Hello everyone

[Grayster]

Latest Newbie here. I started C25K and I am now on week 4. I have been so pleased that I managed to complete each run and it has made me feel so positive that I can do it! I joined this community to read the help guide as I wanted to find out if I was doing the right thing by going so slowly! But now I have a problem - I have just been looking ahead - I shouldn’t have done that - I thought it would ramp up slowly - next week it says a 20 minute run at the end of next week! I can only just do the 5 minutes at the moment and I am barely above walking pace. I feel quite stressed about how slow I am! I go with my 2 daughters aged 10 and 12, and they are racing around like puppies and I am so tired. I think I will get stuck next week and then I will feel so demotivated that I can’t carry on. Did anybody have to repeat weeks? How did you make sure you didn’t get fed up and then give up?

[Horatio77 Graduate]

I know we what you mean, that 20 minute run does seem to glare menacingly at you as you get near it! I felt exactly the same as you, but surprised myself when it actually happened. The course is designed to prepare you to run for 30 minutes, and it works! I'm about to complete W9R3, and graduate, aged 69, so my adviced is not to be fearful, not to worry about going slowly, and trust that the course will get you through. It will!

[Grayster in reply to Horatio77]

Thank you! It is definitely glaring at me! How ridiculous to be fearful of a run!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Never work with animals or children?

Children can run ( or literally be on the go all day) , for ever and never feel tired.. as an ex Primary teacher I know that too well

Just take this all at your own pace... slow and steady is just perfect... five years after Graduation I am still here running at 70...

You have to trust the plan... it will make you stronger, each run, each week...you run and they run and run around you.. that is fine... work on your strength and stamina on some of your rest days too... that will help

Anticipation not apprehension... delight not dread.... this is a great programme, just enjoy!

You are doing wonderfully!

[Grayster in reply to Oldfloss]

Thank you - good point about the children. They are like Duracell bunnies!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Grayster]

Exactly!!!

[Rinky1 Graduate]

Again, I felt exactly the same. My answer is the same, the plan works and although you may not feel ready for 20 minutes...you are, you have been prepared for it. Go slowly and the feeling that you get when you have done is unbelievable. Drink plenty of water, I try to drink 3 litres a day.

I found the 20 minute run more of a mental challenge, not physical. Think that you can do it and you will. Good luck

[Grayster in reply to Rinky1]

Yes it definitely seems a mental challenge. I don’t believe I will be able to do it, so I am already setting my failure! Self-fulfilling prophecy and all that...

[Rinky1 Graduate in reply to Grayster]

I didn't think that I could do it, but think back...I also didn't think that I could run for 3 minutes, never mind 5 or 8 minutes. You have ran these...

[Schoolie]

I feel your pain. I have just done my first run of week 4 and I found the 5 minutes hard going. No idea how I will manage any longer but I'm putting that out of my mind for now and just concentrating on each individual run.

Well done with what you've done so far.

[Grayster]

Yes 5 minutes feels so long! I thought my phone must have run out of charge or the app had crashed, I thought it was far too long to be only 5 minutes. I have done 2 of those runs, one more at 5 mins...

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Welcome to the forum.

So you have read the guide to the plan healthunlocked.com/couchto5... which is great, but I have another piece of reading for you in respect of W5, which will show you that you can do this. healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

You can do this........at your pace.

[Reliclullaby Graduate]

I had exactly the same wobble last week. I didn’t think I could jump up to 8 mins let alone 20. But thanks to the reading from IannodaTruffe and the wonderful advice and support of this forum I did runs 1 & 2.

I am just about to go out on the 20min run and although I’m apprehensive I’m no longer scared of it. The program has shown me although each step is tough, it is manageable.

And if one is a bit too much it just means I’m not quite there yet, I just need a bit more practice is all, so repeating runs is fine. I did on week 3.

Not everyone’s the same but I’ve learned I only need to repeat if I don’t quite make it because even if I don’t feel ready to move on my body will surprise me with what it is actually capable of, as long as I beat those mental gremlins and remember I can do this.

I also run so slow that I’m sure snails pass me, but that’s ok cos I’m still doing it.

Go for it, you’ve got this. Go snails 🐌🐌!