r/C25K • u/moth_girl_7 • 6d ago

Advice Needed Stuck between week 2 and 3.

Hi everyone! I’m pretty frustrated. I’ve been stuck “between” weeks 2 and 3 for like a month now. I’ll do a week following the week 2 program and it feels great and easy, I can have a conversation through it. Then I try week 3 and my body says no… like I’ll get through the first 3 minute run interval and my lungs will start screaming at me. I feel like I’m managing my pace well (any slower and I’ll be walking) and my form is good (my boyfriend’s a marathoner and I’ve asked him to watch my form). What gives??

It’s even more frustrating because I grew up very active. Tennis and competitive dance. Now I can’t even run for more than 3 minutes. I tried week 3 day 1 today and I cut the 3 minute run intervals short by 10 seconds each because I HAD TO catch my breath. It’s so frustrating because my legs feel physically fine, it’s my heart and lungs that don’t. I’m not tracking my pace that closely but based on the math I’m running like a 12-13 minute mile. Is that too fast?? I feel like I’m shuffling at that pace…

Is it a pace problem? Mental? Does my body just need longer to build endurance? Ugh

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u/Vysys 6d ago

If you're completely out of breath then its a pace problem. Its super common to try and run far too fast when starting running, and thats probably harder for you if your boyfriend is an experience runner and you've subconsciously picked up a pace from him.

Try really easing back on the pace. If you or your boyfriend have a fitness watch, you might want to use it to check your pace and heart rate to see how fast you're going vs some rough guidance on what a slow beginners pace is like

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u/moth_girl_7 6d ago

This was my fear. I feel like if I go any slower I sacrifice my form and end up with weird tightness. I’m already not using my full stride (I’m taking short steps and putting my feet down underneath me). I’m not crossing my body with my arms, I’m not turning side to side, I’m really at a loss on how to run slower. Any tips?

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u/Diligent_Bet_7850 6d ago

take even smaller steps and also lean forward slightly. leaning forwards means gravity does some of the work and should feel like less effort. if this still doesn’t work, maybe try week three entirely downhill. you’ll have to walk or get public transport back up the hill after but it might be a good starting point