Week 5 - it was going so well ...

[oxford_mike]

At the end of W5R3 Laura a says something along the lines of " never mind if you didn't achieve it, you can always go back and try week 5 again". And that's me.

Perhaps blame the colder weather or maybe the season of over-indulgence, but it means going for take two - although I can't see either of those factors going away in the near future. I know I can do the 2 x8 minute runs with a walk in the middle, so it's on 'hold', practise them a bit and go for the big one in due course.

Congratulations to those going on to week 6. It's certainly not easy, but still a big improvement from when I was at week1.

[Kellywillow Graduate]

Have another go! 2 x 8 minute runs is a 16 minute run, so the Wk5 run is only another 4 minutes. Slow down - it doesn't matter if you are jogging at a walking pace (I know I was!) just get to the end. Laura says it is more of a mental barrier and I think she is right. I found it helpful to count breaths in and out, focus on getting to the next lamppost (or whatever). I think for me the most helpful was the 'slow down, then slow down some more'. I'm sure you'll make it.

[Fluffypaws21 Graduate]

I agree with Kellywillow. I'm on week 8 now and I found week 5 really hard. When I got to the final run I just went very very slowly and didn't look at the minutes ticking down - this was all great advice from other members of this group. Have another go - you can do it and will feel brilliant afterwards!

[hilbean Graduate]

I found this run hard too but for me it was mostly to do with the mental gremlins rather than the physical ones. I flagged in the middle but kept repeating to myself: are you out of breath? No. Do your legs hurt? No. Then your mind is a liar. Plod on. Don't know if that will help you any? Whatever you decide to do... good luck

[oxford_mike in reply to hilbean]

Sadly I was out of breath! Gulping lungfuls of cold air was quite uncomfortable, so I had a little walk somewhere around 8 minutes. I need to get a bit fitter - but that's the whole point!

[hilbean Graduate in reply to oxford_mike]

Ah! Maybe a bit slower then but cold air really doesn't help. I've been really lucky in that respect as it's been unseasonably mild here. Only had one icy frosty morning to cope with so far. At least you know you can do the 2x8 min runs, so you're almost there. Probably no need to do the whole week again unless you really want to. Good luck and happy running

[Tikiczocky Graduate]

It's great that you're getting out and giving it a go in the cold (sometimes nice not to have the overheating issue, but bloomin' difficult to get warm all the same - in my case, anyway). I remember my mind giving me the, 'this is getting serious, eh?!" talk and the gremlins having a go at that stage. I know now, just a few months since graduating, that I was still trying to run way too fast at this stage, even though the snails were overtaking me... so, slow down and slow down some more, as Kellywillow says, is the way to beat your bogie week. YOU WILL DO IT

[Hidden]

Sorry you had a hard time with it Mike I found it tough and there was a lot of shouting at myself to keep going happening inside my head. You can do it though!!

Do you use the podcasts or the app? I switched to the app from W5R1 and have definitely found it easier to complete the runs using my own music. The podcasts were good for learning to pace things though but the music is dull, so maybe give that a try too?

[oxford_mike in reply to Hidden]

Ali, Well done for completing week 5 - I will be along soon! Sadly my smartphone isn't smart enough for the app, which only works on recent versions of Android.

[Hidden in reply to oxford_mike]

Oh no! That sounds like as good an excuse for an upgrade as any

I'm sure you'll nail R3 and will be overtaking me pretty shortly!

[runswithdogs Graduate]

Give it another go. Week 5 run 3 was the first one I had to repeat. Just take it slow, maybe pick a new running route, choose your own music. Physically you can probably do it, it's likely you mind playing tricks. Good luck - no harm in repeating it as many times as you need.

[oxford_mike in reply to runswithdogs]

With previous weeks I usually felt totally knackered after run 1, less awful after run 2 and vaguely human after run 3. Repeat before moving on may be the answer.

[runswithdogs Graduate in reply to oxford_mike]

Vaguely human. That does describe it well doesn't it :). Once you nail that run it'll feel so good. Can't wait to read your post on it.

[kristina51 Graduate]

Good to see you again, you'll do it, just go slow.

[oxford_mike in reply to kristina51]

Hopefully you didn't actually 'see' me! I'm still plodding in the dark while the young university types whizz by (or is that you!). Congratulations on graduation; sometime in 2015 for me.

[kristina51 Graduate in reply to oxford_mike]

Probably not, I jog north of Kidlington and I'm definitely not one of the young, fit looking ones. I have to move 14stone after all and i'm not exactly young either My jogging is more of a shuffle - I think it's better for my joints and I couldn't do it gazelle style anyway.

Actually I would really like to see some advice on how to speed up without doing damage to my joints from other heavier/biggger people.

[misswobble Graduate]

You'll nail it Mike, you just have to believe in yourself and trust in the programme. Both will deliver!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

If you are having trouble breathing, just slow down, it's not a race.

[adidas1961 Graduate]

Keep going.....nice & slow speed will.come.later....

[Rob_and_his_westie Graduate]

Trust Laura, trust me, trust all the folks on here - you can do this! I bet it's not your lungs that are stopping you, it's not your legs either. It's probably your head. After all the runs ive done since graduation. I still get that moment when the mind-squirrels nibble away at me and say something like "that's enough, there's a nice cup of tea waiting for you at home". Stay strong, slow down find something in the mid distance in front of you and make it to that point. Then find another and make it to that. You've put in a lot of hard work already and you can do it. It's not easy, I know, but just think how incredible you're going to feel when you get there! Come on Mike!!

[kristina51 Graduate]

Merry Xmas - keep on running maybe we make next years Santa Dash