Finally cracked week 4

[Rising60]

I started week 4 in early September and have had a lot of struggles with it. However, today I finally finished it, completing my third week 4 run in a row. I still think it is very hard to get one's head around the advice to slow down, and I suspect it's all bound up with the use of the word 'run' in the first place. For those of us who have never run other than at school, it is inevitably associated with going as fast as possible. Two things helped me in the end: firstly, bad weather meant wet pavements with lots of soggy leaves, acorns, conkers and other hazards which naturally led me to move more cautiously. One run in those conditions helped me to set the pace. Secondly, I was lucky enough to be given a very good set of earbuds for my birthday, which fell at the end of last week. This has encouraged me to download some music to my phone, and so I've had music to listen to on the last two runs - until then it was just the occasional sentence from Laura in my pocket. I think music probably does help, and I'm looking forward to finding suitable tracks to accompany me through weeks 5-9.

[magenta_sparkles]

Making a running playlist is great fun, enjoy!

[John_W Graduate Ambassador]

I've been meaning to catch-up with you and see how you were doing. Brilliant! Well done

"still think it is very hard to get one's head around the advice to slow down, and I suspect it's all bound up with the use of the word 'run' in the first place. For those of us who have never run other than at school, it is inevitably associated with going as fast as possible."

THIS!

As I keep repeating to folks struggling, think JOG not 'run.

I think this is a very underrated concept and one I'm convinced causes many people (doing it on their own, with no reference to fall back on) to no complete C25K. They have NO idea that they are going too fast, think they have to 'run' and then give up cos it's all too difficult. Once they understand how to jog, what it is and how slow it should be, then a new world is opened up - full of possibilities. It doesn't matter what helps you, as long as you can find *that* pace.

Stick with it and you'll be fine!

[CazzaW Graduate]

Well done, delighted to hear you can now move onto W5 👏 Keep going...... and slowly 🐢🐌 😅