Week 5 c25k

[Flowster]

Hi thanks for letting me join I to am doing c25k and am stuck on week 5 the though of running 20minutes fills me with dread as I am with a group with what seems more stamina albeit it most are 10/20 years younger. Why can’t I keep running

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate]

You can do it, if you have done Wk4 then you can do Wk5.

The secret to the 20 minute run is to start slow and stay slow. Think of it in chunks of five minutes and keep going slowly and steadily. Don't worry what pace the others do..run your own session.

Good luck😊

[Canirun in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

I felt like that too but keep going, just started W7 & never thought I would get this far!

[ejvcruns Graduate]

You'll do fine! We all did it, and we were once old, fat, ex-smokers who hadn't exercised since school. Now we are older, slimmer folk who run for fun (!!!). Seriously, go very slowly (ignoring the others) and you will finish the distance. The pace will pick up on its own as you work with the longer runs in the later weeks. Week 5 run 3 is an awesome experience!!

[Zandy21 in reply to ejvcruns]

Here I was thinking I was a unique fat, old ex-smoker who hadn't exercised since High School (actually, hiding behind the shed smoking counts as exercise, doesn't it?).

[KKThomas Graduate in reply to ejvcruns]

Can I join the "fat, old ex-smoker who hasn't exercised since school" club?

[Zandy21]

Hi. I'm on week five too. I have no idea where I'm getting the extra 12 minutes stamina from. The eight minute runs had me stretching myself today. I thought I was running quite slow, but I was still overtaking serious walkers - with hand weights! I guess I could go a bit slower.

[LeeU Graduate]

Here's the secret to W5R3, don't tell anyone I've told you this, it's all in your head, the program gets your body ready for this without you even realising it.

This is mainly a mental test, don't get me wrong, the run is a challenge but you can do this, by thinking you can't do it you are creating a self fulfilling prophecy.

Just go out, take it slow and steady as ejvcruns says, get into a nice breathing rhythm and you'll be fine, trust the program and believe in yourself.

[Foxy77 in reply to LeeU]

Good advice, I also have Week 5, run 3 coming up! Just don’t understand why it increases to 20mins and the goes back down again in Week 6? I have considered doing an extra Week 5 run 2 instead if 3... that would be cheating though wouldn’t it?!

[LeeU Graduate in reply to Foxy77]

Follow the program, take it slow and steady, this is a test you must pass, believe it or not you drop back to run/walk for W6 R1 & R2 to add more stamina and fitness.

Don't think about it, just believe you can do it, completing this run unlocks the rest of the program.

[Ohmsweetohm]

A few years ago I tried running with other people, they were fitter and younger than me. I always felt I was holding them up, and always ran too fast etc to keep up. Didn't enjoy it and stopped. I'm now on wk5 r3 and loving it. I hate non run days (probably because I try and do abs on those days) but I'm doing it at my pace which is slow!

Don't worry what the others are doing... this is all about you (how wonderful!)

[Flowster]

Thanks all for your support think I am going to try doing it solo and slower 🏃🏽

[Glossy Graduate]

Yes, just get out and have a go, you'll be amazed!! Go really slowly and you'll be fine.

[MummyHoppy]

I just did this run today and it was BRILLIANT! Definitely agree that my body was ready but my head was worried! Good luck, it really works!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Slow and steady as Bluebirdrunner says.. run this, your way and at your own pace..

[KKThomas Graduate]

You CAN do this! Slow and steady and then even slower. I found that after about 5 minutes it doesn't get any worse and you do actually relax into a rhythm and you can keep going. It's amazing what you can do with this programme

[Midriff_Crisis Graduate]

I know I'm not ready to run with anyone else - even the idea of it gives me the colliewobbles. I've still got w5r2 and w5r3 to do this week, but there's alot to be said for having a positive attitude about it ... I know I can do it, as can you! As others have said, keep it steady and before you know it, the minutes just slip away without you even noticing (too much). Good luck!