Week 5

[Jamjar18]

Bloody hell!!!!! Are they seriously expecting me to be able to jog 20 mins without stopping??!?? I’m all for positive mental attitude but.... Not. A. Chance!!!

[Speedy60 Graduate]

Have you completed week 4 to the letter, Jamjar? If so, I'd trust the programme, give w5r1 a go slowly and see what happens. You wouldn't be the first runner to surprise yourself. If you feel you really struggled with the last run, there's no harm in repeating it before you move on.

Good luck.

[Jamjar18 in reply to Speedy60]

Completed week 5 runs 1 and 2 .... run three Friday 🙈

[limberlou Graduate in reply to Jamjar18]

You’ll do it !!! Just take it steady and don’t think of it as 20 mins ... just think 5 mins, then 5 more, then 5 more, then only 5 left

[DDJ2019 Graduate in reply to limberlou]

I like this way of looking at it! I should finish W4 today and am apprehensive (euphemism lol) about W5

[Speedy60 Graduate in reply to Jamjar18]

Then you've totally got this. Give it a go. 👊

[Jalapenolover101 Graduate]

If you’ve followed and completed each run, then .............yes!!!

Get out there and enjoy it 💪

This run is really something special, yes it’s the longest, so far, but the feeling of achievement is awesome.

Don’t stress about it, just do it! And bask in the glory. Good luck 🍀

[Jamjar18 in reply to Jalapenolover101]

Yup to the letter! 😊 I’ve got run three scheduled for Friday,...!

[Jalapenolover101 Graduate in reply to Jamjar18]

Excellent 👍 let us know how fabulous you feel after completing it! Cos you will! And you will love it! 💪

[madmother Graduate]

You will do it. This program is amazing. Go for it. 🙂

[Jamjar18 in reply to madmother]

Thanks ☺️

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

We all thought that and we did it so will you

[MartinKH Graduate]

Hi Jamjar,

I shared the exact same concerns as you only a week or so ago.

However, and as the others have said, as long as you’ve done the programme so far then you are ready for it.

Your mind may not feel ready, but your body is.

Be positive and I hope you enjoy it.

[Deals1 Graduate]

If u r following the program and taking it slowly you'll be fine!

[ChoosingHappy Graduate]

I had the exact same thoughts as you as I reached week 5. I'd not looked ahead at what was coming, had just been doing as I was told on the day all along then suddenly people were mentioning 20 mins and I was like "WHAT."

But, it's true, somehow this somewhat voodoo-like programme makes it possible, and all the runs you've done up until now have prepared you for this next one. You can and you will be able to do it, honest!

👍🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️👍

[Astra5 Graduate in reply to ChoosingHappy]

Exactly what I did, never looked ahead but did each run as it came up. A SHOCK is an understatement when this came up so did as someone else mentioned 5 min then 5 etc and was gobsmacked when I completed it. You will do it too all the best 🏃🏃🏼‍♀️👌🏻

[DDJ2019 Graduate in reply to ChoosingHappy]

Voodoo-like lol.

It is some kind of witchcraft, that's for sure!

[ChoosingHappy Graduate in reply to DDJ2019]

Absolutely!! It definitely brainwashes us.. in a good way of course! 🤣

[Sandraj39 Graduate]

Trust in the program - it works! Will be looking out for your ecstatic success post on Friday!🤞💪🙂

[zokki Graduate]

You got this.

I never though but did it last week and now finished w6 r2 today.

Slowly and you will get there.

Gooooo!!!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

YES!!! A positive mental approach is essential and reading this healthunlocked.com/couchto5... will make you realise that this is well within your reach.

BELIEVE..............

[Fluffiness Graduate]

You and 1000s of others, possibly myself too when I was at your stage, but you will as you have been trained to - you will have already run 2 x 8 minutes, plus walk, so 20 mins is actually shorter and you may find that keeping going is actually easier than stopping and brisk interval walking - you will do it and I am sure that you will feel great for it!!

[Guy_M Graduate]

Go for it.... you’ll amaze yourself (possibly 🙄) ... I started in April last year and couldn’t even manage week 1 run 1 without stopping.... now running 10k regularly.....

[Forrestgump54 Graduate]

I'm only on week 3 and thought there's no chance I could run for 3 minutes after finding 90 seconds a challenge but I totally surprised myself and did it and was so made up, you can do this 👍

[Jbough123 Graduate]

I had the same concerns when I was getting my running shoes on last night ready for W5R3.

The hardest bit is convincing your brain that you CAN now run for this length of time - once you manage that you’ll smash it.

[Nilsam Graduate]

Go go go you can do this ...we are right behind you. Just report back on how you got on. 🏃‍♀️👍👀

[PaulaWB Graduate]

I remember this run so well! I too completed it on a Friday. And yes I completed it! Started totally terrified but determined! Trust in the plan it works! Keep it slow and steady perhaps listen to a chapter of an audio book or a podcast to completely take your mind of the length of the run? Music makes me up my pace in faster finds and I tire quickly so talking for me all the way works. Good luck and enjoy it! You will feel amazing afterwards xx

[DDJ2019 Graduate in reply to PaulaWB]

I listen to BBC Radio 4 - I had to give up on music as well - it just wasn't working for me - but I hadn't thought of an audiobook or podcast - might try them instead!

[PaulaWB Graduate in reply to DDJ2019]

I listened to a very funny book and I was getting very strange looks from people when I was literally laughing out loud!!!!

[DrEdFullyunfit]

I have this run on Friday too Jamjar - eeeek! Got a feeling it’s more of a mental challenge than a physical one - after all, R2 was 16 minutes so it only adds another 4.

Even so..........arghhhhh.....panic.....🤪😂. Good luck

[Khobarrunner Graduate]

Believe and trust in the program. You CAN do this. Many of us had the same thoughts about W5R3 and we come through the other side feeling amazing.

[Alast]

Thank you for posting your thoughts so tat you received all of those lovely & supportive comments above. I've just (just over 2 hours ago) completed W4 R2 and although (this time) I'm trying not to look ahead & out psych myself, I know that week 3 is a bit different. You've already smashed the first two runs of the week and as everyone keeps telling you/us, each run prepares you for the next one coming up. Despite you faux Positive Mental Attitude I am sure that you will smash R3 too. Please make sure to let us know how you got on.

[RunningMigster Graduate]

If you've completed wk5 R2, then you can so do this. Just take it slow. Set off slower than normal if you have any doubts and then you can always increase the pace at the end if you want to.

Also, and dont tell anybody else as this is a bit of a secret, the biggest jump in running, is in week 4. But you've already done that without noticing

Mig

[Rolandrat]

I thought the same but I did it and it is all in the mind, felt great at the end of it.. Just keep going 😊

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate]

Hi Jamjar18 ...don’t worry about W5r3...we have all been there and thought the exact same thing!! DO NOT let those gremlins any further into your thoughts...they will put you off...get your trainers on, get some music in your ears and just do it!!! The key is to start slowly, slower than slow...please let us know how you get on!! X

[John_W Graduate]

"Not. A. Chance!!!" Come on now Jamjar18 ... do you really believe this? Really??

You know *Week 4* was the hard bit don't you? That was the biggest jump in TOTAL running in the whole program from 9 minutes in Week 3 to a whopping 16 minutes!

Now that you've done W5R2 (well done!) you now have 157 minutes of running under you belt. Surely enough to ready your body for a 20 minute jog! W5R1 is a total of 15 minutes running. W5R2 is 16 minutes, so 20 minutes is perfectly doable, as *thousands* of users here will attest.

Remember my mantra: every run you've done prepares you for the next one, It's very simple but true. As ever with W5R3 worries... it shows (as said above) the body is ready but the mind is not! Yes, your body has been prepared for this... as it has for every run so far.

Here's a bit about Week 5 Run 3:

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

good luck! (not that you need it)

John

[Hidden in reply to John_W]

I love your graph...I’m repeating week 4 as I have to run some hills (no choice really) and week 4 beat me a little. Run 1 of the repeat week I fell 40 seconds short again, but tonight I did it! And now I’ve seen your graph I don’t feel so apprehensive about moving on although I do have to complete week 4 run 6 first . Thanks 🙏🏻

[John_W Graduate in reply to Hidden]

thank you and well done! Week 5 really isn't that bad. It's 90% mental

[Scarletsunrise]

Except you can and you will!

Good luck on Friday, I know you will smash it! 🙂🙂

[Achy4days Graduate]

Since you have been following the previous runs to the letter, you are very likely to have built up the strength to do 20mins non-stop.

If, by any chance, you don't feel like you can complete 20mins as prescribed. That's also ok. Take an extra rest day and try again or repeat the previous run again until you are fully comfortable. I repeated almost every week on the C25k and I'm now running 10k!

You can only fail this plan if you stop running all together. You've got this!

[Clairewalker751]

I thought the exact same thing! I did the 20 min jog last week week 6 run 2 tomorrow it was kinda easier to just keep going plod pace 12min mile but just focused my mind on just keep plodding good luck I'm sure you will surprise yourself x

[Fitatfifty50 Graduate]

You will ace it 👍👍