W5R3- Please tell me that's a printing error!!!

[Treemouse]

20 minutes with NO walking?!! Having palpitations thinking about it! Just done W5R1 and was feeling brilliant...then I made the mistake of looking ahead! Has Laura got it in for me? This can't be right!

[c4ts Graduate]

Oh yes it can!!! Just take it slowly, you will amaze yourself and feel a real sense of achievement, do not get hung up about it.

[Treemouse Graduate in reply to c4ts]

Thank you c4ts, and I trust your judgement 100% because you're a cat person

[no-excuse Graduate]

So many people, myself included, have worried about W5R3. It is such a step up for your running without the walk breaks. Just think of it as 4 lots of 5 minutes. You will be fine, take it steady and pace yourself. It is great when you do it, and the programme has prepared you for it. Don't fear it. Let us all know how you get on. x

[Treemouse Graduate in reply to no-excuse]

Okay, will do, and thank you so much. I suppose that it's true how each week I have surprised myself, but I nearly fell off my chair when I saw that!

[nrg_girl Graduate]

If you've done all of the runs leading up to it, you can do it. I had the same thoughts a few weeks ago, but just kept my pace slow and got through it. You're ready! Even if your mind hasn't figured that out yet. Good luck!

[Treemouse Graduate]

Thank you nrg_girl. I will try to keep it steady and not blow a gasket.

[scawbyplace Graduate]

Don't be put off Treemouse. I have just done the 20 minute run tonight and felt such a sense of achievement that I couldn't stop smiling all the way through my 5 minute warm down walk lol. I never thought that I would be able to make the leap from 8 minutes to 20 (to be fair I never thought that I would even be able to run for 8 minutes!) but like everyone says - if you have done the all the runs leading up to it then you are ready. Just pace yourself and listen to the podcast and you will amaze yourself. Good luck. You can do it!!

[NatC25Kiskillingme in reply to scawbyplace]

Love this post, I have my W5R3 tomorrow night and I sound just like you! Hopefully I will amaze myself and manage the 20 mins!! Well done to you for doing it _ AMAZING!

[Miles_Yonder Graduate]

It will be fine, TM! it does seem disconcerting and quite a big jump in time though at first when you see it written down, doesn't it?! All will be fine though. Laura knows what she's doing!

[Treemouse Graduate in reply to Miles_Yonder]

Thanks M_Y. I might need to celebrate with a bright pink water bottle if I make it

[Miles_Yonder Graduate in reply to Treemouse]

WHEN you make it. WHEN! Which will be on Friday! I don't think there will be a finer present to yourself for getting through it, than to get a nice bright, pink water bottle! I got mine from eBay and very cool it is too!

[Hidden]

Now then, stop that panicking immediately! You have done the first run in W5 and, you said yourself, you're feeling brilliant, so well done for that run. You have R2 to complete yet, after which time you will be ready for the 20 minute run. Take it very slow and steady, stay calm and keep your head up. You will amaze yourself. In the meantime, take your rest day tomorrow and focus on the second run the day after. When R3 comes around you will do it fine - you've already laid the foundations to succeed. Good luck and best wishes. You CAN do it.

[Hidden]

I was so worried about THAT RUN that it was giving me sleepless nights, of course when it came to doing it it was fine....You'll be fine too.

[Treemouse Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Henpen

[Treemouse Graduate]

You are all so fantastic, thank you so much. Fitmo, if I had the money, I would pay you to be my personal assistant, trainer and motivator! Okay, I have just given myself a slap, and will banish all negativity. Please forgive me

[Hidden in reply to Treemouse]

If you're ever near the Bedford area I'll crack the whip and chivvy you along for free! Cheers.

[Purplesparkle8 Graduate]

It will be fine you can do it! I was absolutely dreading week 5 run 3 and convinced myself I'd never manage it but the program prepared you.

Just don't start off too fast, pace yourself and you CAN do it! Your mind might tell you to give up halfway through but physically if you've done all the other runs you will be fine! Think of the sense of achievement you'll have afterwards and that will keep you going!

[Khrissy Graduate]

I can't stress enough that you can do this. If you've completed all that comes before then this is the point where your brain catches up with the fitness your body has acquired. Just go out and take it steady, you will amaze yourself!

[Sausagepot]

I know I can do this as I have just completed all the runs up to week 5 session 1' but that still doesn't stop my shoulder devil saying no way. We will see on Saturday, but I am going to give it my all, pace myself and see how I go. Let's do this!

[AmberC Graduate]

Like everyone else says, you can do it-just remember to trust Laura's podcast and yourself. Pace yourself, don't go off too quickly. I completed this run last week and like yourself was dreading it, had a sleepless night thinking about it. But I was amazed that I was able to do it, honestly the first 5 minutes were the hardest and then I seemed to find a rhythm and banished all thoughts of aching limbs out of my mind. On completion I was on such a high I wanted to tell everyone that I passed on my way home that I had run for 20 minutes! My husband was outside waiting for me, and when I saw him I even managed to break into a sprint to tell him my good news!! I can't believe I have come so far in a relatively short space of time, I vividly still remember the first run when I thought I was going to throw up or pass out in the park. At almost 51 I never thought I would be runner, and I'm guess I'm not quite there but I'm a lot fitter and positive about myself than when I started back in March.

[Khrissy Graduate in reply to AmberC]

Amber, I think the first 5 minutes are hard for everyone no matter how experienced they are. If you can power through them, you seem to settle into your natural rhythm and then you can carry on. The gremlins on my shoulder are always trying to persuade me that I'm not a runner and should walk at that point! Drown them out by distracting yourself with whatever works for you. I used to imagine what I was going to blog on here or remember someone else's inspiring blog.

[Pwoperfish93 in reply to Khrissy]

Agreed! I regularly run 10-15km and can do a 10km in 49 minutes but I still struggle with the first 5mins even if I go on like a 90 minute run. Keep at it guys! 2 years ago I thought I was doing well when I could manage 5mins on a treadmill :')

[NatC25Kiskillingme]

I know, got my W5R3 tomorrow! I did manage W5R2, but it was tough going and to think I will be going from 8 mins straight through to 20 mins....I really hope I can do it!

[scawbyplace Graduate in reply to NatC25Kiskillingme]

Believe it, you can do it! My legs were like lead for the first few mins but after a while I actually stopped thinking about the running and started to enjoy not being the puffing, panting, aching mess that I was on week 1. Now, if you had told me I would feel like that 6 weeks ago I would have thought you were mad lol Just think how far you have come in 5 weeks - and how easy those first couple of weeks would be for you to do now. Prepare to be amazed : )

[NatC25Kiskillingme]

Brilliant encouragement! I'm looking forward to tomorrow & to see if i can actually do this! Thanks for your words of wisdom, I shall fight the good fight & hopefully come out victorious!! Lol x

[runner56 Graduate]

Remember how innocent and naive we were?