Week 6- the struggle continues

[Tinytears60]

W6r1 - was I nàive to expect this to be a breeze after being so comfortable in my W5R3?

The answer is yes!!!!

I called this run a sneaky little biatch!

It was Windy 🌬 but hey I coped with wind and rain 🌬🌧 on W5r3 so not daunted...

I set off .. a 5 run, an 8 run and a final 5 - I still feel pretty confident.

I heard my music mute and thought here we go.. come on Michael .. to confirm the first 5 under my belt? .. ‘well done you’ve run for half’.... HALF!? ... no no no Michael there must be some mistake... it felt like I had been running forever 🤷‍♀️ I sulked (didn’t really but I was slightly disappointed).. on I run... by this time was fighting the wind.. I ran past a strategically parked car advertising the services of an ‘Osteopath!’... someone is clearly sending me a subliminal message 🙈 Cruel!

first 5 mins done.. walk .. the walk went quickly and I was in to the next .. 8 minutes ... in all honesty I found the 8 minutes easier than the 5 and the half way point of 4 mins came round quickly (I’m now asking myself am I liking the longer duration runs?.. what’s going on with me?) .. after 6 minutes of running in the wind I needed to change direction and get some respite... the wind is quite blowy today so it’s tough.. I did the 8 mins... YES!... 1 more run... why do I feel sluggish today!

the last 5 minutes .. woohoo but I honestly could have stopped ... so glad I didn’t!...

Glad that’s out that way! It was tougher than I thought ... but still do-able with some application and of course the high that comes with its achievement kicks in pretty quickly!.. 👏👏👏

lots of runners down here today and I can tell you I have a whole new respect for each and every one of them... I study their technique, their running gear, I silently ask myself wonder how long they’ve been running?, we give each other an obligatory nod as we pass ( feels like I’m an actual runner now).. I see the people out walking their dogs looking at me differently - ‘look at her .. she’s a runner’ 🏃🏽‍♀️ haha.. or maybe it’s all in my head!

That will teach you Jane... don’t get complacent... the twists and turns this journey throws up - I’m loving it (easy to type with my run completed!)

come on W6r2 - I’m ready for you ... you sneaky little biatch

Anyone reading this please don’t be put off.. it’s so do-able.. just takes you by surprise but I don’t even know why I’m surprised as I had already read any posts on here telling me! Blonde moment! 👱‍♀️

Have fun People! I’m still loving it!

[Instructor57 Graduate]

Great to hear !

And we'll done you 😬👋👋👋

I don't think any runs at this stage will be easy but we have trained for it .

It's a shame there is no mental training program we can do in parallel 😁

We just have to trust in the program, get out there and do our best !

Again, well done !

I'm looking forward to start my week 5 tomorrow ! 😬🏃

[Tinytears60 Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

I'm SO naive thinking it would... felt so comfortable in my week 5 final run.... Best of luck to you but youre right.. it has prepared us and we will succeed... Let us know your thoughts on the week 5

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to Tinytears60]

My thoughts right now on week 5 are that it's less runs than week 4.

That's all I'm going to think (untill after my warm up that is 😂) haha

[Tinytears60 Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

You will smash it ....

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to Tinytears60]

Thank you for your confidence 😬👍

[Buzzybeeze Graduate]

🤣🤣🤣

Well done!

[Tinytears60 Graduate in reply to Buzzybeeze]

Thank you Its a great feeling completing isnt it...

[Jools2020 Graduate]

Very well done! This run is obviously designed to get you 😀but you saw through it and conquered! I love the detail in your write-ups, keep them coming!

[Tinytears60 Graduate in reply to Jools2020]

Aww thanks - Honestly Jools I saw the car advertising the Osteopath and thought ... this run is laughing at me!.. throwing everything at me wind, threatened rain but actually didnt, my knee felt a bit creaky... nothing too bad and then the Osteopath car!.. I must be at the right pace tho... as he looked up and smiled I said to him.. 'Are you tying to tell me something!?' ..we both had a giggle... A few people on here have documented it takes you by surprise.. si i really shouldn't have been but i guess you need to run it to actually feel it...

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to Tinytears60]

Well you’re a couple of runs ahead of me, so I’ll try to be prepared. Hoping I won’t be phased by it. When I’m running, I’ve got such a bad memory right now, I often forget what’s coming, so I literally just follow what Michael says. Funny about the osteopath, though! 😀

[Couchphoenix Graduate]

W6R3 is the really biatch you need to watch out for 😜 that one will chew you up and spit out your pretty new running shoes 😂 only kidding I’m sure you’ll conquer it no problem, great post as always, again I feel like I’ve just been on that run with you 🥵 👍

[Tinytears60 Graduate in reply to Couchphoenix]

Honestly.... I wish someone had been on the run with me....

Seriously tho .... it was challenging.. and i thought i had really conquered after W5r3 - the element of surprise....even my lovely new running shoes and my new windbreaker couldn't console me... I did take a photo to post but for some reason its not posted... Lucky escape for you all as i think it was not flattering.... I think i looked like i had been chewed up and spat out... W6r1 the race that chews you up and spits you out!... ha! I do love the nods from fellow runners tho....like we are in some little secret club!.....

[liam-1 Graduate]

Well done keep up the good work and the detail is great.

Subliminal messages, what are you like 🤣🤣

[Tinytears60 Graduate in reply to liam-1]

Thanks Mister......

[Tipee Graduate]

Ok so I've read a lot of posts saying this one catches you out we will be doing it tomorrow so I guess I will find out lol 😀

[Tinytears60 Graduate in reply to Tipee]

ha! me too... but i felt SO comfortable after W5r3 that I was confident... reality is we are all on the same journey..... See what you think..... like i say it's do-able.. just not what i was expecting.... The twists and turns of couch to 5k eh... Loving it!...

[Hidden]

Well done! What a fab post. I laughed and smiled all the way through reading it - I’ve had all these thoughts too! Keep up the good work - you’re so right in that the high that kicks in with achievement is second to none. Brilliant.

[Tinytears60 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

I laughed and smiled on my run too... especially when the Osteopath's car made an appearance.. I couldn't help but speak to him as i ran past... He giggled too.. but hey that's what this is all about isn't it... Got to be done with some fun .... and I seriously do love the little nods of silent respect that runners give to each other... I must have improved cos its only today that i was getting them... I must ACTUALLY look more like a runner.... It's like its a secret little club - Love it!... The sense of achievement is like a drug to me!....

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

When I congratulate runners on completing run 3 of week 5 I always warn them regarding run 1 of week 6 with its interval walks and runs and tell them to be extremely careful about that run, it's all to do with the non stop 20 minutes of W5R3, the muscles in your legs don't like the walking breaks, but if you're very careful about the run you should be OK, same with run 2 but after that, no more walking breaks.

[Tinytears60 Graduate in reply to AlMorr]

I know... and you know what I've read a fair few posts warning the very same.. but you have to experience it yourself i think.. to fully appreciate what you were all so kindly warning us about.... I now understand .... The twists and turns of the couch to 5k journey ... but I'm loving it!... Thanks for your reply and advice

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate in reply to Tinytears60]

👍 🏃🏾

[Cp1965 Graduate]

I think I found that one a bit tricky too... after doing 20 minutes non stop I thought it would be a doddle, but noooo..... I struggled to get the legs moving again for the last 5 minutes, and I'm sure those last 5 minutes lasted half an hour! Keep it up, looks like your experiences are similar to mine at the same stage!

[Tinytears60 Graduate in reply to Cp1965]

it's so strange isn't it... even tho i read some of the warning tales about week 6 .. i felt so comfortable after my 20 min run of week5 that I was sure I would be ok... Literally when Michael said on the first 5 minutes... you're half way!.... I"m sure i shouted out loud...WHAT?? No!!!! ONLY HALF WAY!!!

W6r1 is known to me now as a sneaky little biatch.... I think we are all having similar experiences but hey ho... we trust in the plan as its done us proud so far

[davelinks Graduate]

Well done! I never thought or worried about any of the runs too much, it just makes it worse and can be off putting, so try not to overthink the coming runs, just go out and nail them.. Slowly of course!

[Tinytears60 Graduate in reply to davelinks]

Thanks Dave - I didn’t worry .. I guess I just wanted an easier time of it... enjoying it tho ... sense of achievement is just the best... I’m only 4ft 11 but I’m sure I stand 6ft tall when I’m doing my cool down walks 👍😃

[Dtay1978 Graduate]

It’s crazy how many people this particular run catches out, that end of week 5 run leaves you on cloud 9 thinking you’re some kind of professional athlete. Nothing like a good reality check is there 😂