Last time I did C25k I did it about the same time of the year but it was the hottest day of the year so far! (27 June 2017 temp about 28c). Today it was damp and about 12c!
But my feeling about it was the same. Did the first 8 mins, and then found that by half way through the 5 minute walk break I was raring to go & had to hold back before restarting the second 8.
Am I alone in this experience? Maybe I'm not putting enough effort in the run?!
I am wondering if there is a subtle psychology in the program in inserting the longest walk break so far at this point in the program, because it teaches you that actually you don't need that long to recover, and you're now looking forward to running without a break.
Now I know many people coming up to the notorious W5 R3 are thinking "yikes! That's a big step up and It'll be a struggle".
I suppose I shouldn't think that as I've done it before, and completed the course without any hitches.
But ... it's still a big step so to psych myself I have:
(1) You've done it before and more.
(2) Total workout is 1 minute less than W5R2 so it's over quicker.
(3) No boring walking bit in the middle.
(4) Feeling pretty good right now so think how much better I'll feel when I complete R3.
I figure Weeks 5 and 6 are the hard ones, but once you've got to 25 minutes continuous you can feel pretty confident you're going to do it.
Keep going, everyone!
Written by
iain-strachan
Graduate
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Those four points are great. I needed to psych myself up to complete that run. Today, just a few weeks later, I ran 20 minutes because I wanted a "short" run. The programme is magic, it moves you on so quickly. You are ready for it!
I started to hate the walking intervals at about this point. My calves started to tighten during them and setting off again hurt... I think I was walking too slowly.
Possibly some psychological game going on... but the good thing is that break is long enough for you to see how quickly you recover... that’s a great sign of increasing fitness levels... maybe that’s what they want us to see?
Nice messages to yourself... you can run 20 of course... you’re ready... have a wonderful 20 minuter.
I'm glad to hear your tips as today I completed W5R1. I am quite nervous about W5R3, and have been trying to think of distractions. I have downloaded an audiobook to see if that will help. I know that the programme has been really good for me, and I look forward to runs, but the 20 minute one seems, psychologically at least, impossible. I'm worried that my negative mental attitude will cause problems, so your advice is very timely.
Pepperandkiki and Blackcat66 - seriously folks - it's not that big a jump. Think of it like this your run 3 will be over 1 minute quicker than run 2!
But just about everyone dreads it and comes out at the end all smiles! I'm sure both of you will too. As all the experts here say, the programme has prepared you for it.
For my part I was itching to get out and do R3, but I suppose, to be fair, I'd done it before (and dreaded it then like everyone else!)
It's encouraging to hear that, but still can't believe it, which is silly because I didn't believe I could complete 3 or 5 minutes. I'm impressed you are following the programme again. I don't think I could do that! I would never have thought I could enjoy running, C25K is just something that I wanted to try, with the expectation of failure, but I am really enjoying my runs, and look forward to them (all except THAT one!)
Please post to let us know how you get on. I have completed every run so far, exactly as suggested, and can honestly say that I am sure that you will manage it. I think it's just the self-belief that's lacking. As Sarah Millican has been saying to me: "Go for it!"
I did it, I did it, I did it! I still can't believe I managed W5R3. Woke up this morning feeling so disappointed that I was going to fail, but it was fine. No sore knees, or feet, breathing was fine and no stitch. Ran for a couple more minutes but then thought it would be best to stick to the programme. iain-strachan you were right. It is definitely doable. I downloaded an interesting podcast and listened to that as I went, so I had something different to my usual music to listen to. Pepperandkiki , how did you get on?
Thank you. I really don't know where the old me has gone. Out for W6R1 at 7.30 this morning. As you pointed out, the psychology is fascinating. I approached the run with the attitude that if I could run 20 minutes I could run 8. But I didn't take into account that 8 is still hard. Managed all the runs, but definitely found interval running harder. I think that's the psychological aspect - makes you actually prefer the longer runs.... although I still feel mentally challenged by what's ahead of me!
I think the psychology thing is really interesting. I noticed at the end of Wk5/3 that Laura said: you've only got two minutes to go now. Previously, it had been - you've only got 60 seconds to go. In earlier weeks, I would have thought: two minutes, that's forever! But on week 5/3, I thought - oh, that's doable. They're clever, those people that planned this programme!
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Whoopadeedoo! Week 5 Run 2! 
second time round Run 1 week 1 !!!!
Week 7 run 1 - success second time round
More than 3 runs per week
Week 5 run 2 completed! 
