W5r3, oh the elation!

[Inspiredmum]

Well, I've completed week 5 run 3 this morning. I was fired up and raring to go. I had a really good sleep last night and felt that I was in the right zone. As I still wanted to stay on grass for the moment I chose the large playing field where I have a 10 minute drive to get to.

I made sure that my Strava was on as I was gutted on my last run that I hadn't set it up properly so it didn't record (I was really annoyed as I like to see my progress). As I set off for my 5 minute warm up walk I noticed how brilliant blue the sky was and how lovely the park looked with the sun shining on this autumn day.

Laura made me jump when she told me that my 5 minute walk was up and that it was time to start running. I took one last deep breath and off I set. All the way through this programme I've had to remind myself to slow down; I wish I had this time. It's at that moment when Laura says you've done 5 minutes running and if you're starting to feel tired then slow down a bit. I took her advice as I really felt it. This was when the gremlins started and for the first time I did start to wonder whether this would be my first practice run (as I know we don't use the F word here). I slowed down and was pleased when I heard it was half way. This next quarter was THE hardest I've had as I truly had to fight my way through this part. I am a strong willed (or stubborn as my husband will say) person so I dug deep and got through this tough bit. It was with relief that I had the last 5 minute call. Then everything was thrown at me: I had a shoe lace come undone but chose to carry on as it didn't impede my running (I just made sure I wasn't too close to the edge of the brook!); a German Shepherd was on one side of me and its owner the other (I don't like going between dog and owner to avoid confrontation with a dog) so I walked for about 2 seconds until I was past the German Shepherd and then resumed my running without a dog chasing me; a gremlin popped up out of nowhere and told me that I could stop running and pass it off as though I had completed run 3 as no one would know but I banished it and got to the end making sure that when Laura said it was time to slow down to a walk I ran a couple of seconds longer to make up for the dog incident. Slowing down to a walk I shouted out a "YES" and punched the air! A couple of minutes later I walked passed a man pushing a buggy and he smiled at me which makes me wonder whether he heard me shout but who cares as I DID IT, I ran 20 minutes non-stop!

I now look forward to week 6 with renewed enthusiasm but am cautious as I know it has caused some people problems. Onwards and upwards!

[pollyp1 Graduate]

Sounds great! I found wk5 r3 almost more important than w9r3 - it's that 'omg did I just run for 20 minutes??' thing. Onwards, as you say!

[Inspiredmum Graduate in reply to pollyp1]

Thank you, it really is an epiphany!

[Pc59 Graduate]

Fantastic well done😊👍 i found it hard the 20mins but like you stubborn & kept going! Sliwly i must admit but got there😀Feels great doesn't it? We are on our way to the last few weeks & will get there!! Just finished week6run 3 wow i thought to myself!!! I did it & not really as bad as the first continuous run HONEST!! Still hard going tho! Keep going!😊👍😊

[Inspiredmum Graduate in reply to Pc59]

Well done on completing week 6. That's next in my sights!

[Pc59 Graduate in reply to Inspiredmum]

O you will do it😊keep posting & keep in touch I will look for you at end of week 9👍😊

[tortoisegirl Graduate]

Well done! It's such a great feeling when you run for twenty minutes non-stop. I find the third quarter of any run to be the hardest; you are tired but there still feels such a long way to go! Well done for kicking your gremlins!

[lightweightkate Graduate]

Oh Inspiredmum well done you!! So happy for you 😀What a great run and you beat those gremlins too!! Well, week 6 is a problem for some but actually in retrospect it's needed - it takes you back to intervals for 2 runs and that feels a bit weird after W5R3 BUT its so worth it to get to the last run of week 6 so keep that in mind. Also some sail through it so don't worry :-). I so know you can do this and you are 😀you runner you 🏃

[Ellymeg Graduate]

Great job. That twenty minutes is a real breakthrough, well done. You fought your way through it. Slow is good, slower still is even better, the programme will take you there. Onwards you go........

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

How many of us have, at this point. air-punched or whooped or danced around squealing! Loads of us !

Well done you! A great feeling isn't it?

Week 6...just slow and steady, do not let it throw you and if any pesky gremlins appear.. squish... squish...squish, with every step you take.... Squash them flat!

[Pc59 Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

O that's a brilliant idea!!! Il keep that in mind for these continuous runs!! Gosh I am so tired the night after 25mins run glad it's a rest day! Anyone else feel that way after that run?😊

[TheTortoiseTeacher]

Congratulations! Running for 20mins non-stop has been the biggest high for me so far, hope it's as exhilarating for you too!

[Aldlib Graduate]

Your post made me smile and brought back happy memories of that week5 run 3 run. Well done on battling through. Good luck woth week 6. Let us know how you get on.