Week five advice needed

[Draxon]

I've just completed week 5 run one I noticed the 5 minute runs are a struggle I completed them but only just.with this in mind I'm wondering if going faster but not racing would be easier and I'm burning energy trying to keep it slow.id appreciate your thoughts as want to be ready for run three this week the 20 min one.also is one rest day between runs enough.

Thanks

[Tasha99 Graduate]

Going faster will make it harder! You’ll burn more energy going faster.

One day rest is a minimum. Take more if you need.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

If you are the same as all the runners that I know, then if you run faster you will run out of energy quicker.........which is why we recommend that you run at a pace at which you can speak aloud, clear, ungasping sentences as you run. As explained in the guide to the plan, this is the pace at which you will be able to breathe deeply and fully and transmit a good oxygen supply to your muscles...........if you go faster, you will not be able to do this.

There is nothing to stop you carrying out your own experiment to see what the outcome is.

Running faster does not get the time finished any quicker.

When you run, the impact creates microtears in your muscles, which repair and strengthen on your rest days, not while running. Without rest, repair and strengthening are compromised and injury risk increased.

If you want to be the best runner that you can be, then do non impact cross training on your rest days, which will be far more beneficial than running every day. It is not recommended for new runners to run on consecutive days until they have a minimum of six months regular running on their legs.

[Speedy60 Graduate]

'Just' finishing your run is still finishing - I'd take that! You will gradually improve, but it takes time and patience. Personally, I'd run slower rather than faster, but you can always try it. Just don't injure yourself.

I always left two days between runs because I was paranoid about injuries. It served me very well. Listen to your body and go with how you feel. Just not every day!

Good luck 👍