Ever since I happened to notice the length of Week 5 Run 3 a few weeks ago, I've been looking for and reading posts about it... people daunted before doing it, and people elated after doing it. Well, I've now been both of those kinds of people...!
I spent Week 3 wondering how on earth I would be able to run for 20 minutes without stopping, considering how daunted I felt about running for just 3! Week 4 felt like a challenge, but I managed it and felt positive coming into Week 5. The first two runs this week were very enjoyable, and I felt like I was in a strong place to come into the famous Week 5 Run 3.
I laced up my shoes, grabbed my headphones and headed out on the warm-up walk. Same route as always, so far so familiar. Spotify's pre-made punk music running playlist (160bpm, apparently... lord knows) kept me bouncy and chirpy and soon enough it was time to run... and not stop.
I'm not going to say it was a breeze, and I just eased through it all for twenty whole minutes - at around 9 minutes I felt like I was going to have to stop. The trick really is to slow down. Keep moving with a running stride but allow yourself to recover. The third five minute block (10-15 minutes) was the toughest, but by the time the final five minutes came around I felt like I was in a good steady groove that I could have kept going for longer. Indeed, when Sarah M chimed in to tell me I could slow down and how amazing I was, when I usually would have immediately halted and walked, I did some extra bonus strides while she was talking, then stopped.
Believe the hype, people - you can do W5R3, and it will be as amazing as everyone says!
week 5 3 run completed
Week 5 Run 3 Completed
Week 5 Run 3 Completed!! 
Week 5 Run 2 completed this morning
Week 5 Run 3 complete!!!
