I’m on week 3. The first 3 minutes I felt good. Like yeahhh I could go further. But, the second 3 minutes I was begging for the line! Please say that’s it’s Michael.
Reckon that’ll improve? Running 5 minutes looks like a Pipe dream right about now.
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Maxi80
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Seriously don’t give up, I use to be screaming at Michael to say that’s 5 minutes well done ... I called him every day under the sun. I never thought I would enjoy running, but I graduated on Saturday and did my 2nd 5KM run today.
Yes, it definitely will get better. Not easier, as the programme keeps pushing you to greater achievements.
I remember doing week 3 back in mid-July. The three minute runs were at the limit of what I could do. I did feel lots better for having completed them though.
Not unusual at all, and yes it will improve. The two major things I look at with regards to fitness are my vO2max, which is an indicator as to how far I can run at what pace, and my recovery time. It’s not surprising to see the recovery time being long in the early weeks, and we start the next run before the heart rate is down anywhere near what it would be if we were just walking. Fitness comes from pushing the endurance, and that includes within a run/walk. Don’t worry about the end goal, just keep doing the runs exactly as prescribed and you will get there. You’re doing great... keep it up.
"The slow running was a revelation to me. When you finish, you are not even out of breath! And you have time to look around and concentrate on how you are running. And it’s brilliant for strengthening your body, stamina ...."
Don’t give up. The progression of the programme will get you there but it might take more time than others. I tried to go at the pace of the programme when I first started and was pushing myself even though it was painful, and I ended up straining my calf muscles a two or three times. I consulted a physio and she said that as I have never done any running before in my life, my muscles will be very very weak. Running is a different motion to walking and all the muscles involved in running need strengthening. She said to not progress on to the next week until I’m fairly comfortable with the current run. So I’m still on W2R3 and I’m just repeating that run until I’m not getting the pain in my calf and shins any more. It’s taking quite some time. I’ve been doing it for about three, maybe four weeks now. I’ve started to notice this last week that my calf and shin is feeling less tired and painful. But I’m going to carry on for a week or so yet until it feels pretty good, and then I’ll progress on to the next stage.
There’s no rush. Your muscles will need lots of repetition in order to build up. It stand to reason that if you keep repeating something you will eventually find it easy enough. Go slowly, both in terms of running pace and also in terms of progression through the programme. It doesn’t matter how long it takes to ‘graduate’. Over do it and you may give yourself an injury or get fed up and drop out. Keep at it, but don’t put pressure on yourself to progress through as quickly as others.
I spent a lot of the first few weeks of the program worrying about the next few and so on 😂 I am almost at the end now and my self belief only really kicked in week 7 run 1 (take 2) after my failed attempt. Just have faith cos if you follow the program it just makes your body ready. Also don’t forget to go slower if you need to. I don’t even think I’ll be doing 4K at this rate by the end but that’s not what matters. What matters is building the habit and not giving up. Our fitness will come with time 👟 x
Down south haha are you a northerner? 😂 I switch it up a little bit but my favourite is a particular route along the road but it’s very green round where I am ☺️ x
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