Wk3R2 completed, but we foolishly peeped at wk 4 and are quailing..

[VeganNelly]

We found R2 much easier than R1; it being less crazily hot probably helped too. The kids have so much energy and are still bounding about at the end, but we are all a bit anxious about week 4 as we foolishly looked ahead at it, instead of just basking in the smugness of today having gone well!

[McFitty Graduate]

Strangely, week 3 was the one that gave me real trouble and I had to re do it. Week 4 by comparison seemed easier! I think the runs we find the hardest are the ones we allow to grow into giants in our minds It's so much a mental battle as well as physical. The fact is you are prepared for week 4 physically, you just need to tell your head to "get with the programme" I'm sure you'll be just fine and well done on getting to where you are!

[VeganNelly Graduate in reply to McFitty]

I'm sure you are absolutely right, so we shouldn't have peeped, really, as instead of just glowing about how (relatively!) easy W3R2 felt we are now all thinking that next week is going to be impossible, so we are just going to not think about it for now

Thank you- I feel like the most unlikely runner ever- had terrifying sports lessons at school, I was tiny and not sporty and it was a very competitive sporty school and the word 'sport' has been a dirty word ever since then, so this is huge for me. Why couldn't we have had a program as supportive and empowering at school; why was sport at school all about beating somebody else and winning, rather than getting fit or enjoying it.?

[Suebguineapig Graduate in reply to VeganNelly]

Totally agree. I was always the last to be picked (apart from swimming which my Dad basically taught me) and my memories of the P.E. Teachers are less than rosy! I can remember quailing at the idea of five mins too. Actually was even dafter and looked at the whole nine weeks upfront duh! But you can and will do it. The programme is sooo well designed. And, if you take more than one attempt at a week, so what? It all builds your stamina and capacity.

[McFitty Graduate in reply to VeganNelly]

I have just had that exact conversation with hubby! School sport was totally crapolata (except for gymnastics) oh, and swimming, anything that involved anything to do with building stamina was an absolute nightmare for 90% of us!

[Irish-John Graduate]

Every bloomin' increase in time/stage past the second week filled me with horrified dread when contemplating it But all the advice and support of the Forumites got me out the door every time - then it was just a question of 'slow and steady' and not getting hung up on '9 weeks' or anything like it

Trust the programme and you will be at the Graduate level before you can think right now

[Aldlib Graduate]

I had a similar thought when we sneeked a peek at week 4 last week but having just done W4R1 last night I can honestly say it was totally fine. Just slow things down and try to enjoy the run. The thought of it was much worse than actually doing it and we felt great having achieved it.

[misswobble Graduate]

Don't look! If you'd not looked you would have nothing to worry about. Anyway, too late now but don't do it again y'hear 😊

Just go niiiiiiiiiccccccccce and steady. Luxuriate in going slllllllllowly. It's the way to tackle it. That way you get to the end of week 9 safely and hopefully with no niggles en route to Graduation Day

Good luck and have fun. It's a blast!

[dddd4 Graduate]

Don't worry about what's ahead. Trust in the programme a d remember that you need to go slowly. Slowing down is definitely the secret to achieving those runs. You can work on speed way later. Good luck☺