Arg! W5R3 fear, help!

[CrochetingScallywag]

Going out to do this in an hour and I'm now really scared and think I'm convincing myself i can't so i won't if that makes sense, tell me I'm wrong and i can do it please

[Unfit53 Graduate]

You definitely CAN 💪🏻💪🏻

[slower-than-a-snail]

You absolutely can, just take it nice and steadily. You CAN do this

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

Nothing to be scared of. Go out and run it CSW, you can do it and will do it. When you have completed run 3 of week 5, you will be eleted and report back here. Now get out there before it gets dark.

[ArthurJG Graduate]

I posted this for someone else last week and a number of people seemed to find it helped so although it’s long I’ll take the liberty of posting it again and hope the admins don’t mind.

—

This is a common misunderstanding. Several people have said trust the programme: let me explain WHY you can trust the programme at this point. It's not as stupid as it looks: it's actually very clever.

First, forget eight minutes. You ran eight minutes in week ONE. You are now running for sixteen minutes, and have been doing that for two weeks.

Now, you may say 'ah! but I had walking breaks to break up those sixteen minutes of running.' Yes you did - but how many? In week four you had THREE walking breaks. That reduced to TWO for W5R1. Then it reduced to just ONE walking break in W5R2. Ask yourself: what is the next logical step?

Week 5 is NOT about running for longer. You made that step up in week 4 when you went from nine minutes running to sixteen. What week 5 is about is reducing your reliance on walking breaks. Your body doesn't need them any more - you've reduced from three to one in a few days after all! Your brain, however, hasn't got used to that yet. So the challenge is a mental one. Your body can do this: it's been doing it for a fortnight. Just tell those mental gremlins where to go, and you'll be OK.

Probably take it at a slightly slower pace than you've been doing, and if you do feel like walking, don't walk, just slow your running pace instead. We've all been there: posts like yours appear almost every day on this board and the next day the posters are back saying hey, why was I worried, I smashed it.

Everybody has a bad run now and again, but remarkably few people have their bad run at W5R3. More people trip up on week 6 in fact, because the walking breaks are back so they think it will be easy and they get complacent. By the time you get to the end of week 6 you will be happy to be finished with walking breaks: they've served their purpose as you were starting out but you don't need them any more.

You'll be fine, honestly. Just like we all were. And the feeling after you successfully complete that run is like nothing else. It's amazing. Enjoy it when it comes.

[CrochetingScallywag in reply to ArthurJG]

Thanks i held this in my head it really did help

[Ceri1969 Graduate in reply to ArthurJG]

Fab advice. Ta xxx

[Jag1jacq]

You can do it, wait till you finish your run today, bet you feel........GR8!!!!

Good luck

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

You can do it... slow and steady... the voice in your head is a liar!

[jayval70]

You can do it I promise. If I can , you can. Don’t let those head pixies hold you back. You can do it!

[Oldlady57]

You can do it CS. Tell those head gremlins to naff off!!

[CrochetingScallywag]

I DID IT! THANK YOU XXX

[Hidden in reply to CrochetingScallywag]

Go you! 💪🏻😊

[Tasha99 Graduate in reply to CrochetingScallywag]

Well done!

[Hokitika Graduate]

Go for it, listen to guide voice encouraging you & believe. I did this 20 minutes yesterday (Saturday) & still feel pleased with myself! Good luck.

[Mayanow]

Well done!!!!

Now try not to read ahead about w6. I found those the hardest runs (1and 2) but WE CAN DO THEM! I think we make a huge deal over numbers but this program is SOOO well calculated so trust it and trust yourself. Go for it!