Nice try, week 5. No match for me ;)

[staceypek]

The so called 'widow-maker' is in the bag! This time just 2 weeks ago I had my worst run yet and my chest and legs were screaming out after just 3 mins - today I have just completed 20 mins non stop jogging.

OK, OK...I'll admit it was not easy. I think I may have done so much reading of the positive posts about W5R3 to calm my nerves before attempting it that I almost went the opposite way, expecting it to be easier than it was! It definitely took a while to settle into in terms of a comfortable pace and controlled breathing, and after the first 5 mins I thought hmmm...ok...I've really got to do that another 3 times?!

After 10 mins I felt a bit more positive. I was halfway through, it was in my sights. My breathing was under control too, but I did decide to slow down a little as my lower back was starting to niggle a bit and my legs were feeling a bit heavy.

After 15 I thought, wow I'm actually going to do this! Despite my legs feeling even heavier by this point.

When Sarah Millican told me I had just 2 mins left, I thought I'm amazed I've got anything left in the tank, but I have! So I just went for it (as much as I could, which was just upping it from snail to tortoise at a push) and hobbled into the cool down walk, in a state of sort of euphoric disbelief.

It's my 32nd birthday on Monday so I'm going to take an extra rest day, enjoy a few wines and then tackle week 6. I wanted to nail this run as a birthday present to myself, and I'm so pleased I did!

Anyone scared of week 5 - the plan really does prepare you, you can handle it! I think it must be some sort of wizardry really, but somehow it works

[MadLizzie Graduate]

Congratulation Stacey. I also did week 5 run 3 today. The hardest part for me was between 10 and 15 minutes - my breathing was going fine but my legs were trying to tell me they couldn’t keep going. Once the 15 minutes were up I knew I could do 5 more. As you said, this really works. I have 20+ more years on the clock than you and carrying more weight than I’d like but I did it.

Happy birthday for Monday.

[staceypek Graduate in reply to MadLizzie]

It's the legs isn't it, which surprises me so much! I'm also a lot heavier than I should be, but am now counting the cals too. This seems to be a lifestyle change overall thanks and well done to you too!

[steviej99 Graduate]

Great post well done. No stopping you now!!

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

Great run... enjoy week 6

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate]

Well done Stacey, ha I have never heard Wk 5 R3 be called that before! You did it perfectly, feeling pretty much the same as me three years ago!😊

Have a great birthday on Monday and as you move onto Wk 6 keep that positive vibe going. You can do this. Nice and steady!

Good luck and Happy Birthday 😊x

[molly1973 Graduate]

Great stuff! We did the same run on the same day! I enjoyed it but would never have thought I could do it 5 weeks ago! I might allow myself to invest in some decent running shoes soon...! Enjoy your birthday 🎁

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Week 5 has a bad name....ill deserved... it is just a week of different runs. Taken steady and slow it is perfectly fine

AND YOU did it!!!! Go you....

No wizardry......just you...listening to your body....knowing when to pull back and when to go for it...An early Birthday present indeed....

Cheers:)xxx

[ArthurJG Graduate]

Whoever coined that term for week 5 I bet it wasn’t somebody who had tried it! Almost all negative posts about week 5 are written by people who haven reached it yet. I say almost, because everybody has a bad run now and again and for a few people they might have a bad run in week 5 but that’s not because it’s week 5, it’s just they had a bad run as can happen at any stage. Glad you had the sense to look up the posts of people who had actually done it! Unsurprising that the first ten minutes were the hardest- that’s very common in running in general, the so called ‘toxic ten’ - your body does take around ten minutes to adjust to the fact that you are running.

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

Well done on your progress so far with C25K, you ask "is anyone scared of week 5"? I suppose you mean run 3 of week 5, answer, everyone, but once everyone has ran it, including myself they are so eleted on completing the 20 minutes run that they report back here on how happy they are on achieving having ran for a full 20 minutes. , 😊

[Hazard10 Graduate]

Thank you for all the advice. W5 R3 is up next for me. The two 8 min runs went ok for me so quite encouraged for next run. Like many found W1 R1 tough and am amazed well I have done on this brilliant programme.😄

[ethreeguy]

Absolutely amazing well done you. I've managed Week 5 run 3 twice, in about 2 months and I have to say its an absolute killer. I want to have 3 weeks of achieving this without any problem before moving onto week 6.

[staceypek Graduate in reply to ethreeguy]

I know what you mean but they do say if you complete the run, no matter how hard, you are ready and set for week 6! You can totally do it - you've got this far

[Fuzzotter]

Happy Birthday Stacey and congrats on your achievement, I have just done the same thing and you were right about 10-15 mins being tough. What is with the lower back ache? Anyway, with a bit of PMA I made it. 🤣🤣

[staceypek Graduate in reply to Fuzzotter]

Well done Fuzzotter! Must say r1 of w6 was better in that respect...fingers crossed, could have just been the extra rest day!

[Fuzzotter]

I still haven't done r1W6 yet, not too afraid of that one, it has two walking breaks!

I'll try to get out tonight.

[staceypek Graduate in reply to Fuzzotter]

Good luck! I'm doing r2 w6 tomorrow and it dawned on me it's my last ever one of intervals...! What?!! Can't believe I've got this far.

[Ugogirl Graduate]

So glad you posted this. Your words are very encouraging. I never look at the next run plan until the day before. Week 5 run 1, 2 and 3 shocked me as it's 3 different runs and the times are quite a jump from week 4. Run 1 week 5 is tonight and I'll do my best to push through but I'm not looking forward to it. I hope to get to a stage where I enjoy jogging but I'm not there yet.

[staceypek Graduate in reply to Ugogirl]

You can do it - Ugogirl! Week 5 is a revelation and you can really see your progress. It's fab. Best of luck!