Shouldn't it be getting easier? What am I doing wrong???

[Tuxgirl]

Last week, I was doing week 2, and while I was able to complete everything, I was struggling, especially on Saturday, so I decided to repeat week 2. Problem is, today was even worse than Saturday... And Saturday was harder than Thursday... And Thursday was harder than last Tuesday! 

 

I thought it was supposed to get easier with time doing the same run, not harder each time I try.... 

 

On a possibly related note, how in the world do you stretch the outside front of the calf? For some reason, the outside front of my calf is what seems to want to give up first, and I haven't figured out a way to make it feel better. 

 

Please tell me this is going to get easier soon! I'm feeling super frustrated, because today I did so much worse than all the days last week. 

[torus_ot]

My guess (only guess!) would be: you are doing it too fast.  You are pushing yourself too hard, slow down.

It will get easier, but main plus - it will become your necessity, your schedule, your habit. 

"Outside front of the calf" - are you talking about  shin splints?

 

[Tuxgirl]

Thanks for commenting! 

I might be pushing too fast. I feel like I'm super slow to the point that it barely is a jog, but I will keep an eye on that. 

Today went a lot better. Not sure why. It was raining, and I switched direction on my route as well as changing my music a bit... I also made a point to stretch really good the past two evenings... 

By outside front of the calf, I mean that if you are looking down on your right leg, it is sore at about 2:00 on the leg. (10:00 on the left leg). It doesn't feel like shin splints. Shin splints always feel to me like it's the bone hurting (and thankfully I haven't had them yet with this program!!), but this definitely feels like it's a tight muscle. I have had a little success standing and tucking my toes in and just trying to pull my leg forward a bit (hard to explain), but I still haven't found a really good stretch for that spot.

Thanks again! I'm going to stretch between sessions again, and hope that that keeps things moving the right way!

[SQteach]

That's shin splints.  Try icing after you run and stay up on ibuprofen 

[Tuxgirl]

On 3/22/2017 at 6:46 AM, torus_ot said:

My guess (only guess!) would be: you are doing it too fast.  You are pushing yourself too hard, slow down.

It will get easier, but main plus - it will become your necessity, your schedule, your habit. 

"Outside front of the calf" - are you talking about  shin splints?

@torus_ot, 

Just wanted to thank you again for the encouragement. Got out there again this morning, and it was the best time so far. Made it through w3d1, and wasn't even counting down to the end of the second 3 minute jog time. (Actually, I was a minute away from a distance marker on the path I was on, and felt good enough to keep going for that extra minute before going back to a walk. 

Thanks!!!

-Tuxgirl

[Tuxgirl]

43 minutes ago, SQteach said:

That's shin splints.  Try icing after you run and stay up on ibuprofen 

Interesting. I guess I've always had them feel more like bone pain. Will keep an eye on it. Haven't needed ibuprofen yet, but I will keep that in mind. 

Thanks!!

[torus_ot]

5 hours ago, Tuxgirl said:

Made it through w3d1,

Hooray! Way to go!

[TamBam0307]

I ran in Cross country in high school, and many times I've started to get back into running. It always gets harder before it gets easier for me. Even if I don't try to over push myself. I know the feeling really well. Make sure your body gets the nutrition and rest it needs to repair as it's growing all that muscle!

[Tuxgirl]

Bah... Been struggling like crazy again. Week 5 day 3 was easy for me back when I hit it (go figure), but I have been stuck on week 6 for nearly a month now. I don't think I'm running too fast... When I tried to do week 6 day 3 today, I was around 3/4 of a mile jogging when it said I was half-way, and I was struggling to keep going already. I ended up walking for a minute about half-way through, but couldn't get going again after that, and was switching between walking and jogging the rest of the time. 

Feeling super discouraged. I can't understand how it went so well a few weeks ago, and has been failing ever since then. 

And once the kids get off for summer break in 1.5 weeks, this is going to get way more complicated. 

[jmatt]

I'm just starting Week 5, so I'm no expert, but I've noticed a few things help me with regards to hitting that wall...

1) Pace: Holding back a bit on those initial run portions and going all out in that final minute keeps me from tiring out early and helps me look forward to that final minute when I get to let go.

2) Rest: Sometimes a run is particularly hard and it helps to have that day in between to recover both physically and mentally.

3) Heat: I find it a bit easier to run later in the evening when it's cooler.

5) Shin Splints: While sitting with your feet off the ground in front of you, trace the alphabet in the air, moving only at your ankles. Super easy to do throughout the day, at the desk, while watching TV, etc.

Hope some of that works for you too! Best of luck!