Repeat or push on

[MartyH80]

I've just completed week 4 and found it tough! Is it worth repeating wk 4 or just pushing on to wk 5?

[mdunn Graduate]

Hi Marty, although you found it tough you did manage to complete it, I also found week 4 tough. 😊 I'd push on to week 5 and just take it at your speed. If you feel like you need to repeat a run in week 5 because you can't complete that would be better than redoing runs you've already completed. I'm just a couple weeks ahead of you and I actually found week 5 very satisfying once getting to the end

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

If any run is tough, just slow down.

Can you speak aloud, clear, ungasping sentences as you run?.........if not, you are going too fast.

I will let you answer your question after you read this post about mental approach healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

Believe in yourself and trust the plan.

[John_W Graduate]

What was tough about Week 4? What is your breathing rate while you´re running?

[MartyH80 Graduate in reply to John_W]

On the 1st run I pulled my calf halfway in so had to rest it, when I came back I tried wk 3 run 3 again and was fine. On my next run I tried wk 4 and again pulled my calf literally 30 seconds from the end.

I've increased my warm up and since resting I've managed to complete run 2 and 3 without injury.

I dont think it's the running I'm struggling with, after finishing wk 4 run 3 today I actually felt like I couldve kept going.

My worry now is that my body will struggle to cope with a longer run

[John_W Graduate in reply to MartyH80]

It sounds like you´re going at the right pace (feeling like you could carry on is great) - but the calf is obvs an issue. Try to avoid static stretches and work on dynamic ones instead and maybe extend the ´brisk walk´warm-up to 10 minutes from 5.

Don´t risk injury by ploughing on through pain. If it hurts... stop and give yourself 2 or 3 days off before trying again.