Why is Week 6 so hard!

[Janef2702]

Hi, I’m knew here. I have just completed W6R1 and I struggled so much!!! I found it so much harder than last week. How can that be right?? Was feeling really positive last week but now unsure if I’ll be able to complete this.

[Sandraj39 Graduate]

You absolutely will! Lots of people get caught out by the return to intervals of this run after the solid 20 mins running of W5R3. I graduated over four years ago and still remember being thrown by this week!! 😮 Trust in the program and stay positive - find a mantra to get you through the runs - you can do this!💪🙂

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Congratulations on completing your longest workout to date.

One twenty minute run does not a runner make..........

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate]

This is where the mental battle really starts... the pesky little gremlins have seen how well you did, have felt the highs of W5R3 threatening their equilibrium... they now see doubts and that's their chance to whisper even more doubt "it's too hard" etc. Don't let the little buggers win. You absolutely CAN do this. Believe in YOU!! 👍🏻😉

[Hidden]

My take on this (at any week) is that it’s been mentally hard. I initially felt irritated when I saw the return to intervals—because I was keen to progress to longer runs— but told myself to trust in the programme. I like to know how and why things work so I tried to figure out why week 6 goes the way it does. I googled the plan and found a transcript of an interview given by the creator. And you know what? I don’t think there’s much science behind the exact structure (even if there is science behind starting small and building gradually).

So then I decided ok, what does it do for me? And I decided the intervals allowed me to consolidate and regroup for two runs and the third run was a natural progression.

Maybe you can find a way to frame the runs so they make sense to you?

But what others say is true. You will conquer this!!

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

You will, week 6 run 1 caught most of us out it’s longer and harder than week 5 and even if we know it will be hard it still surprises us, we had a terrible week 6 but got through and still regularly run so wishing you the same

[Beachcomber66 Graduate]

Just keep things really slow; nothing matters but running for the relevant period of time. You will get there ! I had a problem weeks 6/7...but slowing things down got me through.,,and I can run for miles now. 👍😊