I did week 5 run 1 on Monday and felt so good after it. I'm into run 2 tomorrow and assumed it would be the same as run 1. I was wrong!! Have just noticed it involves 8 minute runs and run 3 looks horrendous with a 20 minute run!!!
It looks like it calms down week 6 again. Any ideas why it ramps up so much and then goes back?
WRT W5R3, you might find this article useful:
healthunlocked.com/couchto5...
Well done and congratulations on your progress so far. Keep enjoying the journey. 
I literally just found that article and read it. Thank you. I will trust the process!!
Great approach. It will stand you in good stead.
Good luck and please let us know how you get on.
Just read this! Amazing!!!
The linked post by John_W says it all. You got this - you really have! 👍🙂
Theres a wonderful man on here called John_W who explains really well the timings in each week. He posted something about 9 days ago that I responded too, but I dont know how to link that to you
It's worth a read of you can find it, it really helps
I loved week 5, the feeling after is truly amazing
Good luck
Did W5 last week and was in the same boat. I didn’t think it was possible - I couldn’t have done it when I was 16 let alone now at 50!
However I decided to stop frightening myself and trust it was possible; the 8 minute runs didn’t seem that much harder than the 5 minutes when it came down to it and that set me up for the 20 minutes on Saturday.
That was hard but completely doable. I have never run anything like that long in my life. I have found that the steps are sufficiently large to push you significantly each week, but then the scaled back runs allow for recovery.
Believe in yourself and take it steady. You’ll be amazed when you do it.
Good luck.
Thank you so much everyone for your kind words and positivity!!
Have faith in yourself 🥰
Btw, this is my problem too, lack of faith, but people on here help sooooo much
Babycat-13
I'll copy n paste my reply to Feltip (thanks for the mention):
---------------
.... Instead of fearing what lays ahead, and using words like 'impossible', change that mindset. EMBRACE what's ahead. You've chosen to do this.
Week 4 was the big step up but you didn't realise it - very few do. C25K is, like any progressive exercise program, a mental test. They should all be easy enough for most of us to start, and then it's about whether you've got the *mental* strength to see it though, despite the apparent physical hurdles in the way, when in fact they're not physical but mental.
Week 5 can look daunting, but really, you're physically ready for it. Your post highlights, like so many before you, that C25K doesn't train the mind, only the body.
Everyone gets very worked up about W5R3 but start looking at your runs a bit differently... like this:
Week 1 - you ran for 8 minutes (3 times - so that's 24 minutes )
Week 2 - 9 minutes, 3 times (27 minutes in the week)
Week 3 - 9 minutes (another 27 minutes)
Week 4.1 - 16 minutes
Week 4.2 - 16 minutes
Week 4.3 - 16 minutes
coming up:
Week 5.1 - 15 minutes
Week 5.2 - 16 minutes (should be easy by now, right?)
Week 5.3 - 20 minutes (with 157 minutes of previous running in your legs).
To illustrate that Week 5 is just another week and that Week 4 was actually the 'big jump' that many claim Week 5 is, have a look at this:
healthunlocked.com/couchto5...
and
healthunlocked.com/couchto5...
Capisce?
2 mantra's for you:
Mantra #1: every run you've done prepares you for the next one (i.e. your body is ready!
Mantra #2: the body is ready but the mind less so (i.e. ignore the gremlins, the fear!)
You don't need luck, just confidence.
Your body is READY .
Do it.
Thank you John_W my tech skills are beyond poor 😁
Just one more run in week 3 to do but so many posts are about week5 I was beginning to dread it already. Your post and the post by John W has put me at ease - a bit!! Good luck with this run.
So quick update. I did week 5 run 2 this morning and smashed it!! I'm honestly over the moon and can honestly say I couldn't have done it without everyone who replied to me last night. I had all your comments in my head if I thought I was tiring. I slowed my pace right down and didn't feel like stopping at all.
Bring on run 3 on Friday!!
YAY! Just keep being positive about the challenge - you've CHOSEN to do this!
Carry on like that and you'll sail through it - no worries.
EMBRACE IT!
Thank you!
Read Feltip post about W5R3
It’s so refreshing to read it! 👏👏
Can hear how over the moon she is..
like you I just saw 20 MINUTES!!! 😳🙈
But if you read my post it was one of my most comfortable runs ..
this plan is magical and you do things you simply never thought you would!
Can’t wait to read your post after you smash it! 👍
Yay well done, really pleased for you. Reading positive messages on here can be so uplifting and can really boast your feelings before stepping out the door
Thank you Tinytears60 for the mention, I hope anyone who reads my progress can get something positive from it
Cant wait to read how run 3 goes for you, good luck 💪
Yeh 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻. Congratulations! Sometimes the hardest part is just getting out the front door! But you did it 🎉🎉🎉🎉
I felt just the same as you, but i managed it fine. I have completed W9R1 this morning and in my brief experience it takes a while to get my body going, but I find it easier after 10 minutes and even easier after 20😊
week 5 run 2
Week 5, run 2 :( 
Week 5 run 2
Week 5 run 2
Week 5 Run 2
