W5R3 completed! :)

[Lee337]

Yes! That's right guys/gals...week 5 run 3 COMPLETED!!

As you can imagine, I was amazed I did it and I'm still buzzin' because I not only attempted this challenge of doing 20 minutes non-stop, I actually completed it!

I was really dreading this run beforehand and although I was not confident I could actually complete it, I was hopeful that I could get a good way into it before dropping to the floor! (I was thinking I would manage around 10 or 11 minutes max).

I really wasn't in the right frame of mind before I set off and I actually left home very reluctantly. I think my subconcious mind took over control of my brain! It put my shorts and trainers on then walked me outside locking the front door behind! Then, once my front door key was safely tucked inside the little pocket in my shorts, it released control of my brain and it was up to me again! Once I was back in control of my own brain, I thought, 'Oh well, I might as well give it a go now and get it out of the way...at least it's not raining!'

So I set off walking up towards the local industrial estate (Yes, I'm back home in Tamworth, so no lovely harbour views for me today!) Just after I got into the estate Laura announced it was time to start the run. 'Oh gawd!' I thought, here we go...

Anyway, I set off jogging (up a small incline) and got into a nice, slow steady rhythm and then Laura announced I had done 5 minutes and I could feel my legs getting quite heavy again and I thought that any second now they are going to really start to burn and I will have to stop, but they didn't get any worse! I found that my legs stayed like that. Yes, they were feeling heavy and I really would've loved to have stopped there and then but I continued to push on (slowly!) and on...and on...I think I would say that this was the toughest part of the whole run for me, not the last few minutes! Believe it or not.

Next thing I know Laura is telling me I have completed 10 minutes and I am half way through! Wow, I have now done more non-stop running than I've ever managed in the last 35 years and although my legs were heavy I was still able to throw one in front of the other, drop it down and repeat it with the other leg, and so I just continued to do this (while I still could!) and I found myself in a decent rhythm and after listening to a song or two I was convinced I was at the 20 minute mark so believe it or not I actually upped the pace (very slightly) to finish with a bit of a spurt and to get me out of breath. However, this almost went terribly wrong because after stepping up the pace Laura then announced that I had just 2 minutes to go. 'Oh damn' I thought! I was really expecting to stop any second, and she now tells me I have another 2 minutes to go!! Well, I dropped the pace back down again and crossed the finishing line without any major problems. In fact, I felt like I could've carried on a little longer! Not much, and I would still be hurting, but I did feel like I had it in me if push came to shove.

So, after that my confidence is flying high! Don't get me wrong though, I'm not getting ahead of myself, as it was very tough. Completing 20 minutes non-stop really wasn't a 'walk in the park' Literally! It was a real struggle, but if anbody else reading this is due to do their W5R3 then trust me...as long as you've stuck to the programme, you *will* be capable of doing it.

[Millsie-J Graduate]

Yeahhhhhhhhhy, way to go Lee. I knew you could do it! Fantastic run!

You have done amazingly well. Keep going now, you have nailed it Runner 🏃🏻👍🏼

[Lee337 Graduate in reply to Millsie-J]

Thanks Millsie-J .

[africanali]

Well done!!! That is amazing, and so encouraging. That gives me so much more hope. Just done W5R2, will be attempting run 3 on Wednesday. Thanks so much for posting and willing us all on.

[Cuig1975 in reply to africanali]

Best of luck on Wednesday 🍀

[Lee337 Graduate in reply to africanali]

Thanks africanali .

Yes mate, you will also do it, I'm sure you will.

No probs. All the best for Wednesday!

[McFitty Graduate]

Seeeeeeeeeeee?! Go you!

[Lee337 Graduate in reply to McFitty]

Thanks McFitty .

[Cuig1975]

Well done you been looking forward to see how'd you go thanks for post , it does us good we're right behind you .... Keep going I've heard so much about week 5 just want to get there now.... Week 4 is complete

[Lee337 Graduate in reply to Cuig1975]

Thanks Cuig1975 .

Yes, it's a tough one...but very achievable as long as you've completed all the previous weeks.

Good luck with week 5, especially the run 3.

[Cuig1975 in reply to Lee337]

Cheers keep posting

[Lee337 Graduate in reply to Cuig1975]

You too! Thanks.

[poppypug Graduate]

Oh Lee , I am SO pleased for you !!!

I know you were absolutely dreading this one and to log on here and find out that you've completed it , is just brilliant !

A Massive Well done to you , 20 minutes non stop running is a fantastic achievement and you should be so proud of yourself. This a major obstacle to overcome and a real turning point in the programme, it is tough , but you dug deep and did it !!

Very much a mental challenge this one as well as a physical one, but you had completed the runs before so you knew you were physically capable , but it is a step up and you start doubting you can do it, and then that's when a bit of self belief comes to the fore.

Oh and I hope you took note of Laura when she told you that you are a runner !

Fantastic news, Really Well done ! xxx

[Lee337 Graduate in reply to poppypug]

Thanks poppypug .

Yeah, I'm chuffed to bits I managed it because as you know I was concerned that I just would not be up to it. I think I'm going to enjoy week 6, especially as it seems to be taking a step backwards! x

[poppypug Graduate in reply to Lee337]

Hi Lee

Yes Week 6 is back to the walk/ run intervals . This along with Week 5 are transtition weeks both testing in their own way .

Just keep doing what you've been doing Lee, you've got this far , you're doing it right and don't doubt your capabilities. The programme won't throw anything at you that you're not ready for xxx

[Lee337 Graduate in reply to poppypug]

Thanks! I will, and I will have a bit more faith in myself too! x

[Raven2016 Graduate]

Well done Lee! Fantastic 😀 I'm really pleased for you. That is so reassuring too. You sound over the moon, And you have every right to be. Brilliant, and made my evening! Yay!!

[Lee337 Graduate in reply to Raven2016]

Aww thanks very much Raven2016 .

Yeah, I am chuffed to bits I really am as I was concerned that I might stumble on this one and I was fully prepared for that, so I'm really glad I didn't in the end.

I know you're just behind me (I can hear ya panting! lol) so I'm looking forward to hearing you tell us all you've also completed all of week 5.

[Raven2016 Graduate in reply to Lee337]

hopefully next week, assuming I can get this ere week four lark under control! I've done it once so know I should be able to do it twice more, assuming all things equal.

I'm relying on you to be pace-setter!

[Raven2016 Graduate in reply to Raven2016]

And it's not just you that can hear me panting...suspect they hear me on the Continent!

[Pc59 Graduate]

Yahoo!!! Well done we all knew you could do it and you did😊🏃🏃🏃👍 trust in Laura works😊

[Lee337 Graduate in reply to Pc59]

Thanks Pc59 . Yup, how could I have possibly doubted Laura!

[Hidden]

Woo hoo, go you! From everything I can see this run is such a significant milestone in the programme. Enjoy that buzz! You worked hard for this.

[Lee337 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Hidden . I certainly did, but it's worth it.

[JaySeeSkinny Graduate]

Well done! No stopping you now! Watch out for week 6, after the high of week 5 it sometimes throws people. And then it's a clear run to graduation 🏃 🎓

[Lee337 Graduate in reply to JaySeeSkinny]

Thanks JaySeeSkinny .

Oh really? I was thinking it was nice & easy? It certainly doesn't look as bad. I'll try to keep my wits about me on that one then.

[Tombenoly Graduate]

Yeah well done ! I do that brain detachment thing o find that I have " -accidentally" put my running kit on!

[Millsie-J Graduate in reply to Tombenoly]

I do my top to toe joint warm ups....10 mins tops, then I am in running mode, brill 😃🏃🏻

[Lee337 Graduate in reply to Millsie-J]

I guess whatever works!

[Millsie-J Graduate in reply to Lee337]

Thats it Lee, do what works for you, you have this sorted now, graduation is really close😃

[Lee337 Graduate in reply to Millsie-J]

Hope so!

[Lee337 Graduate in reply to Millsie-J]

BTW Millsie-J , how do you insert those smileys into your posts?

[Millsie-J Graduate in reply to Lee337]

Its on the ipad or iphone Lee 😉

[Lee337 Graduate in reply to Millsie-J]

I see. No wonder I can't see them! lol

[Millsie-J Graduate in reply to Lee337]

I have same oroblem if i use my pc 😩

[Lee337 Graduate in reply to Tombenoly]

Thanks Tombenoly . It seems to work though, eh?

[Flossie22 Graduate]

Congratulations! I hope to complete w5, r2 tomorrow. You're doing really well.

[Lee337 Graduate in reply to Flossie22]

Thank you Flossie22 .

All the best with the rest of your week 5. Keep it going (nice & steady!)

[misswobble Graduate]

Well done Lee ☺ leave your brain at the front door for week 6. All you need is the programme and your legs

Go geddit! 😊

[Lee337 Graduate in reply to misswobble]

lol

Thanks misswobble !

[achievingit Graduate]

Well done!! I completed my 20 minutes last night. It's an amazing feeling, isn't it?! Like you said, for the people with this run coming up - if you've stuck to the programme, you can do it!!

[Lee337 Graduate in reply to achievingit]

Thanks achievingit .

Yes, it certainly is!

[debze Graduate]

That's brilliant! Well done! It really seems to be a mind over matter thing completing the third run of week 5, even though it's a massive physical achievement too Twenty minutes non stop seems a massive step up and you did it! So pleased for you!

[Lee337 Graduate in reply to debze]

Thanks debze!

Yeah, I really surprised myself to be honest. It was a great feeling to successfully complete it after dreading it beforehand.

Hope you had a nice holiday.

[debze Graduate in reply to Lee337]

Yep thanks! It was lovely getting back into the running too lol

[JA13]

That's exactly how I felt both before and after my own W5R3 run on Friday. Well done 😀

[Lee337 Graduate in reply to JA13]

Thanks!

[Amabanana2]

Well done Lee! We completed Week 5 run 3 today too! What a feeling! Keep us posted on how you get on with the rest

[Lee337 Graduate in reply to Amabanana2]

Thank you Amabanana2

Good luck with week 6!