Slow, slow, slow but did it it!!

[JulieF19]

I only discovered this forum last week (week 3 of the plan) but I’m so glad I did! I struggled with the 3min runs last week and was really gasping for breath at the end of each one.

I’m using a treadmill as the times I am able to run it’s dark and my village has no street lighting whatsoever!! So I have been walking at speeds around 3.5mph and running at between 5 and 5.5mph. Like I said, at the end of 3 minutes I’ve been sounding (and feeling!) like an asthmatic donkey so I was really dreading starting week 4 which seemed to be a massive step up.

However this week I’ve been reading posts on here about slowing down so I decided to give that a try. I ran at a what felt like a snails pace (4.5mph) for most of it but I was amazed to find that the first 3 minutes flew by and I was still able to breathe by the end of it! And I managed both 5 min runs too which I had been convinced I couldn’t do. I was so close to giving up this week but I’m glad I gave it a go and proud I did it!

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

Great job. That kind of pace will help a lot as you progress and it will build your legs and fitness levels faster than pushing hard... well done finding your happy pace. Enjoy the next one.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Welcome to the forum and well done on getting started.

This guide to the plan is essential reading healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

Sounds like you have discovered the secret..........ssssssllllllllooooooowwwww!!!!!!

Enjoy your journey.

[ButtercupKid Graduate]

One of the first pieces of advice I was given on here was to embrace my inner snail, and it really makes a huge difference ! This is more to do with stamina than speed. Happy running 😀