Struggling with progressing to Wk4: Did anyone... - Couch to 5K

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Struggling with progressing to Wk4

KawaiiPotato profile image
12 Replies

Did anyone else struggle with going from week 3 to week 4? I thought I could manage week 3 runs okay, but maybe I left too many rest days before week 4. 😩

I don’t want to have set my progress back but I had to stop just before the final 5 min run.

Should I try week 3 again or just keep repeating the first run of week 4 until I can manage the whole thing? 🤔

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KawaiiPotato profile image
KawaiiPotato
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12 Replies
Tasha99 profile image
Tasha99Graduate

Just repeat until you can do it. It’s warm and everyone’s struggling. Everyone has bad runs. It’s normal. Don’t let the gremlins win!

AlMorr profile image
AlMorrAmbassadorGraduate

You can repeat any runs or week's if you wish to, looks like it would be better for you to repeat week 3 before going on to week 4, have two days off running and drink plenty of water the day before you run run 1 of week 3, do the running parts a little slower than you ran today.

Buddy34 profile image
Buddy34Graduate

Just stick to your wk4 run . Try slowing down even more and make sure you're drinking plenty water 7 days a week. You can do it . Good luck 😊

LeeU profile image
LeeUGraduate

You could try week 4, just go slow and steady, you may be trying to go too quickly plus, with the heat it's a drainer.

If you don't manage to complete the run mark it up as experience and try again, you will have days and runs which do not go to plan, it's all experience.

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate

It is warm.... very warm.. rest a day... and then head out and run the run really slowly! :) You are going to be fine:)

Fatgirlslim19 profile image
Fatgirlslim19Graduate

I'm with the try week 4 again party... I struggled hugely with the second 5 minute run of this week. I can't even remember how many times I tried it before I cracked it! If you haven't already seen it, YouTube Japanese Slow Running technique. Honestly, it's a total game changer! Once I had been pointed in that direction, running became something a lot more doable and FUN!

Take a days rest, drink water like it's going out of fashion and get out there in the cool part of the day, going SLOWLY! You can do this. Definitely.

KawaiiPotato profile image
KawaiiPotato in reply to Fatgirlslim19

Thank you, I will check it out. ☺️

It’s also super reassuring to know that people who have smashed the challenge and graduated, also found parts tricky.

Fatgirlslim19 profile image
Fatgirlslim19Graduate in reply to KawaiiPotato

Oh definitely! And not every run now is easy. Some runs are just hard and others you love. Bit you're determined, and you'll do it 👊

Week 4 was my hardest week, it's a big jump from week 3, but you can do it. Stay on week 4.

You're fit enough, this is not about speed, slow it right down, you should be able to have a conversation.

long distance running is a mental battle as well as a physical one. There's no failing this, every run you're getting physically/mentally stronger.

Good luck and keep at it.

UnfitNoMore profile image
UnfitNoMoreGraduate

Every run was a struggle this time last year... which was was when I was doing C25K. The heat and humidity sucks, I was running at 9 and 10 at night to avoid the worst of it. The great thing is that running in the heat will really push your fitness up for the autumn. Don’t worry about not completing any run, just repeat them until you do, and just think how much easier your running will be this autumn.

KawaiiPotato profile image
KawaiiPotato

Thank you for all of your excellent advice. I will keep at it and hopefully I can get over that last 5 min run hurdle. 😅💪

Fatgirlslim19 profile image
Fatgirlslim19Graduate in reply to KawaiiPotato

You'll do it!

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