Week Six Done

[Late-Starter]

Week six is very much a rerun of week five, but with quite a bit more attitude. It's a tightening of the screw before all hell breaks loose in weeks seven, eight and nine - at least that's what the pessimist in me thinks. The optimistic me sees that week six is a consolidation of week five, in which you were able to find that you could run non-stop for 20 minutes. Week six consolidates running for an extended period and then stretches you even further to convince you that you can run for 25 minutes. Wow, w6r3 was hard work, but it no longer comes as a surprise that I can do what the programme demands because every week has been the same - stepping up to bigger and bigger challenges. In a sense, finding you're able to run non-stop for 25 minutes is less astonishing than finding that you have the ability to dig deep and do it despite what your body is yelling at you, and then finding out what a buzz it gives and how worthwhile it is.

So I trust that week seven isn't going to be all hell breaking loose - I'm just glad that it gives me three more goes at 25 minutes. I expect it to get a bit more comfortable than this first attempt was in w6r3.

Oh, and by the way, I'm now a runner, 'cause Laura decreed it.

[Hidden]

You've got this far so nothing can stop you now. Weeks 7, 8 and 9 are a lovely steady build up to graduation. Enjoy.

[Late-Starter Graduate in reply to Hidden]

That's it. I'll just keep repeating, "Nothing can stop me now. Nothing can stop me now". Thanks

[SC1472 Graduate]

Hello fellow runner! Well done on completing week 6, by the sounds of it you are in the right place mentally with this as your body is prepared for the longer runs and also your head which means, as Hidden says, there's nothing stopping you!

Well done!

[Late-Starter Graduate in reply to SC1472]

Fellow runner - I like the sound of that.

[Cornet-Carolyn Graduate]

Fantastic achievement 👍

[Late-Starter Graduate in reply to Cornet-Carolyn]

Thanks, Carolyn.

[helzhicks71 Graduate]

Thank you for this. I completed Week 5 Run 3 last night and I'm still stunned that I ran for 20 minutes continuously. But already can feel the gremlins in my head telling me that week 7,8 and 9 are just around the corner and there is no way I can face repeating long runs each time.

For me the programme is genius as I now know (and tell myself) that my body is physically able to run now. It truly is mind over matter for me at this stage.

Your post hit just the right note for me...week 6 builds on week 5 and trust in the programme.

Happy running. We can do this 🙏

[Late-Starter Graduate in reply to helzhicks71]

20 minutes, well done - you've got what it takes. And what it takes is all in the head. If it needed to be the body alone, there's no way I'd have got to week three, let alone week 6 going on 7.

Others have said, and I have found out myself, that when the running is no longer interrupted by the need for intermediate recovery walks, both mind and body can get into a great rhythm after 10 minutes or so, it feels as though you can go on running forever (well, for 30 minutes at least!).

We CAN do this! Thanks for the mutual support - be thinking of you.

[Hidden]

You are truly a runner and W7 won't bring you anything you can't handle

[Hidden]

Yup, hello Runner

Week 7, 8 and 9 are lovely imho; enjoy