W4R3 complete :) Bring on week 5!

Woke up this morning to Cleeve Hill being covered in fog, very Hound of the Baskervilles. Ooerrr Sherlock! Pondering this morning's run, this swiftly changed to Gorillas In The Mist :))

I will admit, I was still a big sleepyhead sloth heading out this morning, whole body felt tired and legs like lead, but once Sanjeev started his pep talk and I got into the warm up walk, I started to feel a bit more optimistic.

Getting out the door is always the hardest bit for me. Once I'm out I know i'm going to be back home in roughly 30 minutes which in the grand scheme of things, is nothing at all. How can we not give ourselves 1 hour 30 mins in the name of health and fitness every week?!

New motto - Make Time, Not Excuses

Anyway, the run was pretty much like run 2, only I did manage to cover further ground this morning and in slightly better time. Must have been all the slipping and sliding on the muddy tracks but I was happy with the pace in spite of still feeling a bit like a sloth! Breathing nice and controlled again now I've learned to slow things down a bit. I was in zone 4 for most of my session today, is that okay?

Observations - I arrived home with mud and stuff splashed all up my legs which made me feel more like a runner and less like a walker which was great, shows I am putting in some effort at least.

This is still very much a mind over matter exercise at the moment so every week feels like a monumental achievement. I'm very curious about week 5 now which appears to be a pivotal point in this programme, but then 4 weeks ago, week 4 seemed like a mountain i'd never climb!

Anyway, hope everyone has a lovely weekend and best of luck with all your runs. You continue to motivate and inspire me with every run and post. x

[carolinestanford Graduate]

I’m with you in mind over matter ... still ... we’ve got this far ... come on week 5 😜

[mezziejay Graduate]

I actually love your posts 😂😂 I was proud of my wet socks this morning but sad my nice pink trainers are muddy 😂😂see you in week 5 👏🏻👏🏻

[Hidden in reply to mezziejay]

It's going to be an interesting week for us 😁😁👍💪🏃‍♀️

[Sussex13 Graduate]

Well done, sounds like you had a great run and did it faster which is such a boost!

I know what you mean about getting mud splatters, defo makes us feel more like a ‘proper’ runner 🏃‍♀️.

It’s so mind over matter, totally agree. The thought of it always outweighs the practical for me which makes it such a buzz afterwards.

You’ll love W5/R1 - I did and was nervous about it! Have a good weekend and happy running! 😊

[nowster Graduate]

If you've completed Week 4, week 5 is a breeze. You'll smash it.

[Ian5K Graduate]

I know Cleeve Hill. Wow, that’s a climb!

Week 5 is a peach. Slow the pace a little more than normal and it’s a wonderful week to do.

[Hidden in reply to Ian5K]

That's where I do all my dog walks 😁

For running, I just tend to skirt around the edges. I do regularly meet people running up it so it is possible. Just not sure I'm that adventurous, not yet anyway

[Ian5K Graduate in reply to Hidden]

At least it isn’t down Coopers Hill, chasing a cheese.😬

[Hidden in reply to Ian5K]

Heaven forbid

[Dodgylungs Graduate]

Well done! I did my first Week 5 run today and it was surprisingly ok - not comfortable exactly, but slightly easier than I had anticipated. I’m thinking R2 will be doable now and the two 8 minute stints seem a lot more doable now as my legs definitely feel stronger. Then there will be the 20 minute run which in my case will happen next Tuesday. It’s true what everyone says, trust the process. In my case a minor miracle is occurring on Hampstead Heath!!

[Hidden in reply to Dodgylungs]

That's great to hear and well done on starting week 5! I'll be following to see how you get on

[Dodgylungs Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. Now that I’ve started Week 5 I have a feeling I’m going to draw the same conclusion that Week 4 is the hardest. I’ll reserve judgement until I’ve completed Run 3 but my legs feel stronger now than last week. Sounds like you’re doing great. I think the trick to this is keeping the pace slow.

[Hidden in reply to Dodgylungs]

The going slow bit is definitely something I've had to pay heed to and it does work. It's tempting to want to go quicker but then my body soon tells me I'm overdoing it when my breathing changes. I guess we will start to improve on distance and time once we've learned how to run for a fixed period. Makes sense! I feel slow as a snail at the moment but like you said, you get stronger every week 😁

[Dodgylungs Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Yes exactly. I went purposely as slow as I was able to today without actually walking and the first 5 minutes was comfortable, the second 5 easier than previously (this is the incline bit) and the third 5, while still challenging, was never in doubt that I would finish it. Going to have to do the same thing for the 8 minute stints and if I complete those I know I’ll be tempted to push the pace on the 20 minute run to get through it quicker (which I will resist) but will stick with my snail’s pace and pick that up in the consolidation runs. The name of the game at the moment is to complete the distance. Speed will come later (or not 😀).

[MccHa Graduate]

Well done Burkey 👏👏👏 great run 🏃‍♀️ I like your motto 👍👍👍 good luck for week 5 🤞🤞🤞

[VPOLLIE67 Graduate]

Working title of your new novel should be the diary of Couch to 5k!!!! I love reading your posts. And I’m delighted you have done week 4!!! Just brilliant.

[Couchphoenix Graduate]

I deduce you are a runner said Sherlock Holmes as he looked at her mud splashed legs....amazing Holmes said Watson who was still only on week 1 due to a jezail bullet injury.....enough of this nonsense I’m a big fan of Holmes as you can probably tell, so loved your analogy. Another great post and as you say what’s 30 mins a day, always gets me when people say they haven’t got the time 👍

[CazzaW Graduate]

Well done 👍 and another great post, I love them they make me smile from ear to ear 😀

Good luck with W5 you’ll smash it 😊

[LottieMW Graduate]

Ooo...well done you!

I’ve just completed week 3, so find it interesting to look ahead (slightly!)

I’m a great fan of headology 😄 it’s amazing what we can do when we put our minds to it 👍