I just ran for 20 minutes without stopping! 5 weeks ago I could barely manage 30 seconds at a time and had to repeat week 1.
I think tonight was the point where I felt like, actually I'm quite good at this and I really enjoy it 😄
Keep going if you are earlier in the programme it is so worth it and you do more than you think you can
Much love to all,
Thank you C25k community for helping get me to this point!
That’s brilliant! Well done! And thank you for this post I am due to start week 5 on Sunday... and am dreading it... I repeated week 3 but then once we took the leap to week 4 (I run with my 8 year old daughter) it was ok. So now trying to decide whether we repeat week 4 or push ourselves for week 5.... I think you’ve inspired me to push on... even if end up doing wk 5 days 1 and 2 on repeat lol x
Maybe try week 5. What helped me was all the repetition of ‘you have trained for this, you’re ready for this’. By the time the run came I thought ‘yes I can do. I have this’ And I did! Good luck!
Thank you 😁 I think repeating weeks can be so worthwhile, you definitely enjoy the runs more because your body is more used to it. Week 5 is nice in a way because each run that week is different, good luck you CAN do it, you have been working towards this!! Let us know how you go
Congratulations on completing run 3 of week 5, that is a milestone run with C25K, onwards and upwards to week 6 run 1 but be careful about that run as it catches out some people with the interval walks and runs after the non stop 20 minutes of W5R3 which you have just ran 🏃🏾 😊
Thank you and thank you for the heads up- noted 😂😄
Sounds like you've turned the corner! You're on the homeward strait. Are you still running at night I wonder 🤔
Yeah I am 😂 it just suits me
You're lucky you have that option! What kind of time do you run? I prefer to run first thing - get it done and out of the way - also because I might not have the energy later on 😳
Yeah definitely, when i go back to work I will definitely have to change to the mornings 😂 I go quite late at 9/10 PM - we have people in our house shielding so ideally I dont want to be around anyone at all 😅
Same here!!!
I ran for the first time last night for 20mins and I was so chuffed that I genuinely did it!!
It got to the first 5mins and I thought ‘omfg I’m never going to be able to do 15 more mins 😰’
my head was saying I couldn’t but my legs were saying ‘pffft this is easy!’
I’m so excited about next week - it’s kind of repeating this week so I know I can do it because I’ve already done it before!
It’s all about keeping the right pace and making sure you have a good album of songs on to keep you going! 😆
Keep safe xxx
I agree with everything you said there 😂 let's keep going- we can do this! 
Well done! And you’re right about Week 6 it was my favourite!
We'll done! It's a fantastic feeling isn't it? I didn't manage it on my first attempt on Thursday but I've just completed it this morning.
Well done for not giving up and trying again. I did it on Thursday. Was very slow but hey I did it. Got run 1 of week 6 today. Eeek
All the best for week 6 - I’m starting it tomorrow.
Well done and good for you for not giving up! Enjoy Week 6 it’s a lovely week
Well done! It’s such a brilliant feeling to do W5R3 when it seems like such a huge leap and so intimidating beforehand, it’s a Top Of The World moment. It’s always lovely to read other people getting so happy about it, it brings that feeling back. I’m glad to hear you’re enjoying it, long may that continue!
Thank you 😄 yeah definitely, I think most people think I will never be able to do that, but we can!
Well done! I also just completed wk5r3 yesterday and i thought i would never manage another 15 after the first 5 minutes but keeping a steady pace (ignoring my red face) and thinking about anything but running helped me through! Today I feel great and looking forward to wk6.
Well done for doing it. I also go extremely red while running and run very slowly, but I just think oh well people will think I've just run miles! Lol. Keep it up. I'm doing R1 wk6 today. Eeek
All the best for week 6 - we’re at the same stage. Are you running tomorrow?
Hi yes I am running wk6r1 tomorrow I am slightly nervous about it but taking a lot of strength from completing wk5r3 😁 good luck with wk6 🏃♀️
Thank you - I’m going to aim to get out early tomorrow- do let me know how it goes for you!
Hi WK6R1 complete and it’s the first time I’ve had a little 🙌 cheer at the end of the last 5min run! 4950 steps and 3.46km I’m delighted with that 😊 How did you get on?
Yes, it was good thank you! I got a bit confused and thought there was another 8min run at the end, so it was nice to find I had actually finished! Pretty warm again today so that made it a bit tougher. The next one I am doing early on Tuesday.
Bonus 😁 good luck on Tuesday. I’m aiming to run early too🤞
Who do you have as your coach? I chose Jo Whiley as she has a nice voice
Same i really like Jo Whiley but for the first time today i used the podcast. I wanted to listen/run to the pace of the music it provides as I thought the “Now that’s what i call running” album i have is faster which it definitely is
Oh, I didn’t know the podcasts have music. I put my own music on first via Amazon free app, then open the C25K app
Trust me, I have a red face 3 minutes in 😂
Well done!
Massive well done you... slow and steady as you head onwards... enjoy!
Thank you 😄
Well done you! I was shocked when the voice in my headphones told me I’d be running 5k this morning. I did it and I’m over the moon. I’m looking forward to next week now. 5k here I come! Buzzing!
Omg well done! I'm dreading the 5k. Just about to start week 6.
Well done, as my daughter said to me at the time, it's a mental thing , just keep going , you can do it. I still find (after graduating just before lockdown) that the first 5/6 mins Bute's are the hardest. Just keep putting one front in front of another and you'll get there. It's a fabulous feeling at the end of your run 👍🏃🏻
Congratulations to you for your persistence . YES , you did it. I’m thrilled to know you have achieved a nonstop 20 minute run. 🏃♂️🏃♀️ Each week your get stronger .
Perfect 🐾
Thank you for those kind words 😆 this community definitely motivates me to get of my arse and do the running 😂
Well done, I also did this yesterday and can't believe the difference in my mental attitude from before and after. It's a lovely feeling to know you can do it ☺
That's the thing that surprised me too, the difference in attitude to running is crazy!
Well done
It’s magic really - who’s have thought. Congratulations. It sounds like you’ve cracked it in that your head is on board. It you think you can do it it’s more than half the battle. Good luck
Thank you 😆
That’s bloomin’ marvellous! An inspiration! Bet you feel fabulous!😀
Thank you that's kind of you to say 😅
Well done! It’s an amazing feeling isn’t it? I’m just about to do my third run of week 7 and can’t quite believe I’m running either 😂
That's amazing!
Well done! I did W5R3 yesterday - so chuffed to do it, it was the last 5 mins that I found hard but I had been mentally prepping all week so my head was in the right place.
Like you I think I have turned a corner - starting to get much easier!
Yeah the last 5 minutes were really tough 😂 but we did it 👊
Amazing, well done! Very inspiring for someone like me at the beginning of the journey. I have just done the first run of week 2 after repeating week 1 like yourself. Running for 20 minutes seems a huge achievement 👏
It's crazy how quickly your fitness will build up, just keep going and suddenly you will find yourself running for 20 minutes 😱😅 good luck!
Wow! Congratulations! This is so inspiring! I am due for my W5R1 but bit of a niggly knee. My head is in the right place and raring to go though. Likewise, never thought I would get through W1, or 2 for that matter, but something seems to be working/clicking. This forum has been a gold mine of support and advice. So very happy for you! And is providing me with just the motivation I need!
Thank you so much take care of your knee! week 5 is more about mental strength, your fitness will be there for the 20 minute run if you have successfully completed the other two 👍you just got to keep pushing 😂 good luck, you can do this!!!
Same here, did the 20 minute run yesterday. Am now looking forward to tomorrow's run. 5 weeks ago was hard going but, like you said, kept going and now get results. X
Wow that’s amazing! Well done.
I’ve just done w3r3 and made the mistake of looking ahead to weeks 4 and 5. I’m already thinking ‘that’s some jump’ and can’t imagine running for 20 minutes - although I couldn’t imagine running for 3 minutes either a few weeks ago.
You must be so proud of yourself!
This is a great program 😁
I didn't look ahead of the programme and I think that's a large part of why I kept going, because I didn't know what was coming until I was already in my running gear with my ear buds in ready to go 😅 but if you keep going knowing what's ahead that is way more impressive! It's crazy how quickly your fitness will build up, so even though you think you can't do it, you will be able to!! Pacing is everything on the 20 minute run, as well as mentally encouraging yourself to keep going, that's my amateur advice 😅 good luck and keep going!
Thank you so much! Reading these blogs helps so much - there are so many who think they couldn’t do it but did! I’m certainly going to give it a go / but my advice to others is. DONT LOOK AHEAD!!
I did my 20min run yesterday and it was such an amazing feeling to complete it. I was grinning like a Cheshire Cat during my warm down walk! I promised myself some new running leggings if I completed 20 mins so treating myself today. I’ve started finding I’m looking forward to my runs rather than dreading them.
I completely agree with everyone about mind over matter - my legs were fine (slow and steady) but my brain was telling me it was going to be hard. Once I switched my thoughts off and listened to music it was totally do-able!
Hundered percent more about mental endurance on the longer runs- our fitness is there! Getting lost in the music and the thud of feet on pavement is a large part of why I enjoy running so much - takes you out of your head 😄
Hey , that’s the run I have next
Let us know how you get on - slow and steady is the key!
Yeah I will do thanks
Good luck! Pacing and mental endurance is what got me through - just keep telling yourself you can do it 👍
Well done! I am at the same stage as you - I did the 20 min run yesterday morning so starting week 6 tomorrow. Didn’t find it too bad although the first five minutes were the worst. I think once you get into a rhythm it’s not so bad! All the best for week 6.
You too! Yeah I hundered percent agree , the first five mins are tough 😖
Well done to you, i am hoping to get to that point eventually.
I got to week 2 run 2 but took a week off because my knee is really sore, I decided Tuesday just past to start again at the beginning, just to go easy on my knee, unfortunately I’ve not done anymore this week as knee is still sore, planned to go do it today, and even got up nice and early to do it, but chickened out as knee is too sore, very annoyed with myself. X
Do you have proper running trainers? Worth having if not.
Not yet, will get some at end of month.xx
You have to look after your body so dont beat yourself up, your knees will thank you later!
That's amazing well done. I'm on week 5 run 2 tonight so your words were very encouraging thanks
Thank you and that's so nice to hear 😄 hearing from others got me through the early weeks so I'm glad I can slightly encourage others too 😅 keep going, and keep telling yourself you can do it because you can! All the best
That’s fantastic, well done! I’m just a couple of runs ahead of you but the exhilaration I got from completing W5R3 was amazing. I think it’s clear from the many, many replies you’ve had that so many of us feel the same.
Thank you! Yeah I am quite overwhelmed with the amount of replies 😂 the community on here is fantastic, really motivating too 👍
Congratulations.. I've just done the same and couldn't do 30 seconds on week 1. Really proud of myself and yes I will keep going.
Well done! Enjoy Week 6 it’s a such a lovely week
Just did this one today! I actually attempted a couple of day’s ago but something happened on my phone that paused the app. I didn’t realise and felt like I’d been going ages without any prompts and realised it was paused after 10 minutes. So I ran for a bit and then gave up and was annoyed that I don’t know how long I did. But done today!
It's the most frustrating thing when the app doesn't work or your phone 😖 caught me out on an earlier run 😅 at least you know you can keep going without a coach! How did you find it? Looking forward to week 6?
Congratulations!! This is such a huge achievement. It all gets a lot easier from here (in my experience anyway)
Week 5 Run 3 - not completed!
Week 5 run 3 in the bag
Week 5 Run 3 - nailed it!
dreaded week 5 run 3 !! 
Week 5, run (drumroll) 3!!!
