Smiley face and no gremlins in sight! w3r3

[Titchy21]

Well I really didn't want to go out this morning 😂😂😂 but as I'm going on holiday in my caravan with friends for the next few days I didn't fancy getting my running gear on and showing myself up in front of them 😂😂 so I thought I had better go!

What can I say ..... I had a good run 😄 My calves were MUCH better today!! No gel and they didn't start to burn until halfway through the last run!! 😄😄😄 Happy days! I managed the programme just about all the way through without a struggle until the last 3 min run and about a minute in my calves began to struggle! I had to slow right down and even take a few walking steps but I kept trying to jog and would say I managed 2.40 intermittently!

So now the big question, am I ready for week 4! I've questioned am I ready every week and moved on and done it, so I would say trust the programme and move on....I didn't think I could do week 2.....I managed! I didn't think I could do week 3..... I managed!! Now I'm questionning if I can do week 4???? But I'm starting to think I actually can! I am actually beginning to believe I am much stronger than I think! I just have "gremlins" that put doubt in my mind and make me "think" too much! So I am going to move onto week 4 because deep inside somewhere there's a runner screaming to get out!! ( I ate him😂😂🍰🍰)

Did I mention I. Got my best pace today ??? I got a little gold star on my app 😇😇 only 8.08 min/km slow in most people's standard but " my best" and that's what matters 😄😄

[npr70 Graduate]

Well done that's great! The "I ate him" comment in your post really made me laugh. I say give week 4 a go - I think you'll be able to do it - but if you find it's really too much of a stretch then you can always go back and consolidate by repeating week 3. Well done on your best pace - it's personal goals that are important - not what everyone else is doing. Congratulations and keep going!

[OldPossum]

Love the thought you ate the runner 😂😂. Move on if you're ready. You can still slow down if you need to. I don't go as fast as you and I've just graduated. I figure speed can come later. 😀😀

[Vanessa291 Graduate]

Hi Titchy, you sound ready to me. Great stuff. Enjoy your caravaning break 🌟🌟🌟

[Hidden]

Well done Titchy21 you sound as if you are starting to enjoy this! If you finished the rule is to move on. If it is a real struggle then you can always go back. But I don't think we ever feel ready

[RunningGeek Graduate]

Go you! I have just finished W3 too and am a bit apprehensive about next week. Like your attitude. Happy running

[McFitty Graduate]

See? You can do it! Fantastic post Titchy. Great running and awesome determination. Move on up if you feel ready, if you need to you can repeat a run at any time. Sounds like you've got the gremlins under control and now you will be getting stronger on every run. Well done - you're doing great

[poppypug Graduate]

Great stuff Titchy, Well done for digging in and going for it

I would say " Move on , youre ready ! " xxx

[Sofargoner Graduate]

Really interested to read your post as I have asked myself a very similar question regarding the last 3 min run when I had to drop to brisk walk for 10 seconds. I have to say after ten minutes since posting this I am tending to think I would rather have three fully complete week 3 runs with no slowing to a walk at all rather than move on to week 4. Have you done your three runs with a rest day inbetween? Is calf burning to do with shoes or stride? Today I just felt....so tired on the last three minute run so I wondered if evening time is a crap time for my particular heavy frame to get moving.....love your pics by the way. Keep going, you can do this and you inspire me every run you do!

[Titchy21 in reply to Sofargoner]

Aw ty for your reply. I usually run on a Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings to have a rest day in between. The calve burning is because I'm.a.self confessed couch potato and I'm 7 stone overweight so my calves are wondering what I'm doing lol. To be honest I'm beginning to feel stronger and stronger while running even though it's slow progress. I also would love 3 perfect runs before moving on but I have never had 3 perfect runs in a row and I don't think I'm likely to so I would be repeating and repeating myself rather than pushing forwards. Every time I have tried to push it further it's been tough but I have managed or been damn close! I know I have only hit the full programme on my second run this week. The first was horrendous and the third was so close it was a whisper off the last 3 min run! But u am going to push on to week 4 because I won't know if I can get this body to run for 5 mins unless I ask it too.........if I struggle I will class it as a practise 😉😉 and repeat the day again. If I'm close I will move on to the next run..... I think sometimes the negative thoughts in our heads tells us we can't do it, when in actual fact we can!! Keep going and never forget where you were in wk 1 xxx

[ench0 Graduate]

You totally got it, don't doubt yourself. It is W5 I would be worried about.

[Sofargoner Graduate in reply to ench0]

eeeeeeek

Mind you I have a friend who said she's repeating and repeating week 8. I'm not even daring to look at what that is.

[Clairratc Graduate]

Well done, my advice would be stick to the programme if you've completed all of the 3 runs in week 3 then move on, dint look ahead as it can seem really daunting just go for it. It's great that you improved your speed but I'd say really don't focus on speed, just get used to running for the required time no matter how slow you go, it's not really about the distance you cover it's about the consistent running, if you try to increase pace and time you'll be shattered.