Yay! W5R3 completed

[Jay66UK]

Woo hoo! Up with the lark and out to do this run before the rain which is due.

Warm up walk and I manage to slip in some mud and nearly tumble. Clearly a bit preoccupied by the run ahead.

Run starts with my usual impression of old bellows, rattling and wheezing and coughing. Past 5 minutes and I’m feeling tired already yet not going fast. Push on.

Starts to throw it down with rain and I have a close encounter of the dog walking kind, veer off up a side road and back to avoid conflict. The weather gods have mercy and the shower soon passes.

Heading towards 10 minutes and it’s a bus stop of people to pass, knowing the halfway bell is due and I’m going to have to turn and run past them again. Reach 10 and turn, head high. I’m running, what’s your problem?

Realise the wind has now dropped and the run feels easier. My breath is much better and I’m in a rhythm. Keep going.

15 minutes and I’m feeling I could keep this pace for much longer. 2 minutes left and I’m comfortable. No longing for the end like the first few weeks.

Get to the warm down and I’m glad to stop. Aware of my right calf being tight. But I’m not breathless. Real sense of achievement. This fat old man can run!

Good luck everyone else due to do W5R3 this week - you can do it! And good luck everyone else with your runs this week x

[amalthea52 Graduate]

Well done, great that it's getting easier You can most definitely run!

I'm taking my son to school then heading for mine, running first thing seems to be the best way for me too.

👍👍👍

[Jay66UK Graduate]

Enjoy it!

[mairi1 Graduate]

Brilliant, well done, not looking forward to mine tomorrow , I think it will be quite boring on the treadmill. will have to find some good upbeat music to listen to. well done again delighted t hear you managed it no problem.😀

[Jay66UK Graduate in reply to mairi1]

I couldn’t run indoors so kudos to you for that. You will be fine. It’s just a matter of keeping going!

[Kezwah Graduate in reply to mairi1]

I downloaded a running mix. Pure running 2017. It’s fantastic and keeps me going.

[mairi1 Graduate in reply to Kezwah]

Thanks Kezwah, 😀

[pianoteacher Graduate]

Excellent! Close Encounter of a dog walking kind made me laugh I'm a week behind you so good to know week 5 is doable x

[Jay66UK Graduate in reply to pianoteacher]

“If you think you can or think you can’t do it, you are probably right.”

[pianoteacher Graduate in reply to Jay66UK]

That's a good one - haven't heard it before. I like "comparison is the thief of joy". I try to think of it when I worry about not being a natural athlete!

[Duracellqueen Graduate]

Well done! That's what the programme does best-selling builds up your stamina so you can do the longer runs. Make sure you're taking good deep breaths and it will help. Well done for passing the bus stop twice too!

[Ripcurlrana71]

Well done!! Doing mine on Sunday. 😣

[Jay66UK Graduate in reply to Ripcurlrana71]

You will be fine. If I can do this - nearly 52, no exercise in decades, 5 stone to lose - you can. It’s a mind thing, that’s all.

[Jb33 Graduate]

Excellent, well done, that first 20 minute run is definitely a mind over matter one. You’ve got this, keep going.👏

[Jay66UK Graduate in reply to Jb33]

Thanks. I plan to!

[Beestonbabe Graduate]

What a great post and well done! This is the run I am dreading! I am determined to do it though.

[Jay66UK Graduate in reply to Beestonbabe]

I was dreading too until Run 2 went smoothly. You can do this - the programme drops this on us for a reason!

[18Windmill Graduate]

Well done!! Did this run this morning too. Was so surprised how the time went so quickly...a minute seemed so long! Going to have a glass of wine tonight to celebrate. Week 6 here we come.

[Jay66UK Graduate in reply to 18Windmill]

Yay! Well done you. I can’t believe I can run for this long. With my warm up/down I am covering just short of 3km too, which is impressing me no end. Good luck next week - I’m told it’s a week to respect after this run, and people get caught out having to stop and start again.

[Littleyaz90]

This is a great post. I will be doing my wk5run3 tomorrow and I have been dreading it, feeling negative before I have even started. But this post has really motivated me to say I can do it rather than I can't! Watch this space, tomorrow evening I may just surprise myself ( I hope) x

[Jay66UK Graduate in reply to Littleyaz90]

You can certainly do it. Just get into your stride and enjoy the end!

[Kezwah Graduate]

Fantastic news! I’ve just been to pilates and thought I’d do my run a day early and just have one day between. Opened the app to check it as Jo had said this week’s runs were all different and I did a double take..... 20 minutes. I can’t do that.

Now I’ve just read your post and realised that yes, I can do that. I’ve changed my mentor to Michael Jordan. Just about to pop my running shoes on and this 64yo is going to hit the road! I’ll report back later. 😊🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[Jay66UK Graduate in reply to Kezwah]

Good luck!

[Kezwah Graduate in reply to Jay66UK]

I did it! Well, possibly shuffled it. But I didn’t stop and my times are improving. Onwards to Wk 6.

[Jay66UK Graduate in reply to Kezwah]

Great stuff! Shuffling counts. Well done and good luck with Week 6. I’m starting mine early on Sunday.

[Kezwah Graduate in reply to Jay66UK]

I did W6R1 today and it seemed a doddle. Didn’t purposely go faster, but I noticed on Strava that my time has improved. As someone said earlier, I’m looking back to see what I’ve done in the past and realised how far I’ve come in six short weeks.

I’m going to New York with the family in July and I’m already planning a park run in Central Park. Get me!!

[Jay66UK Graduate in reply to Kezwah]

Woo! Send my love to Rachel from Friends if you see her.

[NJGam Graduate]

Well done. I did that run last week and found it really tough, although it was very hot. I think I always saw that as the milestone run. Now I’ve done that the others don’t seem as scary! Good luck with week 6.

[Jay66UK Graduate in reply to NJGam]

Thanks - and well done yourself. Keep going - I always dread the next week!

[NJGam Graduate in reply to Jay66UK]

It’ll all be worth it when we graduate and hopefully then we’ll wonder why we ever found it difficult!!

[Lorijay Graduate]

Oh awesome Jay, well done!! Sounds like your fitness and stamina is increasing. So happy for you running cyber buddy. Bring on W6, we're ready

[Jay66UK Graduate in reply to Lorijay]

Yay us!