That pesky W5 Run 3....: So many on here worry... - Couch to 5K

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That pesky W5 Run 3....

Duddles profile image
DuddlesGraduate
13 Replies

So many on here worry about the big jump to 20 minutes, as have I - four times now. I suppose the main reason this forum is here is to encourage and support, so here is my dose of both....

I have just completed W5R3 and feel absolutely wonderful, the best I have felt after exercise for ages. I don't really know why. I found the previous run, the two eight minute runs absolutely exhausting. But now sitting engulfed in a real euphoria I can only say - DON'T WORRY.

This is the fourth time I have done it - once in 2014 in my sixties, again in 2017 in my seventies, both leading to completing Couch. Then in May this year did it again, but aborted the attempt to finish Couch. But today it seemed so easy - and was the quickest and furthest of the four times I have done it. The body is strange, what makes the difference? What drugs does it release to make you feel like this?

A tip which worked for me - to get my head around what I was dreading, I split it into four minute segments - the first at 9.4kph, the second four minutes at 9.5; the third at 9.6, the fourth at 9.7 and for the final four minutes I sort of went crazy and kept upping it. It certainly passed the time breaking it up that that.

I felt so good in fact, that I did a bit of running in the final five minute warm down, and then did a race walk One Mile Walk warm down in 10.25 and still had energy left.

In retrospect, the hardest run has to be the first of Week 1. So fear not the Dreaded W5R3....

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Duddles profile image
Duddles
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13 Replies
limpet868 profile image
limpet868

Hi I am feeling exactly the same, dreading that run! I've even done run 1 and 2 of week five again to build up to it. Well tomorrow is the day so ill give it a good go and hope for the best. Well done to you for sailing through it it has certainly encouraged me.

ItstheMarchHare profile image
ItstheMarchHareGraduate

Wow, that’s great, I can feel the energy vibrating of you! I start week 4 on Friday, wish me luck 😊

Goforitmama profile image
GoforitmamaGraduate

👍 ... Steve Austin, astronaut. A man barely alive. Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the capability to build the world’s first bionic man. Duddles will be that man. Better than he was before. Better, stronger, faster.

👍

Duddles profile image
DuddlesGraduate in reply to Goforitmama

No, just older and stupider....

ItstheMarchHare profile image
ItstheMarchHareGraduate in reply to Goforitmama

Dah, dah, gah, nnn, dah, dah, na, na, na, na, na, eh-eh

UnfitNoMore profile image
UnfitNoMoreGraduate

Superb job and nice post

AlMorr profile image
AlMorrAmbassadorGraduate

Everyone dreads that W5R3 I only got 3 hours sleep the previous night but once I completed it I was very happy as you Duddles absolutely wonderful

Jogunlikely profile image
JogunlikelyGraduate

Thanks for the encouragement. I'm doing w5r3 tomoz 😱😀

SamSam17 profile image
SamSam17Graduate

Hey well done!

Thanks for the encouragement! I’m doing W5R3 tomorrow

Ibot profile image
Ibot

Thank you. That is actually very encouraging so thank you

Bring it on tomorrow 😊

Fabulous450 profile image
Fabulous450Graduate

Ah well done Duddles!! A fantastic achievement! Completing W5R3 is the best feeling! That one stood out for me too!! Onwards to W6!! Brilliant!! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽❤️

Sunnybraeboats profile image
SunnybraeboatsGraduate

Great stuff and thanks coz I'm on it in the morning and I like the idea of splitting it up...will post how it goes🏃

Duddles profile image
DuddlesGraduate

So five of you replying are about to embark on W5R3 - perhaps more. It will be interesting to see if you get the dose of endorphins I got this afternoon. Still buzzing a bit...

Will watch out for your reports.

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