Too much too soon?

[AliMama]

Hi I am on week five of couch to 5k and have just run my 5, 8, 5, 8 5 run and looked ahead on the app to my next one and was shocked to see it's a jump up to 5, 20 and 5.! I found 8 mins a bit of a struggle and am worried I will fail on 20 mins. What are your experiences of making this jump?

[GoogleMe Graduate]

Countless graduates (many with challenging medical conditions) are testimony to the fact that no, it isn't too much too soon.

The clue is perhaps in your concern that you will 'fail'. Well you *might* 'stop running before the 20 minutes is up' but that's not a 'fail'. If you stop running before the 20 minutes is up, you have a day off running as usual and then you give it another go.

If you are taking the running segments slowly enough, you will do it. Probably the first time.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

So many posts about this , run. You will do it, as do many, many , many of us

Slow steady and just relax. Don't defeat yourself before you even begin. Trust the programme, and believe in yourself

[AliMama in reply to Oldfloss]

I will give it my best! Am really enjoying the regular exercise! Thank you

[icklegui Graduate]

you did 8 minutes running twice, in the Week 5 R2 session, though...? And the walking in between which still expends effort? So 16 min total running, up to 20 min ... no big jump

(pssst ... you've already conquered a bigger jump in your running time earlier in the programme ... give yourself a pat on the back)

[AliMama in reply to icklegui]

Did I? I have done this plan before years ago before children but the eight minute runs felt like I was running through treacle a bit hence my concern over managing 20 mins. I think I feel a difference if I am not hydrated enough before a run so will make sure I have drunk plenty on run day. Thank for your help

[icklegui Graduate in reply to AliMama]

You've given yourself good advice on the hydration - but if I may modify, they say "hydrate today for tomorrow's run" - basically keep yourself hydrated! That does seem to be a reason for the "treacle" effect. That and start your run really slow, as others have said.

Look at total running time in weeks 3 and then 4 - a bigger step up than this

And I didn't realise you have literally done the plan before, so, you know you can... we know you can, and you will

[msanni]

I found myself (surprisingly) ready! I don't know why it works, it just does. I took it slowly, step after step, played music, talked myself on, and enjoyed Michael Jordan's occasional contributions. (What am I going to do without Michael when I graduate?)

Relax and enjoy! 😊

[AliMama in reply to msanni]

I know I love Michael Johnsons words of encouragement too. And good running tunes are ESSENTIAL