running regression (getting discouraged!)

If it's a cramp in your right side it's because you're taking too shallow of breaths. It's been happening to me too. The diaphram isn't being lowered and straining your liver soooo what I've read (yet to do) is like put your fingers under your liver until the pain goes away also breath with your belly not chest. I find it hard to do Like exhale enough like you would be blowing out birthday candles


And I'm in a funk too...I've been slower than when I first started and it's upsetting

Running outside is def harder! When on treadmill you are controlling the incline and everything about it whereas outside you just gotta run. I personally find that running outside gives me a "true" result of my running ability. I am also doing C25K running outside and i have repeated many days and weeks multiple times until i feel ready to move on to the next.


How much water are you drinking during your run because if you chug too fast while running it can give the side cramps...also this may sound funny but are you breathing properly? because if you arent getting enough oxygen inside your body that happens also

Sometimes the cramping is due to dehydration. Make sure you are getting enought water in before your run especially as the weather gets warmer. Also you diet can make a big difference in you pace. To run you need to make sure you are not cutting your calories back too much or your performance will suffer. I started running with a running group the begining of this year and I have lost 33 pounds so far. In this short amount of time I have come to realize that what I eat definitly affects my run, good and bad.

I can run over a mile on the treadmill without stopping but as soon as I started outside I couldn't even run 2 mins. My husband had me try something new. If you are running on a track run the straight ways and walk the corners. Man I did that and I finally ran (plus walked) my first 5k today in 36:08 mins. Keep it up you can do it. As for cramps I am getting the same cramps and didnt know why. Good Luck!

Keep at it babe! You got this and you will have your moments! Maybe drink heaps of water, breathing very important as well. I have completed C25k and absolutely love it, tried running on the road and Yes, it is definately harder on the body and such a challenge for me to mix up my training. It's not about speed for me and I know that will come in time as I drop off the weight, and at the moment I'm hovering around Week 10 - C210k, so I know what you mean, but I will keep at it, cause this will pass!

I've been told that if you feel like you couldn't sing along with your music or carry on a slightly winded conversation then you're going to fast. I tend to sing along to my music just because it distracts me, I also can't stand to run on a track or on a treadmill. The weather definitely makes a difference, I feel like dying when its hot or cold outside. i'm currently doing C25K and honestly day to day it varies, I did week 4 day 1 a few days ago and ran it no problem then I did day 2 today and I wanted to DIE at the end of my run. If you're not getting enough sleep at night then that can matter too. I would say slow your pace a little and do whatever you can to push through, breathe deep through your cramps. I've also noticed I run better if I don't chug water during my run and just wait and drink it after. Running outside is much much harder, I trained for my first 5k on a treadmill and I was running an easy 5 miles, when I went to run the 5k I literally about DIED. I say just try to push through it the best you can, keep telling yourself only a little further and slow down if you need to

I second slowing down. Though I'm not on the C25K program, I was running 5K about 3x/week and out of nowhere I couldn't finish them anymore, was having a lot of trouble breathing. I took some advice to slow down (went from 9 min/mile to 10 min/mile). It has helped me get out of my slump and I'm able to finish the 5Ks again.

Maybe not enough "fuel in the gas tank"? I was having the same problem when I first started so I started eating a Tbs. of peanut butter before I put my work out clothes on. Not sure if it was the extra protein or if it was just a placebo, but whatever the reason, I was able to get over that hump and I am now working on training for a half marathon! GASP!
You CAN do this. Tell that voice in your head to either change its attitude or shut the hell up.

That's what happened to me when I started running. Lot's of times now, I'll eat a banana or drink some V8 an hour to an hour and a half before going to the gym and it makes all the difference for me.

Regarding the side cramps, I would say it is either you are eating too close to running or too shallow breath as someone else had mentioned. I typically do not run until close to 2 hours after eating. I also try to focus on my breath, counting in for a count of 5 and breathing out a count of 5.
I personally find running on the treadmill harder than outside. I used to be the complete opposite, now I call my treadmill the dreadmill! I started with C25K and have done several 5K, placed in a few, and have done one half marothon and a 10K. Training currently for another half in the fall.
Keep with it. No harm/foul in walking sometimes. Maybe go back to week 5 and see how you do with that.
Good luck!

I hate running. Loathe it. My wife loves it. She can do it on a whim. I do it still. Even when I schedule it and don't feel like doing it, I suck it up and go. I'm doing this for all the people that said I could never do it. Also cuz I like eating. If I get a side stitch on my 4-6 mile runs, I just slow down and control my breathing. Helps every time. Go at your pace. You're not racing anyone at the moment. You can do it.

Maybe when you use the tredmill put on a movie! Thats what I do. It keeps me entertained so I dont get tired that quickly and I forget im using the tredmill. lol. (Just dont get too into it and fall off lol)

Make sure you are using good form when you run to get max oxygen. This is a great video that helped me a great deal:

http://video.about.com/running/Proper-Running-Form.htm

I don't know why this happens but I seem that I have periods when running is just harder. My times are slower, I'm not so comfortable, I feel "heavy" when I run. It seems to persist for a few days or a few weeks but then I get my running mojo back.

My suggestion is to have a look at what you are doing - do you need to slow down, change your workouts, have a few days rest, tie your shoes differently (don't laugh, it' makes a huge difference to my shins!), find new music to run to (180bpm seems to be the magic number for me, songs at this rate with a strong beat really get me moving again), cross train for a few days...... etc?

Try a few different things, but most important - just keep going and run through it!

Oh yea, and then there's the MOJO.

I think this..

To prevent side stitches, as another poster mentioned, I time my breathing with my steps. I breathe in when my left foot lands and breathe back out the next time my left foot lands.
For the inability to move past week 6, my guess is you are running to fast. On the treadmill, you have your pass controlled. On a track you don't.
Unless you aren't sleeping properly or are working out HARD on your non-run days, I don't really agree with the need to for more rest since C25k is only three days a week.
I doubt fuel is an issue either since your muscles contain enough energy stores to go for about an hour to hour and half before they become depleted. That being said I still eat a banana about 15 minutes before a work out because I hate getting hungry during a work out.
Heat and dehydration are a HUGE factor when running. Running a half marathon dehydrated from being sick feels worse than running it on an empty stomach from improper fuel planning. *shudder* Any way, I learned try to drink water through out the day and drink ice water when running to help keep my core body temp down.
^^ These are just things I've picked up since I began running a couple years ago when I started with C25K.

I just went through this. Treadmill is easier for most folks than running pavement or off-road. Make sure you are well hydrated, fueled up properly, and keep a SLOW pace. As your endurance improves, so does speed. You may be running faster and not knowing it. Ive had cramps lately too, so im trying to breathe deeper.

One more big thing is HUMIDITY. Not sure where you are running, but here in Florida the humidity is so high that I went from running 25 minutes straight to not being able to run more than 14 without stopping. I was really discouraged until I hit the treadmill in the gym and found that I can run much longer when im not battling the humidity. If your heart rate skyrockets very quickly and you struggle to breathe, its probably humidity.