C25k advise - help a novice...pretty please

[Teahouse]

I have just completed d2r3.
Had a bad day at work yesterday when I was hoping to 'run' but was so distressed it wasan't possible to do anything.
Busy day today and hardly ate...breakfast (porridge), a banana and half a sandwich.
I found today's 'run' really hard and because I wasn't looking properly ended up twisting my ankle (no badly) on my penultimate run.

So...1. Could today's totally crap performance be because of stress for yesterday and not eating properly today?
2. Should I redo w2r3 or start on w3r1 next time

Any advise gratefully received.

[Roseformeplease]

We are now on week 8 and we just re-did any week at was hard, or where we missed runs through illness or whatever. We are now running 25 mins at a time, about 4k.

I am 44, my husband early 50s and we have NEVER run. Our way of doing it is to take it easy, keep going over it if it is hard and try to keep running, even if we aren't yet clocking up huge miles. To be honest, if you run when you are I'll or injured you will not enjoy it and, long term, it might put you off.

So, be good to yourself and take your time!

[BsshBossh]

I agree. Repeat weeks/days as necessary. You don't have to complete in 9 weeks. Eventually you'll be running for 25+ minutes :)

[putthehamsterbackinitscage]

Why not just give the next run a try and see how it goes ....?

But have a snack about an hour before eg banana or slice of toast, and a drink, then go out with a positive frame of mind..... Try saying to yourself "I can do this" or something similar in time to your footsteps.... It does help - taught my DD to do this when running with me and it fave her a focus rather than asking can I stop yet

[Teahouse]

Thanks for the advise.
Both ankles were swollen last night and the one I twisted was painful enough to affect my sleep so a few days off exercise for sure, then I will try another w2 'run' but making sure I have eaten.

I have ordered some light ankle supports and will wear these. I have very flat feet and am sure that even with my special trainers, running is not doing my joints any good...am assuming they are just weak rather than me having a medical problem.

Good to hear about 50 year olds running Rose...I can see I jury and illness would be off putting. I have a constantly runny nose when I am outside as it is and don't even had a cold ;0)

[Teahouse]

Well, ankle still swollen and doubt I will be doing C25K until next week...will redo w2 and wear ankle supports.
This has put me off a bit and I am really worried I won't be able to run ever...my ankles may just in be up to it

[cinnamongreyhound]

Hard run can definitely be down to stress/bad day/different food or drink intake. I tended to move on and found I could always do it but there is no harm/shame in repeating. I broke my foot in September and I feel it a bit after I've been running for a while (more than 30mins) but I am very careful to look where I'm going and make sure I have good footing. Don't let it put you off, have a rest and get back out, even if you start again from week 1.

Come and join us here, there are people just starting and those of us who started last year and are now up to 10k ish. We're a friendly bunch :)

[Teahouse]

CGH - thanks for the invite but if you are all on 10k and I am struggling with the 90 second runs, I can't see myself being anything but a nuisance on that page. Maybe someone will start the programme soon and I can join the newbies. I would have loved to start in Jan but had a major op at the end of the month and am only now just back to work. It would be lovely to have some support though.
What i find hard is running with my heels hitting the ground first, think concentrating on how I run made me not concentrate on the actual pavement. I am not quite sure how I run but it doesn't seem to be how I should!

My ankles are a bit better today and I managed a 10 minute brisk walk so I am hoping to get back to C25K next week; wearing ankle supports though. Although if it remains very cold, I am just wait as I don't want to risk icy pavements.

[cinnamongreyhound]

No I said there are people just starting and people who are running 10k, and everywhere between. We are a mixed bunch in age size and ability but we've all done the couch to 5k at some point and can offer support and advice you wouldn't be a nuisance at all!!!

[Teahouse]

Thanks CGH, I will come along and say hi in that case.

[cinnamongreyhound]

Yay

[BecauseImWoeufIt]

Teahouse - I'm a newbie on that thread as well, and you will be very welcome!

(One thing - are you trying to run with your heels hitting the ground first? I thought you were not supposed to do that. Or that's what my osteopath told me - you should be landing on the ball of your foot I think)

[BecauseImWoeufIt]

[Teahouse]

Looked at some tips and I think trying to land on my heel is defiantly not the right thing to do so I will go back to what I was doing. But the stupid video says look a the horizon...not sure if I do how I miss dog pooh, pot holes, ruts in the road or field. If. Don't look at the ground then I will twist my ankle again. It is still bad but it is just too cold for me to wan to be outside.