Somebody tell me that the 3rd Week 5 run (20 mins) is do-able.

[Becca66]

I'm sure I can keep going for 10 mins, but 20? It seems a huge jump up from 8 mins. I have planned myself a route with minimal uphill, but even so.

[Beek Graduate]

If you've done all the lead up runs so far then you will cope fine! Keep it slow and steady when you set off - particularly up the hill. Think 'I'm cool, calm and collected - I CAN do this' and you will!

Go on - surprise yourself!

[paul2014 Graduate]

I've only just completed w1r1 so can't advise from experience. However, from what I've read on the forums it would seem the program is well thought out so the 'jump' from one level to the next should be doable. Mind you, if you don't feel ready then you could always repeat the previous run until you feel more ready fir the next level. Hope it goes well and let us know how you get on

[nrg_girl Graduate]

I was so worried about this run a few weeks back...I agree going from 8 minutes to 20 seems crazy. But you've come through the program this far so you're ready. Just watch your pace and your breathing, something you can sustain. Then tell your legs to keep moving. Oh, and don't listen to your brain that will likely be saying "why are you doing this, just stop now..." Just ignore it. I posted almost the same thing, got encouraged from this forum to try it, and was successful. I think the same will happen for you!! Good luck.

[jojohove Graduate]

Trust the programme. I started week 1 really struggling but got through it. It really works. You can do it.

[Hidden]

This is the run that so many people ask advice about due to the seemingly large jump to 20 minutes. I have probably encouraged a dozen people in the past week alone that it really is do-able. Others on the forum have encouraged just as many. Take it slow and steady and, if possible, try to change your mindset. Go into it with a philosophical approach and just try to enjoy it. You have done all the preparation and trained up to it - you CAN do it. This run is a major turning point in the programme - you will feel like you have really achieved something afterwards - and you will have achieved something, believe me, I know. You will have such a buzz about you when you have done this run. You will be putting up a post here to let us all know how successful you were. The day I did this run was two days after I learned I did not have cancer - it seemed a small thing to achieve after that. Go on, stop worrying and be sure you CAN do it. Good luck and my very best wishes.

[Becca66 Graduate]

Thanks everyone for the words of encouragement! I will think of them as I slog along trying to admire the view even as I gasp for breath. The run's on Monday so I'll let you know how it went. Thanks again!

[Rozalan]

I likened it to week 5 2nd run, 8 minutes (slowish) plus a couple more minutes, a deep breath then another eight minutes plus a couple more, then a 5 minute walk home to breakfast and a hot shower. It worked out OK except that I buggered my mp3 (sorry - am I allowed to say that? I am from Dorset!) and finished up running for 25 minutes. I'm certain that if I can, so can you. Best wishes.

[Becca66 Graduate]

It's alright, Rozalan, I'm an Essex girl! Thanks for the encouragement.

[Hidden in reply to Becca66]

What part? I originated from Dagenham.

[Becca66 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

The opposite corner. I get a bit bored of the stereotype, what with not being orange and not wearing stilettos. It's home, though.

[Hidden in reply to Becca66]

Nothing at all wrong with Essex and I agree about the stereotyping - there are some nice places in Essex and the people are genuine.

[Jana83 Graduate]

I too found it daunting but as above, keep it slow and steady and trust in the program. I found it helpful to break it down into smaller chunks - you've already run 8 mins, I'm sure you can manage another 2. So then once you've done 10 mins, that's halfway - all downhill from there! You know that you can run another 8 mins so just keep doing 2 minute bits at a time.

Even now I use a similar break down to run 30 mins or 5k. It usually goes like this:

Do 5 mins of running (always the worst part for me)

Get to 15 mins (I consider this to be the absolute minimum I can manage / be bothered with)

Do 20 mins (my "oh at least I've done a run" time limit)

Get to 24 mins (I run a 12 min mile so 24 mins is exactly 2 miles)

Run 30 mins (well I've already done 24, so 3 more lots of 2 mins - might as well)

Keep going to 37 mins (breaking it down into 2 min sections again)

Result - 5k done!

BUT always remember, if you can't quite manage the whole 20 mins, a bad run is better than no run at all and at least you tried!

Good luck x

[Laurae Graduate]

It is totally doable as long as you have followed the programme. Just remember not to go to fast and you will be fabulous!!!!!! I know as my next run is week 6 run 2 =D Good luck

[Keepitup]

I never thought I could do it. I struggled to run for two minutes before. Ok I am well overweight, but following this plan even I could run for 20 minutes. Lost nearly half a stone so far. Keep at it you can do it

[vjscadence]

It is do-able. Just take it slowly and you'll do fine. I completed my W5D3 run two days ago and loved it. It's a great accomplishment when you complete it...if just a little surprising too especially given the jump up from the previous run. Does wonders for the ego and motivation.

[Run_rabbit_run]

I signed up for the forum as up until now, the runs have been manageable and the last one pushed me a bit more with the 10 mins thrown in. Like you, I am rather nervous about stepping this up to 20 mins, to say the least! All the responses have been very encouraging and supportive (thank you) so I am going to get myself ready to start my first 20 mins run. I'll let you know how it goes...

[Run_rabbit_run]

Okay, so I did it with one 'glitch' - I ended up listening to the wrong podcast and instead of Week 5 Part 3, I ended up doing Week 6 Part 3, so imagine my surprise/horror that I had another 5 mins to go (I thought Laura was just tricking us at the end so we could push ourselves until I just checked the podcasts). Well, the good thing is I know I can do it and my flagging was expected, but lesson for others - make sure you have the right podcast on! I also thought I would not be able to do it and in the last 5 mins of the 25 mins I had to slow my pace a touch and in the last minute I stepped it up to end on a high. If you are trying the 20 mins for the first time just go with the flow and keep your pace steady. Sounds silly but when I mentally struggle in the last few minutes, I had to imagine my family in front of me urging me on. Try it and good luck! You can do it

[getfitgran Graduate]

Completed wk5 run 3 yesterday. If you listen to all the advice here you will do it. I had been really worried about it, but following the advise on here I went slow and steady and finished the 20 mins. Legs felt like jelly when I finished . Looking forward to wk6 run 1 tomorrow - again slow and steady

[Becca66 Graduate]

Thanks for all the new replies: very encouraging. I just need to remember to take it slowly and split it down into chunks… Monday is D-Day.

[Becca66 Graduate]

I did it! There was more uphill than I remembered that route having, but I just kept slogging along. I remembered all the slow-and-steady advice, and I thought at 15 mins, well, that's almost 2x8 mins, so just a couple more blocks of 2 mins to go… Then there was more uphill (where did that come from?) but it wasn't nearly as bad as I had feared.

Beautiful morning too: bluebells, red campion, two muntjac and I didn't see anybody else… just a dog off along another path.

Thanks everyone for the advice: I did use it!

[Becca66 Graduate in reply to Becca66]

PS 20 mins is the longest I have ever run in a single block, including during the dreaded Games at school.

[Run_rabbit_run in reply to Becca66]

That's fantastic Becca66! Check you out! Bet you feel great (if a bit tired). Have a lovely rest day.

[walsh234]

Just completed W5 Run 3. This must be the longest I have ever run in my life (even as a child). I started with some trepidation however, for me it is more mental than physical. Reading the posts have also proved helpful. Especially one in partical which stated - that sometimes we will have a bad run, the important thing is to redo the run later. There is nothing wrong in doing a run again a day or 2 later. I had to redo week 3 again as it was challenging me; but keep on going!!!

[Becca66 Graduate]

Well done on doing the run. I'm finding that if I find something fairly absorbing to think about, the legs largely take care of themselves. A pretty view also helps...

[Shadowmichael Graduate]

Have faith. I just did this run today! I was scared I wouldn't make it but you know what? I heard Laura tell me I was half way done and that just made me keep on going. Next thing I knew I only had 2 minutes left and I knew I couldn't let myself quit. You can do it!!

[Norni Graduate]

I guess that's the beauty of the programme, designed so these apparent jumps are doable. Enjoy, just slow a little if you need to, you are in charge after all.....good luck.

[SunnyAnnie Graduate]

It really is. I surprised myself too. It took me a while to build up to it (I failed a few times) but when I eventually managed it I felt on top of the world. Amazing! I'm three-stone overweight, 46 and asthmatic, and I can now run for 25 minutes. Just finished week 7.

You can do it, but possibly not right away. I found it helped to add a minute each day. One day my goal was 13 minutes and I just kept going to 20.