W6R1 question...

[curlymonkey]

I couldn't believe how close I came to enjoying running on W5R3 last week!! I thought there was no way I'd manage 20 minutes, and the first 10 were a struggle but I kept it slow and then found the last 10 (almost) enjoyable.

So, I was a little confused by the first run of week 6. I followed the programme because I really trust it, but I just wondered if anyone more knowledgeable about fitness could explain why we go from a straight 20 minutes to only 18 broken up with 3 min rest walks? It's just out of curiosity I'm asking.

[Dunder2004 Graduate]

Don't say 'only'! By consensus week 6 is the toughest week of the programme.

The fact that you enjoyed the last 10 mins of W5R3 is great. It suggests that you are comfortable once you get into your running rhythm. That rhythm is going to be broken by the walking breaks in R1 and R2 in week 6. It is a good test of being able to re-establish a rhythm once it has been lost.

[curlymonkey in reply to Dunder2004]

Ok that's a good explanation for it, thank you

Yes, "only" was a negative choice of phrasing! No need for negativity round here!