Week five, run three - 20 minutes of a battle in my head “I’ve done 10 minutes, that’s more than the last run, I can always stop and try again... 15 minutes and so on”
I find it hard to say this but I’m so proud of myself and I know that the motivation I get from reading everyone’s posts is helping me along! I struggled so badly on the first five minute run - it was such a great feeling today when I was thinking “Oh wow, 5 minutes that was okay” don’t get me wrong the toxic ten came in fast today but this was a mental battle!
Tomato faced as always but the endorphins are buzzing! Happy running 🏃🏻♀️ 🏃♂️
Written by
SarahBash
Graduate
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HUGE WELL DONE YOU . I attempted the exact same run this morning. I was dreading it 😱. I still cannot believe I did it . I m very slow and I doubt I cover 5 k distance wise .... but as everyone says “I m not just sitting down on a sofa , I m moving “. Pretty certain I can walk as fast as I run 🥴
Not sure the phrase “ Happy Running 🏃♀️ “ is on the tip of my tongue 😛 . There are several other less polite phrases I remember thinking at 10 am this morning 😳😱🤷♀️🙈🤣🤣🤣
WELL DONE!! When I first started this I thought oh I must get to 5k, but now I’m in the mindset of that can come with time! The motion of running is harder than walking so you’re doing great!
Thankyou and YES for team tomato faces! Week four, run one I remember doing it thinking there’s no way I can do this, reading everyones posts to trust the programme thinking “but how?!” But if I can do it you definitely can!
Well done SarahBash, and the others here who have just done the same run.
I only two week ahead of you in the programme, but I can honestly say that this is a fantastic run to get ‘under your belt’.
Like you perhaps, before the run I was wondering if I could do it......having previously struggled to run for more than about 8 minute. But having made that 20 mins non stop gave me massive confidence in myself and the programme.
As others may have already said, be a little careful on week 6, as it may seem a bit counter intuitive to have the first few runs of durations if less than 20 mins.
What you have achieved so far prepares your body really well for what’s ahead.
You have to get your head as ready as your body, but go ahead and enjoy it with confidence.
I’m saying that from my personal experience, having just finished my 3rd 25 min run of week 7 today.
Thanks MartinKH! I’ll definitely keep that in mind - I saw week 6 run 1 and thought ohhh that’ll be fine now I’ve done this, but a few people have mentioned being caught out so I don’t want to get too cocky haha!
Huge well done to you too, sounds like you’re doing great!! 🙌🏻
I ve just done week 5 run 3 ( 20 mins too 😱) . Do you find going into week 6 you try to run faster ? I m like a snail 🐌.... and still can’t believe I kept going today . No way did I run 5 k ( more like 2:5 k) , but I kept going . Does the second half of c25k work on speed now that we have suddenly found a way to “ keep going “ 😳. I ran the 5k course today out of curiosity ( on my own )& did the whole 20 mins running from the start to the turnaround point ( where you then run back to start) . I had to walk the way back . I m 5 ft 2 , is it a short leg thing 🙄. I was soooo chuffed I d kept going for 20 mins and then soooo disappointed I d only made half the course. 😞🥴🙈
Hi Karen50plus! I personally will be going at the same pace that I’ve been running at - I tend to run a little slower to start and then once my legs warm up I speed up gradually but I’m definitely not worried about speed - I think 20 - 25 minutes running straight will be a big jump for my stamina and because I struggled with the 20 I’ll just be taking it steady for now - speed for me can come once I’ve completed the program!
Totally understand your short leg situation (fellow short gal here!)
Don’t be disappointed about the 5k - I read a really great article on here that showed most people don’t reach running 5k at the end of the programme (mostly between 2-4) but running 30 minutes straight is a huge feat and that really shifted my mindset. You ran 20 minutes non stop! Thats AMAZING from where you first started so give yourself a pat on the back - speed and distance will come 💪🏼
Thank you Sarah . Yes I agree . I tried this a year ago but couldn’t run the 60 seconds and couldn’t complete the 8 runs so I gave up 😞. A year later and a stone lighter I tried again . I struggled with the 60 seconds but I did them all (. I d joined a Zumba class Last April and I m sure that helped with weight loss / and stamina ) . Anyway every week I dread what’s coming and the 90 seconds upping to 3 whole minutes was really scary . I can’t believe I m on week 6 next . Never thought I d do it .
But I thoroughly agree with you that distance is not the issue . As long as we can keep going that is the winning part . As we get stronger so I hope we ll naturally get faster . In my head if I can survive the first 9 weeks I can repeat the last 4 weeks ( 6-9) for stamina and that will make me faster ( slowly) .. 🤷♀️( sorry for waffling 🙈)
Yes!! Totally agree! I was in the same situation- I tried last year and struggled to run the three minutes so gave it up!
My mum runs marathons and she said that even now she’s not necessarily a “fast” runner! So I guess after the program it’s just about finding what works for you? I personally can’t see myself doing a marathon but getting a 5k in 30 minutes would be nice!
Also please don’t apologise for “whaffling” thats what this forum is for! Supporting and motivating each other 🙌🏻😊
No , I m not interested in running a marathon ( or even half of one ) . That s not to say I applaud the people who do this . I m just predominantly lazy 🤷♀️🤣 , but have wanted to give c25k a go from a fitness point of view . The biggest problem I have is that my back aches more than my legs . When i m running , yes I can feel it in my hips , but once the evening comes I feel like my back and shoulders have been weightlifting 🏋️♀️...😳. I get up at 9:00 to make a coffee and shuffle like a little old woman to the kitchen 🥴. No wonder the program says to skip a day to “ recover” 🤣. I m fine in the morning and it doesn’t “hurt “ , I just feel stiff during the evening after the run 🤷♀️.
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