First blog on here, reached W5R1 this morning and I'm stoked at how well I am doing. Kind of dreading R2 as I have read a few comments on how much harder it is but I'm trying to be positive about it.
My run this morning was in drizzle too so am proud I kept going! Almost want to miss the walks out as I feel like I could run longer and the middle 5 min run was harder to start than the others. Guess there's a reason for the walking breaks at this point though so don't want to jeopardise my work so far.
Working towards a 5km run event in NZ in 6 weeks time so hoping I'm ready for that!
Love all the advice on here though, thanks everyone.
Written by
Marcella03
Graduate
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
I remember having a similar feeling in week 5 about the walks. I don't know the technical reason for them but having just done weeks 5 & 6, I get the impression they help to build up stamina. What I would say is don't look too far ahead, just get out there and do what the app tells you! Well done, you're doing really well. Keep at it. 😎
A word of advice. When you read about week 5, ignore comments from people who haven't done it yet. Listen to people who have attempted the runs and know what they are like. You'll find they are much more positive than those who have only looked at the runs on paper.
Thanks Arthur, good advice and everyone has different levels of fitness, weight etc so I just have to tackle it as best I can. Mentally it's good to be positive too. 😊
Seriously, most people manage week 5. More struggle with week 6, which looks easier on paper. I got through week 6 because I'd read people's experiences on here so knew what to expect - didn't enjoy it like I enjoyed week 5, but I'd been warned to expect that so I survived. If you look at it, week five runs are 15, 16 and 20 minutes of actual running time. Week 4 is all 16 minutes, so the difference is not that much. But week 4 has three walking breaks. What week 5 does is gradually wean you off the walking breaks - two in R1, one in R2, none in R3. But you're not actually RUNNING much longer. The thing to remember is that physically you don't really need the walking breaks now: you did before, but you have trained for a month an your body doesn't need them any more but your brain still thinks but does. That's why they are reduced gradually over the week rather than all at once: week 5 is more a mental challenge than a physical one (as is week 6 in a different way.) If you remember that your brain will try to tell you to stop when your legs are actually managing perfectly well then you'll be ready: unless you are actually injured or ill, keep going and instead of stopping slow down. It doesn't matter how slow you are, as long as it's a running action and not walking it counts, and slowing down makes a bigger difference than people think.
Thanks for that advice, it does seem to be as much of a mental challenge as it is physical. I've never been a runner so it is good to work with the C25K app and train my brain as well as my body!
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
W5R1
W5R1
W5R1 
W5R1
W5R1
