New to the forum, just started week 5

[Mand102]

Hi, I'm Mandy. I started the Couch to 5K a few weeks ago as I'm not getting any younger (44) and I want to get fitter. I've always been pretty active, getting out on walks in the hills etc when I've free time. However I don't get much free time and wanted to get my heart pumping a bit more.....and this certainly does the trick!

Anyway, I did run 1 of week 5 today, found it ok but I'm just wondering how people handled the big leap to 20 minutes running on run 3? Is it as bad as I'm imagining it will be haha?

[Tbae]

No it is not Mandy.🤔

Trust the programme,it in a way is telling you are ready, and it has prepared you for this run.👍

IannodaTruffe has shown figures many times that dispel that this is not a huge step up.👍

No fear only enjoyment.Slow & steady, getting your oxygen, kissing the ground.Believe it and believe in you.👍

You are going to love it.I was a doubter, paralysis of analysis,it is a myth,the programme is tried and tested.👍

The support and forum is second to none.🌟👏👏🏃‍♀️🌟

You are young and your body will always be youthful,and doing this programme is the best decision of your life and what you have already banked with all your active walking.👏👏🌟

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

No.

The run,like a few others has got a name for itself. It has become a dragon...

Yes there are some very different weeks and ones that you need to be aware of but... any run follows the ones before... they are different, because the programme teaches us many disciplines, not just running

Just take it very steadily and slowly... land lightly.. I call it kissing the ground with your feet...it sounds odd but it helps

Keep it gentle... breathe steadily... if you are struggling, then slow down more... there is no such thing as too slow.

Welcome to the programme and keep posting please

Remember, " If you believe in dragons, then you must believe also that they can be beaten"!

[Mand102 Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

I love the idea of thinking of your feet as kissing the ground! Will keep that in my mind. Thanks ☺

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Mand102]

It works... I still do it... x

[Cornet-Carolyn Graduate]

Welcome to the forum. Your runs to w5r3 have been building to the longer run. It's not that much more than you've already achieved. Just take it slow and steady, you CAN do it 👍

[lexi6 Graduate]

Hello Mandy I felt the same way as you, it seems such a big jump from 8 minutes to 20 minutes running non stop. I’m a 64 year old chublet, couldn’t run for a bus five weeks ago! and have just completed run 3 today. Laura told me I could do it and I did! Take it slowly, relax don’t think about the time, I ran today imagining step by step making my salted caramel cheesecake, yum yum the time just flew by. You’ve got this, you’ll do it. Enjoy.😋

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate in reply to lexi6]

Oh yum....now I want salted caramel cheesecake!! 😲

Well done on your w5 r3 👍🥉 its a fantastic buzz. Enjoy 😁

[Mand102 Graduate in reply to lexi6]

Wow, you sound like an amazing 64 year old chublet. Hope you are as proud of yourself as you should be!

[SarahB1965]

I thought it was a huge leap, but my body disagreed, Laura knows what she is doing trust. her x

[unfit Graduate]

Hi Mandy. I am at exactly the same place as you. Did the programme a few years ago then got injured and didn’t run again but started 5 weeks ago. I am 63 so you have many years of youth on your side. I did run 3 wk 5 last night. No problem. It’s a case of believing in the programme. I took it a bit slower than the previous 2 runs but found I could actually have carried on for longer and it’s a fantastic feeling of achievement at the end. Go for it and good luck.

[Mand102 Graduate in reply to unfit]

Well done to you. I can only imagine how good you felt for achieving it. Congratulations 😊

[Dream76 Graduate]

I felt the same, I completed wk5R3 last week. It was a great achievement for me.

You can do it, good luck

[Mand102 Graduate in reply to Dream76]

Thanks, and congratulations to you

[brightspice Graduate]

Hi Mandy and well done for joining the C25K journey! As with most things in life my advice would be: don't worry about the future. Complete W5 R2 then just approach R3 as any other run. Trust the programme and trust yourself. It sounds like you really want this and I've no doubt you will accomplish it. Tell us how you get on!

[Mand102 Graduate in reply to brightspice]

Thanks for the advice. Yes I definitely want to get this under my belt. I will be shouting about it if I'm successful!

[RuthL Graduate]

You WILL do it. Start very slowly (you can always speed up later) and enjoy it. 😀

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate]

Hello and welcome aboard!

You'll be fine. Try not to look too far ahead, just take each run as it comes.

The w5 r3 is a real milestone but the programme prepares you well. Trust me, trust the programme... and yourself. You can do this!

Enjoy! 👍😁

[GrannyVal]

Hi. I completed Week 5 Run 3 on Sunday. I was aghast to find I was expected to run for 20 minutes but amazed to find it was fine. I was so pleased to have achieved it. You can do it, girl! I’m 69 and thinking of trying a park run in a few weeks.

[Mand102 Graduate in reply to GrannyVal]

I'm bowled over! You really are an inspiration!!! Congratulations!! Thanks for the positivity. I've discovered there's a park run 10 minutes walk away from where I live so I'm hoping to give it a go in a few weeks once I'm more confident

[johnm12 Graduate]

Hi Mandy

No it's not that hard if you've been following the programme.

It's a real milestone and one I will long remember. Who me? Run for 20 mins without stopping? Oh yeah!!

Looking forward to reading an ecstatic post from you when you have done it!

[Mand102 Graduate in reply to johnm12]

Thankyou. I can imagine it being a run you never forget. Oh believe me, if I do it everyone will know haha

[Catbee Graduate]

You can do it!! Just go for it, don’t over think it. You’ll surprise yourself 👍🏻🏃🏼‍♀️💪🏻

[Tinf Graduate]

Hi Mandy. Everyone feels scared of the 20-minute run (or maybe it was just me! I'm 47 btw.). I really slowed my pace for that one as I knew I wouldn't get through it otherwise. But you know what? At about 15 minutes I thought 'Blimey - I'm actually doing it!' and I had finally found my pace. I needed that big 20-minute push to really wake me up to what pace is all about. Turns out mine's quite slow!

But I kept on going and finished that run first time. I had to re-run several of the later runs, some many times (some runs are easier than others, you will hear that a lot) and about 24 weeks after starting the 9-week programme I graduated.

Well done on taking this step. I promise you will love what it does for you.

[Mand102 Graduate in reply to Tinf]

Glad its not just me with the fear! You must have been over the moon to complete it. I'm already loving it, feeling healthier and like I'm achieving something good for me so if I manage this I'll be over the moon .

[Mand102 Graduate]

Thanks for the lovely welcome and all the positive vibes everyone. It's helped me feel more confident about what lies ahead. Fab to hear all the success stories ☺ Hopefully in the none too distant future I'll be updating with a success story of my own

[Margoblue Graduate]

Hi Mand102

I’m about to do the same run this Saturday-wk5run2 tonight. We’ll compare our feelings then shall we? I think that it’s all about the fear but do it anyway; in my case VERY SLOWLY😊 I have to say that so far the program has not let me down so trust it - trust yourself and trust your body- and have fun.

[Mand102 Graduate in reply to Margoblue]

Good to know there's someone at exactly the same stage feeling the same way. I completed wk5run2 today. Was easier than I expected, probably because I'd misread the podcast and thought there was two 8 minute runs and a 5 minute one, when in fact it was just the two 8 minute runs!! Hope your run went ok?

[5Kb460 Graduate]

I’m not a winter runner, so every spring I start this programme again. Each time, I fear the 20 minute run, but I know this plan works. In fact, most people report it is harder to return to the intermittent runs the following week. At this point it becomes a head game as much as legs. Good luck!

[Mand102 Graduate in reply to 5Kb460]

You've got the bail on the head there. That battle with the brain. It's like the cartoons with the devil and the angel on either shoulder!