Week 5 The 20 minute punisher

[Couchphoenix]

Hi everyone

I’m on week 5, did my final run of week 5 today and must be honest I struggled with 20 min continuous run, I thought it was quite a leap from the previous run time. But I feel fitter than I have in years (I’m 54 yrs old) I’ve decided to tell nobody I work with that I’m doing this, as I’d prefer people to notice how different I look over time and hopefully comment on this. I’ve surprised myself with how I’ve stuck with it. I’m considering doing week 5 again as I found the 20 min run hard, my self consciousness of lumbering around the streets has almost gone and I now consider myself a runner, even if I’m not a very good one. The important thing is I enjoy it and I feel more positive and fitter than I have done in a long time.

[Roxdog Graduate]

Brilliant well done. You are ready to move on if you've completed week 5, even if it was hard! Of course you can redo the week, but you may not actually need to. Good luck!

[Couchphoenix Graduate in reply to Roxdog]

Thank you, I really do appreciate your encouragement 👍

[Fionamags Graduate]

Well done for completing that 20 mins! I have that to look forward to next week. If I were you I'd give myself a huge pat on the back and move onwards! You can always repeat a run in week 6 if you can't manage it - but i bet you won't have to!!

[Couchphoenix Graduate in reply to Fionamags]

Thank you and good luck with your couch to 5k journey, I appreciate your encouragement 👍

[T2runner Graduate]

Try week 6, it is two 10 minutes with a walk in the middle, so that is doable right? Yes you can always repeat a run or a week, but you have done the 20 minutes, may not have been easy but you did it, if it was easy every one would be doing it! Good luck whichever you choose. I am loving it too.

[Couchphoenix Graduate in reply to T2runner]

Thank you T2runner I appreciate your encouragement and support, I’ll give week 6 a go based on what you’ve told me.

[Couchphoenix Graduate in reply to T2runner]

Completed first run of week 6 this morning, you were right, it was ok, not easy but doable and I covered more distance than I’ve done on any of the other runs. Feeling quite positive and pleased with my progress 😀

[T2runner Graduate in reply to Couchphoenix]

Glad to hear that, it does get a lot harder, but you are building your stamina just done my first 28 min run, after the last 25 min run I thought no way, I got to 25mins and was completely thinking I want this to end, it did eventually, but today I pushed and pushed, the last five minutes were brilliant, I could have gone on for a bit longer. Just believe in yourself and the plan, you will get to week 7 easily I reckon, you have no long runs for a few days, use them wisely and you will get through it, if you need a repeat at any time, do that, but use the time to increase your stamina and mental state. You are nearing the end.

[Nilsam Graduate]

Well done. You should be proud of yourself. It is rather nice to keep it to yourself and then eventually you will be able to say... "Oh yes, I have been running three times a week for the last six months!" Sounds great doesn't it? Happy running. 👍🤝🏃‍♀️

[Biscuit_Queen]

Well done!!!

I’ve just finished week 4 and really nervous about week 5, hope I can persevere through it like you have! Keep the faith! 😊

[Moosey60]

If you feel you have to repeat a run, go for it. Don't beat yourself up. W6 isn't that bad as on R2 it's 10m run with a walk in the middle. Go for it, slowly but surely. Happy and safe running 🤩

[deltronic]

Well done! Week 5.3 is the hardest run of all. From here it becomes much easier as the steps are graduated. If you've done the 20 minute leap, you'll easily complete the course.

[Exbox]

I felt the same ! I haven't run for 12 months due to illness - previously I was doing 10ks - and decided start from the beginning with C25K . The app I used before 'My Run' didn't have the big leap up to 20 minutes . I was at Parkrun last Saturday to do run 3 and when I switched the app on I actually found myself saying out loud " You're joking !" . It was tough but the weather was vile as well - I do runs 1 and 2 on a treadmill .

I'm actually relieved that the runs are segmented in W6 . At the moment I can't believe I was running for more than an hour last year . Oh - and I'll be 60 in April

[John_W Graduate]

Well done for getting through the 20 minutes. But ... just slow down a bit - that's all there is to it. This is more a mental test than a physical one. Every run you've done prepares you for the next one - simple mantra but true. Focus on the TOTAL running time .... W5R1 was 15 minutes, R2 was 16 minutes... so the leap to 20 is/was perfectly doable. Remember and take confidence from the fact you had 157 minutes of running time behind you - *that's* what gave you the fitness and stamina to run 20 minutes

Have a look at this re: W5R3:

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

and this: healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

If you've having any more doubts, look at this:

youtube.com/watch?v=9L2b2kh...(Not working as expected?)

Good luck!

John

[Hidden]

Well done! I start week 5 next week and I'm dreading it! You've done really well to complete it. I hope I can do as well. 😊

[Comfortnotspeed]

That’s lovely to hear. Glad you’re starting to embrace the runs. And, you are a runner 👍🌸