W4 in the bag! Scared about W5

[Ladyinthehat]

Just finished W4! I never thought I would. But... when Sarah says ‘slow down, you can stop running now’ believe me I do not give her even one extra step of running! So, any advice as I approach (with great trepidation) W5? I have to run for 8 minutes!?!

[Flaraflarkin Graduate]

Just keep on doing what you're doing, slow slow slow as you need 😊 You're doing really well 🙌

[Ladyinthehat in reply to Flaraflarkin]

Thank you😊

[Flyingred Graduate]

I was like you, stopping as soon as I could. I'd even stop when my music faded down before Sarah spoke. Just stay relaxed, enjoy being out there running and remember you can't run too slowly on this programme, so if it's getting tough slow down a bit!

[Ladyinthehat in reply to Flyingred]

That’s good to know, thank you 😊

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

Basically relax about it. You have the tools to get through it, that’s what week 4 is all about... get rid of the trepidation and you’ll be fine. Maybe a good time to look at clearing the mind, there’s a few great meditation apps out there that will teach you the basics of relaxing the brain. The only thing that can hold you back now is your thoughts. Think back to how you were at the start of week 1, week 2 etc... and you beat all of them. Go beat the next week.

[Ladyinthehat]

Thank you 🙏

[KayBee1000 Graduate]

I just ran the first run of week 5 yesterday. I found the runs in week 4 hard, and I only just made it through the final 5 minutes run of each session, so I was similarly trepidatious at starting week 5!

However, I honestly found the first session a piece of cake - when Sarah said ‘you’re halfway through the first run’ I was pleasantly surprised, because I felt like I hadn’t been running that long. Similarly, when the bell rang to indicate I was halfway through the session, I thought ‘I can do this!’.

Three 5 min runs were a lot easier than the four 5 and 3 minute runs of the previous week.

Believe in the programme; each week is building your endurance and you are running for longer, you will be ok.

Let us know how you get on?

[Ladyinthehat]

Thank you - your experience sounds very similar to my own. I will let you know how I get on