Feeling nervous

[Els_runs]

Feeling nervous about today’s run W5R3....a whole solid 20 minutes of running!!! It sounds like a big step from previous run which was 2 8 minute runs withy 5 minutes walk in-between. Any tips?

[BowlingT Graduate]

No need to be nervous look how far you have come already! You will do it!

Have faith in yourself and the plan!

Slow and steady !

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

You are making a common error of not taking all your brisk walking into account.......there is no big step up.

It is all explained in this post healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

Relax and enjoy it.

[Plattszo Graduate]

Yes, just bekieve you can do it. Trust in the plan, it has built you up to do exactly what comes next and YOU CAN do it. I am sure you will do it!!

Let us know how you get on 😊

[catwillows Graduate]

It took me 2 weeks to complete week 5 but I still managed it. Remember to go slow and steady.

[John_W Graduate]

Week 4 is the biggest increase in the whole program from a TOTAL running time of 9 minutes in Week 3 to 16 minutes. Yes, 16!

Take confidence from the fact that you've now done 14 sessions, 157 minutes of running (excluding all the walking) - that's a whopping 2 hours, 37 minutes - that's a lot of time on your feet and which is plenty enough to prepare your body for a 20 minute jog - yes JOG!

Look back and you can see you've done:

- W4R1 - 16 minutes

- W4R2 - 16 minutes

- W4R3 - 16 minutes

- W5R1 - 15 minutes

- W5R2 - 16 minutes

and it's that TOTAL running time that counts.

The issue is that W5R3 is a big mental test for many here - they look at it and think 'OMG, WTF?'

What's not obvious to many and probably you is that your BODY is ready - that's how a progressive exercise program like this works.

Mantra 1: every run you've done prepares you for the next one (i.e. the body is ready)

Mantra 2: the body is ready but the mind less so (i.e. ignore the gremlins!)

Do it!

[Jimbohw]

I just did w5r3 this morning. Basically you can do it, it’s all the the head 😀. I deliberately started out very slowly but found after half way I was really enjoying it and without realising it sped up without a problem. Feels really good at the end, best feeling since week 1 when just getting out was an achievement . Good luck!

[Busylady1 Graduate]

Just stay positive, the longer runs are all about positive mindset, if you go out worrying you are setting yourself up to fail. Trust the programme, you CAN do this following the advice. Honestly, you CAN do it!! Good luck! 🎉

[Els_runs Graduate]

I did it!!! Slow but I made it!!!

[Els_runs Graduate]

Thank you everyone for the encouragement and advice!!