WEEK 5 COMPLETED

[pauline78]

I feel overwhelmed i have actually ran for 20 mins without stopping.

[melly4012 Graduate]

Congratulations! Well done - it's such a milestone in the programme. Now you know you can run for blocks of time you're well on your way to that 30 minutes

[Als_mum Graduate]

It's such a great moment, isn't it? It's the point where you feel that you can do anything. Well done, and keep going!

[PippiRuns]

I remember that run even though it's months ago. To me it was the run that marked the point where I started believing I would be able to do 5k one day. Well done!

[pollyp1 Graduate]

Congratulations - I felt like that, it was almost more important than the idea of graduating!

[NIGHTINGALE1 Graduate]

Very well done. I start week 5 tomorrow.

[CentralPark Graduate]

Oh yeah!!! I know how you feel - I remember that 20 minute milestone!!! Well done!! Hold onto that great feeling and hug it tight - it's definitely a great achievement! See you at the finish line x

[boptillyoudrop49 Graduate]

Fantastic. That's the biggie done. I love it when people reach this point because you really feel how they've turned a corner mentally as well as physically.

[Sofargoner Graduate in reply to boptillyoudrop49]

I'm struggling so much with week 4 I don't think I can physically do W5.

[boptillyoudrop49 Graduate in reply to Sofargoner]

Some runs are a real struggle but even if you feel you have scraped through them, you will have done the work to make yourself stronger. This process happens on your rest days, so it can make sense to have an extra rest day before beginning w5 and also again before your big run W5D3. It definitely is hard running those longer blocks and it depends whether the problem is lack of puff (go slower, yes, even slower! Repeat a week a couple of times to get your lungs and heart stronger if you want to) or a mental problem since running is as much of a mental as a physical challenge (here you have to be your own cheerleader and coach to make yourself persevere through to the end, plan ahead of time what you are going to think about in these longer running blocks and do just that as soon as you start to run, focus on some planning, imagining etc). You really can do this.

[Sofargoner Graduate in reply to boptillyoudrop49]

So I thought about your reply bop. Yesterday I accomplished 97% of W4 R2 and felt slightly more in control of the longer run. I was aware that instead of flailing through it mentally I stopped to think about a rythmn and breathing. I found the second 5 mins very hard (again) and dropped to a walk for about 30 seconds out of it then picked up the last minute of it. I'm going to keep on till those 2x 5 mins feel easier. Thanks for sharing your advice. I really didn't know that the rest days did anything!

[boptillyoudrop49 Graduate in reply to Sofargoner]

Fabulous that sounds really good. When we run, small tears are made in our leg muscles. These heal on your rest days and leave your musckes stronger. It sounds a bit drastic but it is a natural process. Take your time if you want to. You will definitely get there and look how close you were to managing all the running!

[dddd4 Graduate]

Well done. Its a great feeling isnt it?! You are well on your way now. Good luck.☺