w5r3 - unbelievably we managed it!

[I_can_run]

How surprising - until two days ago we hadn't run 8 minutes and suddenly we can do 20! It is almost magical and quite unbelievable considering the years and years when 60s run to get a bus would defeat us!

Despite the cold (fortunately the snow has held off) we have actually managed to do the dreaded w5r3! Impossible without both the plan and the support of everyone on here! Thank you!

W5r3 is by far the biggest jump looking at the plans for all the weeks and now we know we can do it and the plan works we are looking forward very positively now rather than half dreading it. And we managed a look yesterday at a lovely spot in the woods with a mud free trail for some off-road running in the future - so its all positive!

Right off to tuck in to some celebratory cremant - saving the champers for graduation!

[Squeakypoptest Graduate]

Woohoo! I'm three runs behind you!

[I_can_run Graduate in reply to Squeakypoptest]

Good luck - hope the weather doesn't prove too tricky over the next few days. I get the feeling the build up to w5r3 is pretty critical. I was worried about getting a stitch as in my school runs but no twinges at all which is crazy (how can I abuse my body more now with less side effects than at 15?! Why don't they build you up gradually at school - well maybe they do these days they didn't in the 80s).

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Go you.... very well done.. slow and steady and onwards...

PS

The Cremant...perfectly in order... I have a few bottles of the Cremant de Loire and the Jura.. kept for week day sparkle

[I_can_run Graduate]

Very nice - though my Jura tends to be the Scottish variety and not brilliant for rehydration! Wife just suggested trying the French type at the end of week 6

[RuthL Graduate]

Yay, well done! W5R3 is such a big milestone I think you deserve some celebratory fizz. Just remember... don’t drink and run 😆

[I_can_run Graduate in reply to RuthL]

We try and avoid it that way round! Thanks for the message but we have gone back a bit now given the really bad weather which has meant a week long hiatus...did w5r2 again yesterday which means the dreaded w5r3 is coming up (again!)

[RuthL Graduate in reply to I_can_run]

Which means... more celebratory fizz!!!??

😄 🍸

[I_can_run Graduate in reply to RuthL]

Brilliant idea I'm off to Sainsbury's!

[TF4726]

Brilliant! Well done you!! 🍾🥂🍾

[I_can_run Graduate in reply to TF4726]

Thanks! Unfortunately with the weather we have had a few days off so we will have to do it all again - at least we know its possible!

[ElizaMai Graduate]

Know exactly how you feel 😃 x I did the jump yesterday to 20mins and I am still amazed I DID IT YIPPEE!!! Keep going you’re doing GREAT 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[I_can_run Graduate in reply to ElizaMai]

Well done! Noticed your post about the snow - yesterday we had our first post snow run and went back to w5r2 - did you just crack on? how was it?

[mcgurranhouse Graduate]

Very well done, just beware the dreaded W6D1 - it throws everyone because for some reason it seems harder now to run and stop to walk! Weird but trust the programme, just be prepared.

[I_can_run Graduate in reply to mcgurranhouse]

Surely not more dreaded that w5r3? We will be old hands by the time we reach it - we've had to go back a couple of runs because of the weather :/

[Pink-Floyd Graduate]

I'm due for this run tomorrow. Having completed the programme a few months ago, this time around I know what is coming up which is not always a good idea. I'm almost hoping that snow/ice will stop play - but here in South Wales I should be able to get out tomorrow and then have a weather induced break at the end of the week to recover. 20minutes? No problem!!

[I_can_run Graduate in reply to Pink-Floyd]

How did you get on? We had to spend a week off with the snow so we went back to w5r2 which we did yesterday. Mind you I love exercise in the snow in south wales - I used to love Pen y Fan in the snow albeit driving there was often hairy - that was back in the walk rather than run days though. Wife and I still love wales though and go there every year pretty well! Next time we will have to do some running although tbh the hilliness is a bit worrying....

[Pink-Floyd Graduate]

I also repeated w5r2 - last night when most of the pavements were finally clear. Not too bad but putting off r3. Will be doing thursday unless very good excuse found. Not been up pen y fan for some years. Lack of fitness and way too many people making it difficult to park. Happy running

[I_can_run Graduate in reply to Pink-Floyd]

Happy running to you too! Pen y fan is a distant memory for me too, it used to be a regularish thing when I lived near the M4 and south wales was a long but fast drive away, now its much harder to get to. Still we are looking for a cottage for a springtime break so we will get to do a bit of running in Wales before the end of the year and some walking too I hope.

[ElizaMai Graduate]

Well done 👌 x I just think I have already achieved 20 mins so I know I can do it! That seems to be my best mantra at the moment. Keep going 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

Doing my 25min run today wish me luck 🙃 xx

[I_can_run Graduate in reply to ElizaMai]

Good luck with that!　We hopefully will get the 20m done today for the second time but our w5r2 was a bit tougher than the first time round...but like you say we know we can to it!

[ElizaMai Graduate]

You can do it!!! 😊 x I completed wk 6r3 25mins and it was tough 😳 ( always find the 1st 5 mins the hardest? ) anyway I did it and I’m feeling very proud of myself 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️😃xx keep going 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[I_can_run Graduate in reply to ElizaMai]

Well done! We just redid the 20 and seem back on track so looking forward to w6 ourselves now!

[TF4726]

I’ve now had 2wks off since W5R3 having chronic shoulder pain - then being tested for a mini stroke - which thankfully I hadn’t had. So - now need to get back into it! Think I’ll start back at W5R2 - just need to get my mojo back! 😩

[I_can_run Graduate in reply to TF4726]

That's pretty rough! The snow delayed our progress and we went back to w5r2 and did that and then w5r3 again, but had another break because I had a bad cold for five or six days - we couldn't face going back AGAIN so cracked on with w6r1 tuesday (not too bad actually) but my wife now has a knee issue...good luck! Keep going! We are trying to keep upbeat about it but we know what you mean about losing mojo - we are very concerned about that ourselves!

[TF4726 in reply to I_can_run]

Thanks for that - and well done you!!! Suppose as long as we’re trying that’s the main thing. Still not back into it - as not been ‘back to normal’ - but will do soon! Hope you’re on the mend!