I don't feel ready

[Hannah306693]

I did the week 4 run 1 this morning and it was so hard I felt like I barley managed it. I'm feeling really worried about the next 5 weeks and how quickly they progress compared to the last 4 weeks and I just don't feel like I'm fit enough or ready for it...did anyone else feel this way at week 4?

[mindovermatter9]

I'm about to do Week 5, run 1 in a few hours and I'm so anxious too. I've managed so far but the last 2 runs felt like a real struggle. I did complete them. I think my issue is not so much whether my body can cope but my mind!

[Nellyharte Graduate]

I'm about to graduate at the weekend and I still feel like that! My tip is don't look ahead at the weeks as it does put you off and and I got a bit stressed about the longer runs. My hardest week was week 2 and I nearly stopped following the programme and so far my best week is week 9! Good luck and keep on running....

[pot58 Graduate]

90 seconds of running in week 1 was a real challenge for me.Now I am looking at week5 run 3 as a real challenge...20 minutes!!!! I never thought I would survive to this point but I have and so will you!!

[grannyjudes Graduate]

dont fret, we all feel same and utimately surprise ourselves, and so will you

[nrg_girl Graduate]

I think the important thing in the program is to take it step by step. The program is designed to build stamina as you go, and so many people have proved to plan to work. Don't think of it as having 5 weeks to go, think of it as having one run to do. You managed week 4 run 1 (I know you said barely, but that counts as much as enthusiastically). Go out and do the second run. You know you can, cause you've already done it. Don't worry about the runs after that.

I personally think the next few weeks in the program are more of a mental challenge. You already know your arms and legs can move in a circular motion for a period of time, but your mind will start trying to doubt you. Tell it to quiet down and prove it wrong!

Good luck, let us know how it goes.

[GoogleMe Graduate]

'Barely managed it' is still managing it.

[Hidden]

You completed the run! Well done! Take the next one as it comes - slowly and surely... you'll surprise yourself... you say you think you're not "fit enough", but I bet you're a whole world fitter than you were 4 weeks ago and you'll be getting fitter with each and every run... This plan is about making you "fit enough" to do 30 minutes non-stop. So many people on here will tell you they never thought they'd do it (me included) and you know what - they all did it!

It's about now in the programme you'll learn to pace yourself and concentrate on completing the run duration. Don't worry about how fast or how slow you're going - just keep the running motion going for the length of time for the run you're on... start slowly, build up pace towards the end if you feel up for it, slow down the pace if you start to tire...

You can do this...

[Hannah306693]

Thanks so much for the kind words everybody! I did do the week 4 run 2 this morning and it felt less difficult than week 4 run 1

Damn anxiety is always trying to get in the way of my progress but I'm determined it won't stop me this time!