w5r3 - tick.

[notreallyme]

Just done the dreaded 20 minutes. No real problems, other than being overtaken by a tortoise. I'm finding the breathing OK and can keep up the VERY slow jog, but feel as though any attempt to speed up would be short lived. I'd quite like to be able to progress at something slightly faster than a shuffling version of St Vitus Dance. Will this happen naturally - should I try short intervals of upping the pace, or am I being impatient (again)?

[Sophia1712 Graduate]

Not an expert but I would say that as long as you are not in pain anywhere and feel you could pick up the pace a little and maintain the conversational pace, then give it a go. You can always slow down again. I tend to start very slow and see how I feel and often pick up the pace towards the second half. However, today, I kept it slow. The beauty of choice.

I would caution not trying it out on week 6 run 1 as rumour has it it catches people out after smashing week 5 run 3....

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

Congratulations on completing run 3 of week 5, that is a milestone run with C25K. Just take all the runs slowly and and keep to the any walks and runs which are on the C25K training program. 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 🏃.

[notreallyme Graduate in reply to AlMorr]

Thanks for the warning. I shall proceed with caution....

[BeatRoute Graduate]

I would say just stick to the plan, we all know it works. Speed and distance are not really the aim here, it is the time spent running that is important. You are just 3 weeks away from being able to look at other aspects of your running, and experiment with longer or faster runs.

Your body is still getting used to running and pushing yourself too hard could result in injury.

Also I used to work with a lovely chap who kept tortoises (I think they got into double figures at one point). They were kept outside in the summer and he always said that if they decided they didn’t want to be put away at night they would run away so fast that he couldn’t catch them, so no shame in being outrun by a tortoise!

[notreallyme Graduate in reply to BeatRoute]

I'm sure you're right. I should savour the success of completing w5r3 and then keep on keeping on, so to speak. And tortoises are wonderful creatures - but had better keep clear of my blundering progress!