Dreaded W5R3!!: Just tackled the dreaded w5r... - Couch to 5K

Couch to 5K

132,648 members โ€ข 158,707 posts

Dreaded W5R3!!

KCC666 profile image
KCC666
โ€ข21 Replies

Just tackled the dreaded w5r3 ๐Ÿ˜ฎ๐Ÿ˜ฎ Absolutely amazed myself at completing it....albeit slower than a snail with a broken leg! I never dreamed that I could 'run'(I use the term loosely ๐Ÿ˜‚) for that length of time, after a lifelong hatred of anything other than walking. Strangely enough I have found the bigger jumps of week 4 +5 easier to adjust to than the earlier weeks ones โ˜บ. Just giving a bit of encouragement to anyone at the same sort of stage...if you're not sure you can make that jump then just trust the program and give it a try...you might surprise yourself! ๐Ÿ˜Š๐Ÿ˜Šxx

Written by
KCC666 profile image
KCC666
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
21 Replies
โ€ข
Dave58 profile image
Dave58Graduate

Well done KCC. My next scheduled run is wk5r1. Hopefully do Parkrun on Saturday. Thanks for encouraging us all with your positivity. ๐Ÿ˜€๐Ÿ˜€๐Ÿ˜€

KCC666 profile image
KCC666 in reply to Dave58

Ah you're welcome Dave58 ๐Ÿ˜Š I just went into it with the attitude that I've nothing to prove to anyone, and if I didn't manage to complete then I'd just use it as training and to try again next time! Good luck with the parkrun and with your next run ๐Ÿ˜Š

Claireespo profile image
Claireespo

Well done, Iโ€™m about to start wk5 tomorrow and I canโ€™t deny that R3 is playing on my mind but Iโ€™m just going to go slow and take my time, this gives me encouragement to do it though ๐Ÿ˜Š

KCC666 profile image
KCC666 in reply to Claireespo

Thank you ๐Ÿ˜Š I felt that week 5 was where it started to get 'serious' and very much doubted I would manage without repeating one of the first 2. Definitely take it slow...I'm sooo slow ๐Ÿ˜‚....but that doesn't matter, it's all building stamina, and if you don't make quite make it then just use it as training towards the time that you do! Best of luck ๐Ÿ˜Š

Mollymoonmaiden profile image
Mollymoonmaiden

Yey, well done! I've just this minute finished w5r2 so am now dwelling on the 20 minutes ahead of me for my next run, it does seem like a really big step up but you have given me hope and encouragement! ๐Ÿ˜Š thank you!

KCC666 profile image
KCC666 in reply to Mollymoonmaiden

Well done ๐Ÿ˜Š I was exactly the same! I was dithering this morn about whether to repeat run 2 or to just try run 3 and thought I'd go for it....largely because I never expected to complete R2 but did! As I said in another reply, you've nothing to prove to anyone, so when you do go for it, it's not a failure if you don't make it, simply preparing you for when you do get there ๐Ÿ˜Š Very best of luck โ˜บ

Well done for completing, no matter how slow. Be careful on the next couple of runs though, I remember very well W6R1 nearly finished me off, it really bit me in the bum as I thought I could breeze it after W5R3. Just remember to pace yourself and you'll be fine. Well done again!

KCC666 profile image
KCC666

Thank you very much ๐Ÿ˜Š That's very sound advice! I feel like I could take on anything at the moment with the buzz of completing the 20 mins but that's a great reminder that I've only done it once and to remember I'm still in the very early stages of training! Thanks again ๐Ÿ˜Š

tohealthyhabits profile image
tohealthyhabitsGraduate

Well done ! From this point is more of a mindset than physical...keep going and have fun

KCC666 profile image
KCC666 in reply to tohealthyhabits

Thank you ๐Ÿ˜Š Good advice...the shin splints and chest ache has largely gone, and to no longer have in my head that I 'can't run' has been even more beneficial! โ˜บ

racheles78 profile image
racheles78

I've just done W5R1 this morning so that's good to hear. I felt like 3 lots of 5 minutes was challenging enough so I'm feeling a little nervous (to say the least) about run 3.

KCC666 profile image
KCC666 in reply to racheles78

Well done ๐Ÿ˜Š Yes I felt the same....and going from R1-R2, and R2-R3 I kept thinking that I'd only just managed the last one so how on earth could I push that even further?! ๐Ÿ˜‚ But it doesn't matter if you don't. ...if you just keep pushing on slowly then its all going in the right direction until you do get there! Very best of luck ๐Ÿ˜Š

JJ-1962 profile image
JJ-1962Graduate

Made me smile - I did this Sunday and also amazed myself. Seeing some of your replies we all see this as something to dread, then are elated when we succeed. I found W6R1 actually harder and thought it would be easier, but like the other challenges: I did it! Which means I can do it again if necessary. Slow is key to success. Keep going - we will conquer this running malarkey ๐Ÿ˜‚

KCC666 profile image
KCC666 in reply to JJ-1962

It's a wonderful feeling isn't it! Well done ๐Ÿ˜Š Good to have a warning about w6r1 tho thanks....I was initially expecting to find it pretty easy after this huge personal victory but it appears a few people have struggled, and that will stop me getting disheartened if I do too! Good luck with the rest of your runs ๐Ÿ˜Š

JJ-1962 profile image
JJ-1962Graduate in reply to KCC666

It was ok just not quite like I expected (my heart rate was lower though, so getting fitter!) ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿป

donttrustaskinnycook profile image
donttrustaskinnycookGraduate

Yay!! Well done!!

The high I felt after completing this run...I just can't compare it to any other high I have had in a long time - Maybe I need to get out more, haha. I felt amazing and on top of the world during the warm down.

Good luck with the rest of couch to 5k

KCC666 profile image
KCC666 in reply to donttrustaskinnycook

Hahaha...it's definitely the one that people seem to dread, but I guess that just makes completion more satisfying! Thank you ๐Ÿ˜Š

Buddy34 profile image
Buddy34Graduate

Hello I've got this run Friday, just done wk5 r2 today and I found it not too bad 20 minutes does seem a lot longer but I've managed so far so I will post on friday hopefully with a grin on my face โ˜บโ˜บ

KCC666 profile image
KCC666 in reply to Buddy34

Very very best of luck ๐Ÿ˜Š Knowing that I'd done R2 when it'd seemed too much at the start really drove me on to completing R3, and if you found 2 not too bad it seems you're in a good position to move on ๐Ÿ˜Š Well done!

UnfitNoMore profile image
UnfitNoMoreGraduate

Great job... slow and steady into week 6 and you got this

KCC666 profile image
KCC666 in reply to UnfitNoMore

Thank you โ˜บ I really feel like I have now ๐Ÿ˜ƒ

You may also like...

The dreaded W5R3 - defeated!!

stop so I just grabbed hold of my side like a vice, breathed really deeply like a woman giving...

The dreaded W5R3 done!

fast pace and other than helping me up the hill at the start of the run I had to adjust to my own...

Itโ€™s done โœ… the dreaded w5r3!!

I was dreading this run and working myself up about it. But today on a beautiful morning in sunny...

The dreaded W5R3 done!

30 (actually 31.5 minutes) which is a lot further than I have done so far on this programme. I had...

W5R3 dread

Hello! I just finished W5R2 this morning - it wasnโ€™t as bad as I thought but Iโ€™m dreading the next...