Not so knackered and really bloody chuffed.

[knackeredbutchuffed]

I have just done week 5 session 2, the 2 8 minutes. I seriously never thought that I would get this far and am floating on air. I am a bit worried about the next session that is 20 minutes. Any tips out there for a very slow larger lady?

[Curlygurly2 Graduate]

Congrats on doing the 2 x 8 mins, I remember how hard that one was! For the next one listen to Laura, and keep slow, you can do it!

[Irishprincess Graduate]

Brilliant. Well done to you. The programme is designed to prepare you for each run so you are ready. You've got this far so you're doing everything right! Just run very slowly, get a mental image in your head of how epic you'll feel when you've finished and then come back here and tell us all about it!

[rich_wolves Graduate]

Your apprehension is natural. Just remember we've all had to do it and all felt the same as you , good luck , take your time , remember its not a race , you are in it for the long term

[knackeredbutchuffed Graduate]

Thank you all, I will take it slowly.x

[Mat30 Graduate]

Take it nice and slow and if you feel as though you are working too hard then slow down a bit more. Pace is not important but using your mental strength to get through it is the most important aspect to this session. You really can do it!!!

[Supermum3]

Have just done the 20 minutes this morning and feel great. It was quite hard but as long as you pace yourself and slow down if you feel knackered(I did!) you will do it! Believe in yourself and go for it!!

[JoolieB1 Graduate]

Fantastic run, brilliant. Trust the C25K programme, many other people have dreaded the 20 minute run and then surprised themselves that it was achievable because of the work you have put in before. Take a rest day, nice and slow and steady and breathe well and u will do it. Julie 😉 - I am 51 and overweight but it didn't stop me, my toffee legs only went and graduated - another running miracle, excited for u, keep us posted

[poppypug Graduate]

Good on ya , You can do this

Just keep doing what youve been doing, slow and steady pace , no rush.

You are doing great, keep going ! xxx

[Purple_faced_woman Graduate]

Like the others said, keep doing what you're doing - you are doing fantastically well. At age 50, 18.5 stone (now down to 17.5 and counting very, very slowly...) and 5 foot 4.5 inches tall, I probably count as a slow larger lady! And as you can see, I have graduated, and so will you. The 20 minutes looks so scary from where you are, but you need to believe in yourself and the programme: you've put in the time and the effort and you are ready and fully capable.

Apparently your body can take between 5 and 10 minutes to actually believe that you really mean it and are going to keep on doing this running thing right now before it settles down and stops moaning at you and just gets on with it. Once you've reached that point the running does become a bit easier, so it can actually feel that running for 20 minutes is easier that 2 lots of 8 minutes because your body has moved into the running zone.

I was a wuss and allowed my fears to hold me back an extra week by repeating week 4, but I now firmly believe that this was simply a mental issue (20 minutes sounds such a long time), and that I would have been just fine moving straight on to week 5. I'm not ashamed of this delay - I needed to build that courage and self-belief and didn't feel confident to take that leap of faith but I know that physically I was ready.

Well done with everything you've achieved so far. Good luck with your W5R3 - not that you'll need it: you will ace it and wonder how you could ever have been scared!