Nearly half way through!

[rachelhart]

4 weeks in! I run 4 days instead of 3. I am loving this programme and should be completing it on the week of new years. What a way to start 2021 by running 5k!

[nowster Graduate]

By 4 days instead of 3 I hope you mean every other day? Skipping rest days is not good.

[banana_]

I will be completing it by New Year's Eve too!

[Mikew84 Graduate]

Well done Rachel!

I've just done W5R2 this evening so have passed the half way point. I was kind of expecting a longer or louder half time bell, but no! It's a good feeling though and I'm confident about the rest of the runs. I should finish just a few days before Christmas so, like you, will be able to go into 2021 as a fully-fledged runner, and will definitely keep it up!

[rachelhart in reply to Mikew84]

That is so great! You should be super proud. There hasn't been a time yet I have dreaded a run, the excitement of completing another week is such good motivation. I am sure I can finish the rest of the weeks as you said, confidence is sky high from going from running a minute to running 5!

[Mikew84 Graduate in reply to rachelhart]

Thanks Rachel! Confidence is key really. I've been building mine by seeing if I can do a bit more at the end of each run in readiness for the ones to come. For the past two weeks I've managed to carry on and run for the 5 minute warm down (and then walk another 5 mins) so that I know I can handle the next challenge. I may get shot down in flames for admitting this by those who say 'stick to the programme!'. Well I am sticking to it - just trying to push a little bit harder to get the best out of it. Despite all this, I'm still slightly apprehensive about Wednesday's full 20 mins of running!!

[rachelhart in reply to Mikew84]

Yeah I love the confidence it gives and the satisfaction I get obviously all those happy hormones being released after exercise is great for mental health as well. I have been sticking to the programme but I have been doing an extra run which some people might disagree with but I honestly have the extra energy to burn and doing an extra run makes me feel more prepared and totally confident to move to the next week. Sounds like you are doing fantastic and yeah 20 minutes does sound quite intimidating but you will smash it like you have every week so far! Good luck to you!

[Mikew84 Graduate in reply to rachelhart]

Thanks again - I will think of your kind words of encouragement when I'm around 18 mins in on Wednesday!! But I ran a total of 21 tonight (albeit with a break after 8) so it should be ok.

If you're running every other day I don't think there's any problem moving on to the next week once you've done the three for your current week, rather than repeating a run. You can complete the programme in less than the 9 weeks that way, which I think is perfectly ok (especially for someone half my age!).

[Mikew84 Graduate in reply to rachelhart]

Hi again Rachel, well I did the final run of week 3 tonight as planned. I think I actually found it easier to run for the whole 20mins than to run 8mins twice with the 5min walk in between. I even managed to run for the 5min warm down period again, so 25 continuous mins altogether, and a total of 4k including the extra walk home. So I think maybe I did smash it, yes! And definitely enjoyed it, which always helps of course!

[Buddhagal Graduate]

Well done rachelhart...sounds like a fantastic run. And you sound so positive, enjoying your runs is a great bonus👍😁. Keep on keeping on, you're doing amazing👏👏👏🦌🐢🐌🏃‍♀️🙋