5.3 done and dusted!

[Enxo]

Bloody hell! Felt ok after 20 mins then ran through my warm down to add another 5! However feel that I may be going too slow! Registering about 17minutes a mile.

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate]

There's no such thing as too slow. We cannot stress that enough.

Be careful adding on minutes here and there, your body is still adjusting and the plan is carefully put together to keep you injury free. I do hope you still did another 5 min warm down walk afterwards? The warm down is crucial.

Well done on getting through it, you're past the magic milestone and headed for the longer runs now 👍🏻😁

[Grannyhugs Graduate]

No slow is too slow if it let's you complete the run and move onto the next. You will have all the rest of your running career to work on speed after graduation. You'll find speed increases anyway as you get into last few weeks where it is all running. Happy running

[LeeU Graduate]

Don't get hung up on speed, 17 minutes per mile is faster than what you were doing prior to start the program for a guess?

Just complete the runs, no more, no less, try to enjoy each one and while it may feel like you can run for longer, and we all feel that way believe me, you need time for your body to get used to the fact you are running and asking it to do things that 5 or so week ago you weren't doing.

Very well done on the effort though, you're over half way through and have broken the mental barrier, now you know you can run for longer periods just relax and enjoy each one.

[Enxo Graduate]

Feel great! I carried on as I did not feel stressed to stop - breathing was easy and legs felt fine. Dont worry - still did warm down! Many thanks to all who helped me get here! Actually I think I've slowed down! Ended up averaging 18.5mins/mile.

[Buddy34 Graduate]

As you've guessed there is no too slow. You're doing great , you're getting to the end of each run. Well done you 😊😊

[sTrongFuse Graduate]

I covered just shy of 1.7 miles when I did that run back at the start of April, so that was a speed of 11.7 mins/mile. At graduation, four weeks later I ran just under 2.6 miles, giving me an average speed of 11.5 mins/mile. My first 5k a week later was 39 minutes (12.5 mins/mile) and my first 10k at the start of July was 1 hour 20 (12.9 mins/mile).

Skip forward to a week past Monday when I did my first 10 miler in 2 hours (and a couple of seconds) meaning my average speed was, surprise-surprise, 12 mins/mile.

If what you're running is your comfortable pace, then stick to it. The more running you do the stronger you get; the stronger you get, the further you can run at your comfortable pace or, conversely, the faster you will become over shorter differences.

When running at my "event pace", I can run 5 km in under 30 minutes now or 10 km in just over an hour. But as you can see from the times above, when plodding along happily for as far as I can, my pace really hasn't changed that much since W5R3.

The important thing is you are running at a pace you can complete the runs at, and running for 20 minutes is a huge achievement considering where you were just 6 weeks ago. Don't worry about the pace; it's YOUR run so just do it at YOUR pace.

[Enxo Graduate]

That’s so kind if you to say! Personally, the fact that I can jog for 25minutes non stop is just amazing! I really feel I can do this! Thanks to all contributors! You are the best!

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

No such thing as too slow speed will come later it’s brilliant that you could run for that long in one go

[Sp81 Graduate]

As above. No such thing as too slow. Slow is good. Keep at it you’re amazing 😉

[Enxo Graduate]

I thank you!

[Wenderwoo Graduate]

Well done for completing it and some! You will see my other post about W6R1, and tak8ng it slooowwww 👍😁

[Rigpig Graduate]

I'm constantly having to remind myself to ignore my male arrogance and just follow the plan to the letter. I don't think there is any such thing as too slow. Completing each week with no issues should be the big picture/ Keep going, you're doing great and I'm not too far behind you

[shrinkingjaz Graduate]

Speed is not important. It's all about endurance! Speed will come.

Huge congratulations on getting through the 20 minute run! It sounds like you'll get through weeks 6 and 7 with no problems 😊

[RunawayBetty Graduate]

Well done for completing week 5!! 👍😊

[Enxo Graduate]

Thanks guys and dolls!

[RunningMigster Graduate]

Well done on reaching the milestone!