Week 5, Run 3 - on a high!

[Jandys]

I didn’t believe I could run for 20 minutes until the run got underway this morning. But I did it and I’m so chuffed. I started to struggle a bit half way through but then I got back into my stride and was cruising (even though it was very slowly) towards the end. This programme works!

[Hidden]

Hehehehehe. Well done! I bet you are over the 🌛!

Mine is coming up on Friday morning. I really have no idea how I'm going to get on. I've chosen my route in prep which I think has one small gradient but it's near the police station, so if I collapse I should be rescued sharpish! 🚨😂

[Jandys Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Ha ha shub99! I like your style. However I’m sure you’ll be fine - just keep believing 👏

[Piratewench Graduate in reply to Hidden]

I’ve got my run3 on Friday as well, good luck x

[Piratewench Graduate in reply to Piratewench]

Well done that’s ace, I did mine today isn’t such a great feeling

[misswobble Graduate]

It does indeed work! However, just keep going slow and steady. That’s the way it works successfully! 👍😃

[Jandys Graduate in reply to misswobble]

Thanks misswobble! I won’t let it go to my head 😂

[kazaroo0]

Well done! I've just done mine this morning and am also feeling chuffed. I'm almost a proper runner now!

[Jandys Graduate in reply to kazaroo0]

You ARE a proper runner!

[Kazbar10 Graduate]

We have all shared that elation it's a wonderful feeling so just keep at it slow and steady 👏👏👍

[Jandys Graduate in reply to Kazbar10]

It’s definitely addictive, Kazbar10

[PipF]

Well done, you are always 1 run ahead of me, so I look out to see how you’re doing. Laura stopped talking to me this morning as the app got interrupted and went back to the beginning by a phone call so in my second 8min run after the 4 min mark I had no idea how much longer to go, pleased to say I carried on regardless and managed 1 mile further. Bring on Saturday, am going to do the 20 min in a park run so hopefully won’t get the feeling of ‘ I can’t do this!’ Great to read your progress!

[Jandys Graduate in reply to PipF]

Good luck with Saturday’s run, PipF. You’ll get such a buzz when you do it! I have the App on my phone and Jo Whiley is my coach. She’s so lovely and keeps telling me how well I’m doing. I don’t know how she knows, but I just believe her 😂😂😂

[kriswhoruns Graduate in reply to PipF]

Great minds, PipF! I’ve got “the toxic twenty” on Saturday and I’m planning on doing it as the Park Run behind my flat! It’ll be my first Park Run... I think I’m looking forward to it!

[ArthurJG Graduate in reply to kriswhoruns]

Why do you call it the toxic twenty? Runners often talk about the toxic ten but the whole point of the phrase is that the first ten minutes of a run is the hardest. Ten is an average of course - some people find it gets better after five minutes, some are unlucky enough to need 15. But I've never heard the term toxic twenty before - it makes it sound as if it gets worse and worse the further you run and the whole point of the phrase 'toxic ten' is that that isn't so. There are well documented physiological reasons why the start of a run, typically the first ten minutes, is difficult - there are plenty of people on here who can explain it better than I can. So please don't go into your W5R3 with ideas like 'toxic twenty' in your head. As long as you take it easy speed wise, you'll be fine. All the bad stuff you read on this forum about that run is written by people who HAVE NOT DONE IT YET. Read what those same people say after they've completed it and you get a much more positive account. In other words it's only toxic in your head. Get that idea OUT of your head before you do the run or the mental gremlins will have a field day with you. You can do this, the programme has trained you for it and the proof of that is in the thousands of people who have done the same programme before you. Relax, enjoy your run and if it feels hard then (1) SLOW DOWN and (2) remember it's the toxic TEN - if you can push past the first ten minutes you will finish the run and you will feel better in the last ten minutes than in the first.

[1HHi Graduate]

Arthurjg I have heard that the first ten minutes are the hardest and I remebered it in my wk5r3 today. The 20 mins was not at all as hard as I thought it would be and this is saying something considering I was quite unfit 5/6 weeks ago. The key is definitely slow and steady.

[PipF]

Wow, I did it too today and what a fabulous feeling! Thank you to everyone’s feedback, it has helped me understand what I would be facing. Yes the first 10 mins is hard, for me it’s when the lower leg muscles make their presence known but mind over matter is what I have heard and read so took it on the chin. In fact I took it on so well that I ran ALL of the 5k park run. Never thought I’d do that and am so proud of everything in these last 5 weeks, this really works! Keep going everyone!

[Jandys Graduate in reply to PipF]

Wow, wow, wow! 5k 👏👏👏