Week 5 run 2 completed without any technological problems.

[Lavender1962]

I decided to try the Laura podcast in addition to runkeeper on my phone. I wanted to hear Laura"s encouraging words. I started them both and very carefully, without touching the screen with my finger or the zipper from my waist pack put the phone in the pack. I was successful and Laura accompanied me throughout the run.

It was a beautiful sunny day, a bit on the warm side. I completed the 2nd 8 minute run repeating "I can do it" in my head, then " can do it", and finally near the end "do it". I wanted to jump for joy when Laura told me there was 1 minute left but contented myself with picking up my pace a tad.

Onward to Thursday and the famous week 5 run 3. I'm really nervous but optimistic. Laura has faithfully helped me in the past and hopefully will continue. I'm starting to achieve a rhythm sometimes when I run, albeit a slow one.

I found a pair of shorts on-line which I would like to reward myself, when I complete the program. They will provide a breezy feeling for this heat and coverage for the top of my middle-aged thighs. It wasn't too easy to find running shorts that cover more than butt cheeks.

I'm looking forward to hearing from the others who are doing wk 5 r2 in the coming days.

[spoonierunning Graduate]

Congratulations. It's great to have a little present picked out for graduation to help keep you motivated and shorts that cover more than just the butt cheeks what a find, please tell me where you have found such a miracle.

Top tip for the next run - go out knowing you can do it.

You have completed the program so far so you are fully prepared for that next run.

[PandaRunner Graduate]

Congratulations! You CAN do the next run! Simples!

I've already spent enough money on running - trainers etc to buy myself a graduation present! Though I may come up with something! Enjoy!

[claretosh]

I am just about to do W5R2 and feeling a bit apprehensive -but have managed all the runs so far do hopefully this one will be ok ........not do sure about W5R3 arghhhh

[Lavender1962 Graduate in reply to claretosh]

Good luck claretosh with w5r2! As spoonie says about w5r3 above go into it knowing you can do it. It's the same principle for all the runs. We can do them!

[kermit81 Graduate]

I have W5R2 tonight and am feeling confident that although it will be a slog and I will be wheezing heavily I am not going to stop till I am told no matter how slow my pace becomes.

Dreading the W5R3 though seems a big jump but as others have said, so far the program hasnt let me down so I have to trust it for this one too

[Lavender1962 Graduate in reply to kermit81]

Good luck kermit! It sounds like you are ready. Slowing down seems to be the key.

[claretosh]

Lavender62 - thanks for your encouragement - I DID IT this morning was a slog and very hot here in Scotland!!! Still can't see me doing 20 mins on Friday but you never know ........Do you have any advice on what to do if I don't manage W5R3 - would you repeat the full week or just keep trying to complete 20 mins??????

[Lavender1962 Graduate]

Congrats claretosh! I'm going to do wk5run3 tomorrow. It's pretty hot here as well. All the posts I've read say if you believe you can do it and you go slow you have won half the battle. I'm not sure about what to do if you can't manage it. Maybe someone more experienced will be able to offer advice. I do know that it has taken many people more than 9 weeks to complete the program. As long as you get the weeks done, it doesn't matter how long it takes

[Saffi_L Graduate]

Two thoughts Lavender - first can you post a link to the shorts? I'm desperate for something a bit cooler but haven't found anything that I could bear to wear that's shorter than mid calf. Secondly, I always use runkeeper and the podcast together. Are you having problems with it switching one of them off if you touch the screen? There's a button on my iphone at the top (the on/off power button) and if I press it once (without holding it down - which turns the phone off) before I start it stops the screen from being active until I press the menu button at the bottom. Teenage son showed me this when I was trying to run to music but found it kept switching between tracks. Is that any help?

[Lavender1962 Graduate]

Hi Saffi,

The shorts were at Mountain Equipment Co-op here in Canada. I'm not sure where you are but the shipping cost would be too expensive outside of North America.

mec.ca/shop/womens-shorts/5...

The other place I saw some longer shorts I think was on the Under Armour website.

Yes, I'm pretty sure that the podcast goes off when I touch the screen or something else does. Thanks for the advice. I have an android and will look for a similar button.

Thanks for your help and I hope you can find shorts somewhere.