Couch to 10K/C210k - half way and I have the fear. Reassurance needed!

[RNBrie]

I have just finished week 6 of the C210K program having been stuck on week 5 for ages. I found the 20 min run at the end of week 5 a real challenge and kept telling myself I wanted to be comfortable doing it before moving on so did week 5 about three times.

Anyway, I have now finished week 6 which ended with a 22 min run. I struggled with this, having to give myself a big pep talk for the last 5 mins or so.

Now looking at week 7, each day is a 25 min run. Then week 8 is a 28 min run. I seriously can't see myself being able to do it. I really liked the previous weeks where it breaks the runs up a bit, building you up.

What am I doing wrong? Should I stay on Week 6 until I feel more comfortable with the 22 min run, or should I just go for it with Week 7? I have FEAR about failing and then stopping the whole thing...

If it makes any difference, I'm doing it on the treadmill and I run at 9km/h which I am aware is slower than it expects you to run, but I'm not so fussed about that at the moment.

Slow down a bit more, there is no shame in running slowly.

I really don't think 9kph is especially slow if you are starting out and struggling. My other suggestion would be to take a walk break and then carry on running. It can seem counterproductive but when it's about building time on your feet, a walk break can help.

There is no failure in running, if you get out and run you have acheived, no matter how long it takes or how many walking breaks you have had.

Thank you for replying doyouthinktheysaurus - I guess I have been worrying about the speed cause it says you're supposed to do 5km in 30 mins, which means running at 10kph and I've tried that but I definitely can't do it!!

I guess I could try Day 1 of Week 7 at a slower pace and see how I get on. I really didn't want to stray from the Program by adding in walking breaks when it seems to think you shouldn't need them. I've really loved the method so far, I could barely jog for 2 mins a couple of months ago.

Keep moving forwards. I did C25k then blundered my way to 10k. This stage overlaps with C25k. It seems like a big jump, but it is possible, and most women are slower than the implied 5k in 30 mins. Just keep going on time. There's no shame or failure on walking if you have to.

Running rarely feels easier, you just achieve more with the same effort.

If it's any consolation, I've got a half marathon at the weekend. I know I'm ready and it's possible (done one before), but it didn't stop today's "easy" 30 minute run feeling like hard work

You can do it. The programme is very effective.

Thanks MrsMook! If you walked during a run did you still mark it as complete or did you do it again until you could complete it without walking??

I can only dream of a half marathon!!! Amazing that you are doing one, I'm so impressed. I used to run 5km quite regularly before I had dc and got a bit fat. I never got further than 5km as I was only ever doing it for the exercise but I feel really strongly about getting to 10km now, it's something I'm doing just for me if that makes sense.

Build distance then speed. You will almost certainly be able to do 5k in 30 mins at some stage but not everyone starts off speedy enough to do that, I certainly didn't!

Google Jeff Galloway if you want some more information on walk running as a strategy, he advocates it for runners of all speed and distance. It can help prevent injury and over training.

Mrs Mook is right about running never really becoming easy! I run 35 miles or more a week and still have completely awful runs! I'm not very quick either, despite having run for 6 years. My 'non running' brother did a few months training and ran a marathon more than an hour quicker than me! I got the slow genes

Thanks for this all. I did day 1 of week 7 today and just went for it at my usual 9kph. I told myself I knew I could do 22 mins as I'd done that last week so I'd worry about the last three minutes when I got to them. I'll not lie, they weren't easy, but I tricked myself by promising I'll walk the rest if I just run one more minute... I always see
seem to fall for it

Either that or its because I forgot to take any pants to the gym so ran commando (TMI???)

I'll just keep pushing on and trust the plan, it has worked so far!!

Is there a reason you have to do your running on the treadmill OP? I completed the C25k earlier this year outdoors and recently went to a naice spa with a friend, where we decided to run 5k on the treadmill in the gym. I found it so much harder I couldn't believe it - I felt every minute of it. Would you try outdoor running or are you not able to do that? Just a thought! I've been running for 8 months now and only recently I've had some runs that have felt 'easy' in that I've been plodding along feeling like I could run for ever. That is pretty rare for me though - mostly I have a long warm-up period of about 15 mins where I feel really pushed and then after that it gets easier. Maybe your runs would feel easier if you warmed up more or ran for longer but at a slower pace? I find a slow 4 miles easier than a quick 3 miles.

I have a buggered knee emsyj... I had it rebuilt about 5 years ago and was told I could run on soft ground or treadmills but not pavement or concrete. I really only have time to run in my lunch break at work and work in the city, at home I'd have to drive for ages to find a park big enough so I'm pretty much stuck on the treadmill. It's definitely not the same, I miss the open road!!

Oh that's a shame - I'm not very outdoorsy (quite the opposite actually) but I do enjoy running outside. Maybe every now and then you could 'treat' yourself to an off road run - is there a Parkrun near you? The one nearest me is in a park with concrete paths but there's one a little further afield in a country park type setting which would be soft ground. Hope you break through the 22 minute barrier - I'm currently feeling like I should try and up my distance to 10k but I'm too scared, so I guess the previous poster who said it never really gets easier is right!!