Is run 2 always your hardest run? Tips for Week 5?

[Cairokitten]

I am finding a pattern of run 2 being the hardest in each week. Have other people experienced this and if so can you identify why? My next run is Week 4 run 3 (today was a killer run 2!). I am looking to Week 5 with trepidation. I can't believe I can run for 20 minutes at the end of it! Any tips?!

[Hidden]

I think a few have commented the same previously, not sure there is any specific reason behind it ☺

Don't worry about run, everything you have done so far has built you up to do it , everyone looks ahead to it and starts to worry.

We all did and then went out and ran it and you will too 😊

[runswithdogs Graduate]

Just keep it as slow as you can possibly go. Laura will guide you through.

[plop Graduate]

I always find run 2 harder than run 1 then run 3is normally a breeze but I'm on week 5 too so we will see......

[LessToLose Graduate]

I have heard some say that, but I didn't find it to be the case at all.

Don't worry about week 5, it is doable and you will be amazed!

[PixieChin327]

I find the same but I know my problem. I tend to do day 1, realise I can do it and then go into day 2 more confident. This then means that unconsciously I tend to run a little faster so I flag before the end and struggle. On day 3 I think it's harder so I slow my pace and go back to normal. When I look at my pace on map my run, day 2 is usually the fastest.

[Cairokitten Graduate in reply to PixieChin327]

That's interesting Pixie. Maybe that has happened a couple of times to me as well when I think about it. Also I think the psychology of Run 1 (new and exciting) and Run 3 (yes I am going to complete the week!) is more motivating perhaps.

[PixieChin327]

Yes I think I suffer from that as well, full of enthusiasm on day 1 and then 'just today and then it's over' on day 3, ha ha. I just completed week 4 this week and made a very conscious effort to slow my pace. For the first time ever (I've repeated other weeks a few times) day 2 was actually the best.

[Inominate]

Yes, I have found the same. Run 2 is harder and seems to take more recovery also. I have got into the habit of running Monday , Wednesday and Saturday , giving me an extra day recovery between r2 and r3. I am also on week 5, did run 1 yesterday at the gym and most of my runs have been on the treadmill. I am considering doing week 5 r1 again tomorrow but this time on the local roads. My justification is getting a more realistic run with some hill etc, but I think this is just some anxiety about getting run 3 and having to do 20 mins! Yes, trepidation is the right word.

[Cairokitten Graduate in reply to Inominate]

You are a bit ahead of me, I just completed Week 4 today. I'm ok with Week 5 Run 1 I think, its actually less running than what I did today (by a minute!) and its in 3 x 5 minutes, and I've already done 5 mins. I will trust in Laura and the programme, and keep going I guess!