"Learning to Run"-open support group

Just beginning to run using the C25K training. Looking forward to reading about everyone's success in this group.

I've been getting really discouraged lately, so I'm hoping someone can give me the benefit of their experience with this issue. First some background:

I'm a slow runner. Always have been, always will be. This is the first time in my life that I've actually taken up running as a sport on its own and I'm 45 years old. I started in April. My pace is usually a 12 minute mile (and I can't seem to do much better!). I run in intervals. I was running 3 minutes and walking 1 minute. My heart rate would usually get into the 170-175 range during my run intervals and then drop into 150-155 by the end of each walking interval.

Then last Wednesday I gave blood. Since then, I can't run more than 2 minutes without my heart rate hitting 178-180 and it takes me nearly 2 minutes of walking to get my heart rate under 160. I'm in the midst of training for my first race, a 10K, on October 23rd and I'm starting to feel like maybe it's not going to happen.

Has anyone else given blood while running on a regular basis and has it affected you similarly? Or am I just using wishful thinking and imagining that it's related and might only be a temporary setback?

I've been getting really discouraged lately, so I'm hoping someone can give me the benefit of their experience with this issue. First some background:

I'm a slow runner. Always have been, always will be. This is the first time in my life that I've actually taken up running as a sport on its own and I'm 45 years old. I started in April. My pace is usually a 12 minute mile (and I can't seem to do much better!). I run in intervals. I was running 3 minutes and walking 1 minute. My heart rate would usually get into the 170-175 range during my run intervals and then drop into 150-155 by the end of each walking interval.

Then last Wednesday I gave blood. Since then, I can't run more than 2 minutes without my heart rate hitting 178-180 and it takes me nearly 2 minutes of walking to get my heart rate under 160. I'm in the midst of training for my first race, a 10K, on October 23rd and I'm starting to feel like maybe it's not going to happen.

Has anyone else given blood while running on a regular basis and has it affected you similarly? Or am I just using wishful thinking and imagining that it's related and might only be a temporary setback?

I suspect your performance will be bound to drop for a bit (i.e., temporarily) after giving blood. (I have not given blood while running, BTW).

See, for example, http://justyouraveragejoggler.com/should-a-runner-or-joggler-donate-blood/

As to other performance issues, stick with it. It's good you are monitoring your heart rate. You need to work on both endurance and speed. Speed is developed by interval training; endurance is developed by sticking with it, going a little farther each time.

Monitor your situation and maybe take it easy for the next few days--if you feel better, are drinking and eating better, start up again. I think you may have training time to do that 10k. Remember, the best thing is CONSISTENT, steady work, 4-6 days a week.

Maybe try to go for an hour each day, see how much of that time you have to walk, and see how much is devoted to running. Hopefully, the running aspect should get stronger and stronger.

I am doing my first real 5k in October (the 8th to be exact) and I have been training for it for a few weeks. I did my first "practice" 5k today by mapping out 3.1 miles around my neighborhood. It took 41 minutes to run/walk it, but I figure it is a better time than when I just walked it which was about an hour. I figure I still have about a week and a half to really train for it and am hoping to get my time down a little. The best part is that I have a friend doing the 5k with me and although she is easily able to run the whole thing, she is going to go at my pace in order to help me through. It is great having someone to help me along!

I did it! I ran my first 5K yesterday and it was amazing. I'm already signing up for my next one. The best part, I beat the goal I'd set for myself by 3 minutes.

Hi! I definitely consider myself a beginner runner. I started running in June at about 4 mph for only 15 minutes. Now I am up to 5.0-5.5 mph with long runs between 5-6 miles. I am pretty happy with the distance, but I really want to work on time! I would love to be able to run 3 miles under 30 minutes.

Hey folks.
I started the C25K programme yesterday, and boy do my legs hurt today. I have never been athletic, and this is my first attempt at running, so I will be taking it slowly. I am really excited to have finally started (I downloaded the app to my phone about 2 months ago). Hopefully I'll be checking into this group regularly as I progress.

Im training to do a 10k in the future and a 5k cancer run would love more running support x

I am 51 years old, on week 6 of a "Learn to Run" 13-week program that I found online. Today's long run was 5 minutes running, 1 minute walking, 7 times. This is quite an increase from previous long of 3 minutes running. Always do a five minute warm-up and cool-down walk, for a total workout of 52 minutes. My legs are throbbing right now and I have tight arches. So, I've been very dilligent about stretching at the end of runs and using a tennis ball to roll under my feet when I'm on the computer (like right now!). I jog at a slow pace, about 13.5 minutes per mile; endurance-wise, things are progressing nicely. However, I am very worried about injuries, so my focus is slow and steady, and always try to run at a pace feeling I could do more. Love running outdoors and have found a flat path along a river that is easy on the legs. I also run at a high school track but one workout at work is on sidewalks/hard surfaces. Program has you running 3x per week, always with a rest day in-between. Thanks for starting the thread!