W5r3 - Officially amazing and amazed!

[Couchpotato2]

Yes, it’s possible! Gosh I’m a bit proud of myself... is that allowed? I had been really quite nervous since Sunday, not necessarily about the run itself but whether the weather would allow it. I’d decided (probably wrongly) that I wouldn’t manage to do it for 20 minutes on a treadmill so was crossing everything for good weather. It snowed last night and then froze but I waited till noon in the hope that it would have melted.

I did end up running along the high street at what turned out to be a very busy time... and having to avoid a few patches of snow and ice but was overall lucky. I found crossing roads the hardest (had to run on the spot a bit).

In terms of the run, I think I find minutes 5-13 the hardest which unfortunately for me coincided with a 30meter hill with a bit of snow, I had to dig very deep at that point. Then from 13’ to the end, the body settled into a comfortable run. I’m hopeful this means that I will be ok with longer runs...

I tried to chant @buttercupkid song but it was a little beyond me so ended up with a short song on each breath out which went: “I will smash it” and “I love hills” alternated... Nothing like positive conditioning!

And pace, yes it’s possible to go slower than slow!

I wouldn’t describe this run as easy but it’s fine, the will to succeed does carry you through, you can so it!

Ps: a curly kale victory lap

[KevinFG Graduate]

Fantastic well done, thanks for posting

[Couchpotato2 Graduate in reply to KevinFG]

Thanks! And for once I missed Laura, I didn’t feel she talked enough!

[BaddieThePirate Graduate]

Yaaaay! Well done! Great lyrics 🎶🤗

[Couchpotato2 Graduate in reply to BaddieThePirate]

Very catchy! Can’t manage much more up a hill...

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

Congratulations to you Couchpotato2 on completing run 3 of week 5, that is a milestone run with C25K, well done, onwards and upwards to week 6 run 1 but be careful about that run as it catches out some people with the interval walks🚶and runs. 😊 🏃.

[Couchpotato2 Graduate in reply to AlMorr]

Thanks. I"m not worried anymore, I can run for 20 minutes so I can do anything I set my mind to. Might not be on the first attempt but I will do it

[mafee Graduate in reply to Couchpotato2]

exactly right - I repeated the first of the 3 runs in week 6 but then just plodded on - now on week 7

[Couchpotato2 Graduate in reply to mafee]

Good to know!

[deadandalive Graduate]

Well done you!!! I knew you could do it! You’re right, it’s not an easy run. But it’s doable, and now you have hard proof that it’s doable by you, and that’s what matters!

I smiled at the running-on-the-spot-while-crossing-roads bit: I’m so familiar with that but haven’t actually seen anyone mention it here, so that was nice.

I see you experienced the toxic ten phenomenon too: the early minutes are harder than the later ones, which isn’t quite what one would have expected.

Well done again!!! We’re all very proud of you!

I’m doing Week 6 Run 1 on Friday or Saturday. You?

[Couchpotato2 Graduate in reply to deadandalive]

Thanks for your kind words! Yes I felt a bit more of a fool than usual pressing the button and hoping around... I think Friday or Saturday. Was trying to convince a friend to do parkrun with me but don't think I'll succeed cos it's too cold (grumpyoldgirl ) so all being well Friday. Now that I have reached this milestone (it is to me) I feel I can relax a bit about when I run. I just wanted to keep the momentum going till then.

[grumpyoldgirl Graduate]

😁 Well done girl, I'll join you again when the snow has melted (I'm the forum official wuss) -well someone has to be 😂

[Couchpotato2 Graduate in reply to grumpyoldgirl]

it will probably be too hot for me then...

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

Great job... holding the kale aloft is great... did you get strange looks?

Sounds like the run also gave you a good bit of experience in managing pace and using that mental strength. Of course you’re gonna be OK with longer runs.

Slow and steady into week 6 and you got this

[Couchpotato2 Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

The kale makes a great trophy; I"m trying different options before graduation victory lap!

Looks... yes... a few

Yes it was definitely a mind over matter run. Internal dialogue went like that: well you might slip and fall / but I am being very careful, your legs ache, you should stop / but I know I feel better once they've stretched out a bit, this hill is impossible, why not walk it / oh no, I am running it however slow, this is hard, you wont manage/ Yeah I will, I've managed so far so probabilities is that I will this time too otherwise the programme would have been amended etc. etc. up to...oh silence in the head, time for a song, nice scenery, actually this feels fine and I can keep going! I am actually going to manage this!!

Knowing that this head thing is not just me, makes an enormous difference in fighting it off. Same as accepting that it will be there when I start running and that I will squish it, potato style!

I did think that the gradient of the hill had been increased today. going to check it now...

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to Couchpotato2]

Don’t tell me they’re getting sneaky now we’re on to them delivering hills overnight and have started jacking up one end of the path???

[Couchpotato2 Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Yeah I think they are finding other ways to sneak it past us...

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to Couchpotato2]

I’ve seen their planning for theses things... every junior parkrun we have to stomp on small models that they’ve made of groups of hills so that the little ones don’t trip over them.

[Couchpotato2 Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

I"ll be weary of that when I start parkrunning... hopefully soon!

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to Couchpotato2]

I was going to go this weekend, but now I’m not going to be in the town I wanted to be, and I don’t like my local course... so I guess it can wait another week! Knocked 5 minutes off my PB last time... first was a walk, second a tail-walk!

[Couchpotato2 Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

5' is rather decent, well done!

[Chris141 Graduate]

Yes it is perfectly OK to feel proud! Well done!

[Couchpotato2 Graduate in reply to Chris141]

Thanks a lot!

[mafee Graduate]

Definitely allowed!!

[ktsok Graduate]

Excellent work CP. Yes, the effort requires comes in waves. Sometimes shorter gaps between the effort, sometimes longer and sometimes, the effort doesn’t come at all (bliss). Interestingly, it doesn’t seem to worsen the longer you run, just continues undulating...

Interesting parasol!

Watch out for 6:1 and 6:2. I struggled to pace myself all over again with those two. Went out a touch too fast after the high of 5:3 and found it brutal. My lowest point in the programme. So keep it slow and steady and cruise your way through them 🙂

[Couchpotato2 Graduate in reply to ktsok]

Great to know, I'll keep the very slow pace I had for the run today. Once I am a more confident runner and have run 20-30' a few times, I'll work on speed but for now it's about getting it done in an enjoyable way!

[Time_to_run Graduate]

Yey .... 💪👍🙌🥳🎉

[Darcyduck]

Thank you Cp2 for this post ! I’m doing this run tomorrow & unfortunately I’ve read what’s expected of me 😱 I’ve found the other runs in week 5 okish 🤔😉 I’m going to focus on Jo Wiley & let her guide me .....

[Couchpotato2 Graduate in reply to Darcyduck]

You’ll feel so great after. It’s an interesting run because you learn how your body reacts. For me, first few minutes was going from a bit stiff to looser, then there was a moment where gremlins tell me to stop and if feels like an effort but then all settles and is nice. That’s what happened to me and you’ll probably be different. In any case the weeks before have definitely prepared you for it and you can do it!