Week 5, Run 3 - I only went and did it!

[LostRunner]

Okay so I’m now no longer nervous and I’m on a euphoric high!

I was so scared. I spent the morning procrastinating and hoping that something would happen that meant I had to postpone. No, 11am came and my eager husband said it was now or never.

After what felt like 3 hours of wrestling with my sports bra I was ready.

20 minutes. Even hearing those words feels like it’s going to be never ending! The 5 minute warm up typically passes in the blink of an eye and then it’s time to do it.

Michael tells your progress every 5 minutes which I found helped (these 5 minutes are longer than the warm up 5 minutes obviously). I shouted “Yes” loudly at the halfway bell as the realisation that this was the longest that I had run in one go. This then spurred me on to get to the next 5 minutes.

The last 5 minutes hurt but the incentive of finishing and visualing the joy I would feel pushed me on and according to my husband my pace sped up too.

I did it! This girl did it. I cried. God I cried. Tears of joy I add. Im so proud of myself. I’m someone who does zero exercise. I’ve lost 5 stone in the last year and I set myself a challenge flippantly that if I lost enough weight I’d run my daughters “Mothers Race” on sports day. I was that parent who fell.

Now look at me. I just run 20 minutes! Run FatGirl, Run!

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

Before I comment on you... well done hubby for kicking you up the butt and getting you out there! He looks very proud of you too! Shake his hand for us... heck, no, give him a big hug.

As for you... well, wow! Great run, the last 5 hurt, but you got through it, and you’d already run nearly twice as long as in one go before then. Superb job.

5 stone dropped is impressive... by that sports day you’re going to be even more amazing than you already are.

You are so very right to be proud of yourself... you can do all of this now, you just proved it... 20 minutes in 5 weeks and you only need to add 10 in the next 4... the hardest work is evidently behind you. Keep running just like that, you got this.

[LostRunner Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Hubby got a big hug! He can already run 5k - he comes out with me for motivational runs when he can. I usually save my tough runs for when he’s free - it’s like having a 2nd Michael with me!

I’m absolutely buzzing after today. These forums and posts like yours are so inspirational and help push through.

That’s such a great way of looking at it - only another 10 to go in the next 4 weeks. This run was the one that has scared me all along.

I’m wondering if there is any benefit in repeating this run as Michael suggests of going straight in to Week 6?

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to LostRunner]

Benefit is a word. There’s a benefit to any run, so yes, but I’m with MJ. Week 6 starts tricky, slow and steady through the intervals... then you’ll get to week 7, which is the consolidation week, so there’s the benefits of repeating, just a week away.

Your journey and your call of course.

[molly1973 Graduate]

I too have been that parent who fell 🙁 I’m not as far into my running or slimming journey as you but this is such an inspiration and motivation!!! Well done you 👍👍

[LostRunner Graduate in reply to molly1973]

Thanks Molly! I never thought at the start of this programme that I’d get here but I have. You will too!

I’m doing this along with slimming world - I still have 2 more stone to shift and am hoping the increase in exercise (from zero to some!) will help!

Good luck with your journeys.

[molly1973 Graduate in reply to LostRunner]

I’m heading off to my SW group (taster session!!!) very soon x

[LostRunner Graduate in reply to molly1973]

Hope it went well! I have real faith in SW. if I can do it anyone can!

[jiggles7 Graduate]

FANTASTIC!! Well done!! You both smashed this! There is no stopping you now! Go and celebrate 🎉 Take week 6 gently it requires respect but it is completely doable. Now you have the long run in you going back to intervals can be tricky but you will do it and we are all here 😀

[LostRunner Graduate]

Thanks jiggles7 ! Hubby can already run 5k - he’s my cheerleader on the tougher runs. I needed him today as I was a wimp.

You were so right about the feeling of achievement. I feel like I should be wearing a medal! 🤣

[Cuig1975]

Isn’t that 20 mins great and well done in your weight loss tough but so worth it x

[LostRunner Graduate in reply to Cuig1975]

That 20’mins is amazing. I’m still on a high today about it. I feel like telling random strangers that I’ve run 20 Minutes! 🤣

[uncle_wiggy Graduate]

You are making your little girl very proud! And your husband too! Good for you LostRunner, now you've nailed this one you have nothing to fear from the rest of the programme..... Go for it! Slow and steady though of course! 😉

[LostRunner Graduate in reply to uncle_wiggy]

Thank you! It’s made the rest of the programme not feel as scary!

Def slow and steady. I’m like a tortoise wading through toffee.

[Lozzles74 Graduate]

SW and C25k are a great combo, I’ve just started in my C25k, just finished week 2, which I’d never have been able to do before losing 6Stone this year, Mr Sleek 2017 & 2018 😇

Sounds like you’re doing amazing!

Well done for the big run, I’ve still got it to come yet

I love that you’ve lost so much this year, as all I hear from a few at my group is “yeah, well blokes lose it faster than women” to be fair, some have lost 1/2st to 2 1/2st in the year, I believe you get out of it what you put into it, and really wanted it, I bet you have too

👍 well done, good luck for the rest

[LostRunner Graduate in reply to Lozzles74]

Wow 6 stone! That’s amazing! Well done on being Mr Sleek. That’s awesome!

You’ll be fine for the big run. This programme really does work. I would never believed at the start of week 1 that I’d get here. I’m hoping this running helps me shift the last of the weight!

Good Luck to you too. We’ve got this! You’ll be Mr Sleek runner soon!

[Walshy3]

You’ve many fantastic achievements under your belt, your running, that fabulous weightloss and a stalwart hubby kicking you out the door, well done to you, plus your hair colour rocks👍👍

[LostRunner Graduate in reply to Walshy3]

Thank you! I think maintaining the hair colour is harder than the running at the moment!

[Nita49 Graduate]

Well done you!!

You should be so proud of yourself for lots of reasons, and I'm glad you're feeling on top of the world 🙌

I'm doing Wk5R3 tomorrow now as my week's been all over the place and I've not been home.... I'm not thinking about it... I'll deal with it tomorrow and just give it my best shot.

I'll keep you posted....

But this is about YOU, not me..

Very well done again 💪👍👏👌

[LostRunner Graduate in reply to Nita49]

How did the run go? I bet you smashed it!

[Dundeefatty]

Well done 👍, just completed the same run and had all the same feeling prior and after the run as you describe, keep it it and we can smash this 5 k on week 9

[LostRunner Graduate in reply to Dundeefatty]

It’s such an amazing feeling isn’t it! I’m still buzzing! We can graduate the same time!

[Hidden]

This programme is as much about mental attitude and resilience as it is about physical endurance and it sounds like you have got over an important mental hurdle. You now trust the programme and believe in yourself. That's a great place to be and it will help you in the weeks to come. Well done.

[LostRunner Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thank you! This run has really given me the power to start believing in myself! It’s a game changer.

[Sonzi Graduate]

Wow well done! Fantastic! You’ve done the hardest bit of the C25K in my opinion!

[LostRunner Graduate in reply to Sonzi]

Thanks Sonzi! It’s given me such a confidence boost. I feel like I can now. I even found myself looking at running gear in the shops earlier!!

[Sonzi Graduate]

That’s about the stage I bought proper gear too!

[LostRunner Graduate in reply to Sonzi]

I’m considering asking for decent trainers for Christmas! 🤣

[Sonzi Graduate in reply to LostRunner]

Now that’s a good idea!

[Hidden]

Well done you 👍 Fantastic!

Thank you for this post - I’ve just done week 5 day 2 today that was overdue from yesterday.

Thanks to you I’m not as scared for day3 anymore. Just a bit scared 😧 let’s see what tomorrow brings x

[LostRunner Graduate in reply to Hidden]

You’ve got this!

I’m seriously unfit and has been obsessing about this run since week 1. You’ve got this. Take it slow and steady and believe in yourself. You’ve been active longer for run 2 than you will be for run 3. Run 3 is a mental challenge. Take it in 5 minute chunks and strive to get to the next 5 minutes. Good luck - I’m touting for you!