 7 months - although I've started gradually, aiming for 1, then 1.25 then 1.5 I've found that I am able to get back into it a bit easier this time around - but some days are still really hard work!! On Thursday i managed just over 2 miles, and am now aiming to be able to do 2.5 by the end of this month. I'm nearly 50, still overweight and have problems with my ankles caused by flat footedness, but I am SO proud of what I am doing and would say to anyone, you can do this, just listen to your body, take it slow and don't waste time worrying about what people might think of you - you're the one trying to do something for your health afterall. It is hard work, it's not a race, but it's SO worth it.0
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I just finished Week 7 and I've never felt so discouraged about running. Every single day I ended up taking at least 1 walking break. I still got about 2.5 miles done in 30 minutes each day, but my pace has slowed down substantially. I'm actually going to redo this week in hopes that I can get about 2.6 miles done.0
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Why not accept that you run slow? My best distance in 25 minutes so far has been just below 2 miles. But hey, I didn't need to walk and I can still work on speed later on.0
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steebsthegreat wrote: »I just finished Week 7 and I've never felt so discouraged about running. Every single day I ended up taking at least 1 walking break. I still got about 2.5 miles done in 30 minutes each day, but my pace has slowed down substantially. I'm actually going to redo this week in hopes that I can get about 2.6 miles done.
You're running further or longer, it's fine to slow down. If increasing distance or time didn't slow people down, Usain Bolt would also be a world record marathon runner.
Honestly if you're taking unplanned breaks, then slow down. Forget about distance and run by time. Once you're comfortable at 30min's of running, increase time running to 35 or 40, etc and do it again. With more running will come speed.0 -
steebsthegreat wrote: »I just finished Week 7 and I've never felt so discouraged about running. Every single day I ended up taking at least 1 walking break. I still got about 2.5 miles done in 30 minutes each day, but my pace has slowed down substantially. I'm actually going to redo this week in hopes that I can get about 2.6 miles done.
You're building endurance capacity, that takes time, consistency and effort. Speed comes with time on your feet. The point of the plan is to train you to keep moving, once you've cracked that and you're consistently running longer then you'll find that both your average pace improves, and your ability to push harder, for shorter periods, allows you to improve your short distance pace as well.0 -
I started day 1 today and I couldn't even finish it. I can only imagine what the rest of the weeks are going to be like!!0
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I started day 1 today and I couldn't even finish it. I can only imagine what the rest of the weeks are going to be like!!
I Finished week 6 today (22mins of non stop running). I was less winded, less tired, and not near as sweaty as I was during the first few weeks. You can do this!! Trust the program! 0 -
HannahsMother2012 wrote: »I started day 1 today and I couldn't even finish it. I can only imagine what the rest of the weeks are going to be like!!
I Finished week 6 today (22mins of non stop running). I was less winded, less tired, and not near as sweaty as I was during the first few weeks. You can do this!! Trust the program!
Crumbs, you've changed over the last few weeks. What a difference in confidence. You own this programme!!
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Week 6 Day 3 in my program was 10R 3W 10R and it almost killed me. I finished it but didn't feel confident AT ALL about the next day. Things got busy this week so I had to push Week 6 Day 3 (15R 3W 5R) back a few days. I ran Week 6 Day 3 this morning and I felt like a superstar! I think a little more rest, and a different playlist really changed everything!
If you ever feel like you can't do the next day, it's ok to give yourself an extra day to recover, but remember you just gotta TRY it anyway and see how it goes. I've been constantly surprising myself with this program! I've run 22.4 miles so far this month and I don't even understand how I did that willingly and happily lol.0 -
I am on week 7 and this is the most difficult one for me. Long runs are challenging - my legs get heavy and I constantly think that it's ok to have a walking break in the middle. I am pretty sure it's mental, since it feels the worst around 10-15 min, but when I know that I did more than a half it gets easier...
This is exactly what I found! My halfway mark is the worst once I'm past that I am ok., pretty sure its mental. Week 7 day 1 was my first terrible run I just didn't think I was going to be able to finish but I did and the next 2 runs were great. Today I'm on to week 8 day 1. I'm almost done I can run 28 mins now without stopping. My first 5k is in June so I'm going to focus on increasing distance and speed from now on.Good luck!0 -
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If you ever feel like you can't do the next day, it's ok to give yourself an extra day to recover, but remember you just gotta TRY it anyway and see how it goes. I've been constantly surprising myself with this program! I've run 22.4 miles so far this month and I don't even understand how I did that willingly and happily lol.
Well done for working it out, the programme works our programming is sometimes faulty. Pushing past the point the mind thinks it wants to stop is liberating. It is one of the fundamentals of the programme. Keep going you have it beatafrench050612 wrote: »I am on week 7 and this is the most difficult one for me. Long runs are challenging - my legs get heavy and I constantly think that it's ok to have a walking break in the middle. I am pretty sure it's mental, since it feels the worst around 10-15 min, but when I know that I did more than a half it gets easier...
This is exactly what I found! My halfway mark is the worst once I'm past that I am ok., pretty sure its mental. Week 7 day 1 was my first terrible run I just didn't think I was going to be able to finish but I did and the next 2 runs were great. Today I'm on to week 8 day 1. I'm almost done I can run 28 mins now without stopping. My first 5k is in June so I'm going to focus on increasing distance and speed from now on.Good luck!
Congratulations, look at Bridge to 10k as a logical follow on, it uses c25k as a base.
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Week 5 - day 3 specifically. It took me 3 or 4 weeks to work up to that 2 mile run without walking once I hit that point in the program; however, by the time I made it the full 2 miles, I was feeling great and kept on going all the way home for a total of 3.4! It felt amazing! I've since ditched the C25K program and am just working on continuing to hit that benchmark and increase my pace each time, which I have done twice now. One more week just proving to myself that I really can still make it that far, and I think I'll start a 5K improver plan. I signed up for a September 5K thinking it would take me that long to actually get there, but now I'm thinking, how cool would it be to actually be competitive in that race??!?! (I started out in January, pre-C25K, barely making it a minute on the treadmill without walking.)0
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