Finding 10k training hard -Help!

willy wonka

Hi, I am doing the Women's Mini Marathon in June and am training for it for the past few weeks.

I have a sporty background and have run 5k races before. My friend told me a few weeks ago that she was doing the MM so I decided to enter aswell (I did it a few years ago but ran/walked it).

I used the Flora website training schedule and started at Week 5 for the beginning runner as I had a runnnig background.
I found the schedule no problem and running for 30 mins was fine - felt like I could run for longer but didnt.

LAst week I started running along the sea front on tarmac as there are km markers and I thought this would be good to know how far I could run.

I ran 35 mins and covered 5.5km (slow I know, but I dont want to aggravate any knee injuries), but after 35 mins I was exhausted. After the run I walked for my cool-down and thought I was going to throw up. There was a sea breeze but nothing too resistant.

A few days later I ran by the sea again and could only manage 26 mins of my 35 mins. It was a lot blustery. I was very disappointed by my performance and disheartened to know I have to run for an hour at least at my current pace - I feel like I wont be able to do it.

Does the sea breeze make a huge difference in training?
Bit of background - I have a healthy enough diet, vegetarian, was a bit run down a few months ago but I seem to be ok now, have been eating lots of carbs and protein to prepare my body for the running.

RoyMcC

Hmm, your recent 30 min runs weren't on the treadmill were they? Just a thought, but you're probably aware that the tready is a piece of cake compared with the real thing.

If not then it's a bit of a puzzle. But honestly you're in company as a lot of us have crap runs for no apparent reason. And without the crap runs you wouldn't enjoy the good ones as much.

Yes, a sea breeze can be challenging but you seem strong enough to be dealing with that. You ought not to have to run/walk but you might try it for a run or two, see if it helps.

You say you were run down a few months ago. My guess is that you're not 100% and maybe there's a logical explanation - bit of an iron deficiency or something.

My other guess is that you'll bounce right back and you'll be back here telling us about it soon.

Best of luck

MrCreosote

Hi Willy wonka, I get these setbacks myself. Could it be the time of day you're running- mornings are terrible for me usually. Or maybe have something to eat before hand- I get that lack of energy feeling if I've not eaten within an hour or so or a run. A banana or something is usually enough to prevent it.
I'd agree with Roy McC too- change from the treadmill is hard at the start.

Keep with the training though. You'll notice gradually the runs get easier (most of them anyway!)

Matt1

When I am struggling on an outside run I make sure to look at the view, be it fields, beaches, wildlife etc. and SMILE! I try to mentally make myself concentrate on the enjoyment of being outside and push any thought of fartigue, pain etc. away. Loosen up and take more relaxed running style rather than curling up and tightening up.

Oryx

With me bouts of fatigue can be cyclical. I can have 3 great weeks and then feel like lead legs on the fourth. Joys of bein female. I also tend to overtrain when I feel good, and suffer for it days later.

As you train, you get setbacks. Not every run will be an improvement on the one before. Somedays youll just feel like bleugh. Keep positive, do a nice easy run next time, then have another stab at a harder run on the next training day after that. A lot of it comes from within your head, so plan the distance youll tackle, and head into it telling yourself youre well able for it. Like Matt1 said, enjoy where you are and what you are doing. If you do your route saying oh god the pain! it will be pants.

willy wonka

Hi, thanks for the replies.
Well today I went for a run and it was much better - I managed the full 35 mins and covered 6k which I was delighted with!
What I did was take a banana 1 hour before training and I also changed my route slightly. Instead of running up and down by the seafront between two Km markers, I did a loop through the village, which was better scenery wise and broke up the tough sea-facing part of the run a bit better.

So thanks everyone for the advice. I have so much respect for real marathon runners now - don't think I could ever manage a 26mile run!