W4R3 - Done

A windy evening and an uphill section had me gasping - I couldn't seem to get enough oxygen into my lungs - actually got a little bit panicky. Decided to man up and not to wear two compression layers next time lol.

Still - Week 4 done and dusted - that's 12 sessions behind me - 15 in 31 days to go (today is a rest day).

I have the same feeling about Week 5 as I have at the end of every week - Can I do it? Am I ready for the next week?, Should I revisit the previous week?

I'm going to approach it the same way as previous weeks, do my best and push myself as hard as I can. It's worked so far and although the targets are higher, so is my fitness level.

I've discovered I have a routine - I wash all my kit at the end of the Weeks sessions. It's like a treat to start the next week in clean gear (I'm a bloke, I don't wash everything every day...)

[Dotthedyer]

Well done. I do my last week 4 tomorrow.

I shouldn’t look ahead cause week 5 has worried me but then as you said week 4 and week 3 worried me and I was ok.

Good luck but I’m sure you will be fine on Friday.

[Hidden in reply to Dotthedyer]

I'm sure you'll blitz run 3 and join me in week 5 straight afterwards. Keep it going - 3 more runs and you're half way there.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Well done Ian.

The misconception is that to get fit you have to push hard.......you don't. To hit peak fitness it will be necessary to push hard for a maximum of 20% of your running time, but for now, as a new runner, to complete this programme, you will get there at a gentle jog.

Pushing hard is the macho thing to do, as is fixation with pace, but for new runners the injury risk is much higher and to get safely up to 30 minutes of running, take it easy and then each run in the programme will be a doddle.

Take care.

[Hidden in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thanks for your reply - much appreciated.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Well done..but I think maybe you should ease back a tad...I agree with IannodaTruffe ... and I think you may be pushing too hard.

This is a running journey and not an endurance test.. and if you are feeling, as you describe in your post... slow down.

Your rest day exercise should be helping with stamina and strength, and should be increasing as the runs get longer, but again in a steady and structured way. Iannodatruffe is right.. and the IC is a horrid place to be!

[Hidden]

Well done on getting this far and having your own routine to follow. That’s half the battle for most of us! Keep to a happy pace as Oldfloss recommends and you will do this happily and safely.

[Hidden]

Thanks to all for your responses. I will try and tame the inner beast tonight and see how things go. I've always been the same unfortunately, time hasn't calmed me. I gained my black belt in record time, have always strived for the best results and have always pushed myself in all aspects of life. Maybe the best advice I needed is in the comments received - I still think I'm 18 not 49!

100 lines being written in my mind......... "Forget the distance and concentrate on the clock.."