Week 5 final 5 mins

[CFC71]

Hi all I’m struggling at the end on my runs in week 5 run 1.

Any tips on getting through the last 5 mins.

My body shuts down as soon as I hear “your half way there”

[Wonderdust Graduate]

I’ve only just done W5, so I know what you mean. My logic is that when your motivator comes on you are always optimistic that he/she is going to tell you to stop, and that you think you have done more time than he or she says you have - so instead of finding it inspiring, you find it demoralising! Hey-ho. Just keep running and you WILL make it. All the best!

[CFC71 in reply to Wonderdust]

Cheers I will , they need to add more encouraging messages into the longer runs😊

[Tasha99 Graduate]

That’s when I get spurred on. Going passed halfway is like trouble reached the top of the hill and your on the way back down again. You’ve got less left over than you’ve completed. Maybe think of it like that. Also, slow down and slow down again 👍🏽

[Placitasgirl Graduate]

I absolutely agree with the previous replies. So much of getting through this programme is to do with the psychological challenges; so think about the half way message as reaching the top of the mountain you're trying to climb - it's all downhill toward the finish line from there!

I've just completed week 8 and start graduation week tomorrow. I found in the early weeks I was way too focused on how long I'd done, how long to go, was the app still working etc. I got myself a running belt, tucked my phone away and didn't look at it at all until I had completed the run. I found I panicked less about whether I could do it, relaxed more and took on board the tip to focus on my surroundings, a to do list etc. In recent weeks I've discovered podcasts and find these much more of a distraction that my playlist. Hope some of these tips will help you through - you really can do this!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Welcome to the forum and well done on your progress.

This guide to the plan is essential reading healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

and includes advice on minimising impact, stretching after every run, hydration and strengthening exercises, all of which will help.

Completing any run, for any runner, is about pacing. Can you speak aloud, clear, ungasping sentences as you run?.........if not, you are going too fast.

Enjoy your journey.

[Hidden]

I've just completed W5R1 this morning and I find I get through each run by saying to myself 'you've done this before, so you know you can do it' on constant repeat when it starts to feel hard. I also run incredibly slowly as the advice suggests and this helps me as well. Plus, I'm just so determined to keep going having got this far. I really do believe it's going to be a lot about your mindset from here on in, and if you can do the first two 5-minute runs, you can definitely do the last one. Good luck - you can do it!

[Scoochie Graduate]

I had the exact same issue on W5R2.

I had had to change my routine and had a complete mental block and couldn't do any of the runs. It was the tension in my shoulders on hearing "halfway there" i think that was setting off tension everywhere and i couldn't put one foot in front of the other. After advice on here, i went back to my usual time of running, concentrated on keeping my body relaxed and slowed down to a virtual crawl.

Once i realised what was happening and relaxed i completed the run far easier than i thought i would. And when i used the same technique on W5R3, i completed that first go with little effort.

Relax, go as slow as you can and concentrate on anything other than the run and you will do great.