Did anybody else have trouble with week 5 run 3?

[Running_girl]

I did week 5 run 2 twice as I didn't feel confident enough to run for 20 mins none stop but I have tried to do run 3 twice now and can only get to about 12 minutes before having to stop. Did anybody else have this problem? I don't think its a case of me going to fast as I run between 7 and 7.5 k per hour.

[GoogleMe Graduate]

How about at least trying running slower?

(I can't run as fast as you except for a very occasional fast interval session if I really really push it but it disagrees with me later - but I can keep going for well over an hour now)

[Hennith Graduate]

On my first attempt at W5R3 I stopped dead when Laura announced I had gone half way. I was convinced I couldn't go any further. I suspected that what happened was that I was demotivated by Laura's regular time checks and that I would be better just switching off for 20 minutes. So I tried again a few days later without Laura but with my own music and managed it OK.

[Midlifecat in reply to Hennith]

Have to agree Hennith, Laura's interruptions have put me off the last few runs, I'd rather not know and keep plodding until she says I've finished. ALways gets my hopes up!

[madamepearson Graduate]

Hi, I have completed week 5 two weeks ago and there is no way I could have ran for twenty minutes at 7-7.5 k. I did mine on a treadmill at 6k, and the last few mins up to 7k. I felt a bit tired at the end but I completed it. And the jog was still faster than my walking pace which is around 4.5k.

[Hidden]

It sounds as though, 1/ You are going too fast - slow it right down - I can still walk faster than I can jog at times. 2/ You convinced yourself you couldn't do 20 minutes which is why you repeated the second run.

Try to keep calm, slow and steady with this run and remember that it is achievable - think of all those who have done it. Then go out and complete it - you know you CAN do it. You've done the preparatory work and trained up to it. Good luck with R3 and best wishes.

[Realfoodieclub Graduate]

I'm with everyone else on this I am afraid. The run floored me. I eventually managed it when I slowed right down. If your worried about being really slow don't be. Building up your speed comes after you have graduated. Its something to work on later. The point of the program is to get you running for 30 min. Whatever speed that takes. That gives you a great basic fitness to go on and work at whatever you want afterwards. Maybe try counting your normal run for a while then get into a rhythm that's just a little slower. Say as you start off 1,2,3,4 to each foot strike. Then just count a little slower, that might help you slow down a fraction and see if that helps. It's a head thing you will definitely nail it.

[Midlifecat]

Hi Running_girl, found all your replies really interesting. I'm due to run W5 R3 on Friday. I usually briskly walk at 6kph and then run at 8.2kph. I've managed the 8 min sections at this speed, which I found hard but ok. I usually run at the gym but I'm attempting the 20 mins outside with a friend, to maybe take my mind of it! I was also thinking of doing R2 twice but decided to just go for it and see how I get on with R3. Wk6 looks as though it's broken down to smaller chunks again so I'm using R3 to just run for as long as I can! Good Luck with your next run.

[Running_girl Graduate]

Thanks for all your replies everybody! fitmo I think your right, I have convinced myself I can't do it, so I start off negative and give up easily. I will start by running slower, I feel like I'm going really slow already but there is no harm in going slower. Hennith I think your right too, it felt like I'm constantly waiting for Laura to say how far I have gone, I should be switching off and thinking about something else.

Midlifecat, good luck let me know how you get on

[nrg_girl Graduate]

I think pace is really important, especially as the times get longer. I'm doing between 6 and 6.5 km/hr running, but am in week 9 and it's a comfortable pace for 30 minutes. Right now finishing is more important than going fast and having to stop.

That said, I think week 5 Run 3 is the mental run...convincing yourself you can do it is half of the battle. Good luck : )

[waletta Graduate]

I loved week 5 r3 but knew it was going to be torture if I kept waiting for Laura to say I could stop running, which is what I had been doing up to then. Distracting myself worked wonders. I did it by thinking of what I was going to write here when I finished & something as simple as actively looking at my surroundings & letting my mind wander from there.

[Mandydonkleywood Graduate]

I remember listening to the introductions for all W5 runs before I tried any of them and thinking how on earth am I going to manage to run for 20 minutes without a break.

Then I told myself this is a structured programme, it is clearly working for a huge number of people and if they can do it so can I.

It wasn't easy, but wow did it feel good to succeed!

It is mind over matter, have confidence in yourself, you can do it.

[Aritchie24 Graduate]

Hello, I did mine on the treadmill due to the dark nights and my advice would be the only way I got through it was to slow right down, think my speed for the 20 mins was about 6.6 speed on treadmill. Any faster I knew I would run out of steam half way through. You can focus on speed once finished C25K and can run full stop for 30 mins. It will come 😃. Hope that helps.