W5R3 - Completed it! :): Only found this forum a... - Couch to 5K

Couch to 5K

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W5R3 - Completed it! :)

Patrick79 profile image
7 Replies

Only found this forum a couple of days ago and wanted to hold off posting until I'd got the one i'd been dreading out of the way! Amazed to say it, but a 20 minute run non-stop completed it with very little fuss, so much so that at the 2 minute remaining mark I decided to finish with a section that my Strava app refers to as "Heart Attack Hill"!

Really i just wanted to say to those new to it, the c25k app is incredibly well structured, stick to it and you WILL get there! I was weezing along in week 1 doing what I call the "old lady shuffle". I felt knackered after running for 90 seconds and had every ache and pain going.

The change is amazing, for all but the last 3 or so minutes I was just gliding along, I feel fitter and am recovering quicker each time. More surprisingly has been the mental benefits, I feel happier, I'm sleeping better and I increasingly am enjoying the running.

A few tips I've found:

You will ache, but they will go!

Keep your hands down by your hips when you run, it uses up energy keeping them high up by your chest and it keeps you cooler.

Don't skip the warm up or cool down walk, they're there for a reason!

If in doubt, slow down but keep running, speed isn't important.

Good luck everyone, and happy running! :)

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Patrick79 profile image
Patrick79
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7 Replies
Annieapple profile image
AnnieappleAdministratorGraduate

👍👏Well done Patrick...you have posted some great advice too. Onwards to W6 for you!

AlMorr profile image
AlMorrAmbassadorGraduate

Heart Attack Hill, sounds nasty, is it part of a parkrun on a Saturday morning? if it is, not a parkrun I would want to run.

Congratulations on completing run 3 of week 5, that is a milestone run with C25K, 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 after the non stop 20 minutes of W5R3 which you have just ran 🏃 😊.

Patrick79 profile image
Patrick79 in reply to AlMorr

No not on a parkrun thankfully, it starts as a very slight incline but get steeper all the way up, it's really well named!

Thanks for the heads-up! :)

AlMorr profile image
AlMorrAmbassadorGraduate in reply to Patrick79

Glad to know that Heart Attack Hill is not part of a parkrun. 😊

IannodaTruffe profile image
IannodaTruffeMentor

Welcome to the forum and well done on your progress.

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

Enjoy your journey.

Monnie41 profile image
Monnie41Graduate

Brilliant thanks for the tips Patrick 79

Buddy34 profile image
Buddy34Graduate

20 minutes non stop that's brilliant. C25k is an amazing plan and really does work you'll get lots of encouragement and support on here good luck 😊😊

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