Wk4 complete and a little glimmer of apprehension

[Returnagain]

Wow! Wk4 run 3 completed and this is the first time I am a little apprehensive about wk5. Again I don't know what it entails and I don't want to know until I start. I know the third run is 20mns but I don't know the other two. I have even contemplated repeating wk4 but feel that is not what the programme is about. Any thoughts?

[John_W Graduate Ambassador]

There is no 'law' to say you can't repeat a week.

However... the program is designed to be completed by almost anyone coming from the 'couch'.

You've got through Week 4 with no issues. What this means is that your body is now prepared for Week 5 - that's how a progressive exercise program like this works. Every run you do builds your fitness a little more and it all accumulates. Week 1 was gentle enough to be done from the couch. That gave you the fitness to Week 2. Week 3 had the fitness accumulated from Weeks 1 and 2 behind it.

So... what this all means, is that C25K is actually a mental test, NOT a physical one. Your body is ALWAYS ready for the 'next run'... but your mind might tell you otherwise.

An excellent piece of advice from another poster here recently: "switch brain off!"

Your brain will tell you "no this isn't possible." But you'll find your body saying "shut up, you're wrong".

Trust the program and go for it. EMBRACE the challenge with a positive mindset!

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.

[Returnagain Graduate in reply to John_W]

Thank you and yes I will go for it doing wk 5 on Sunday. Having really thought about it I have managed all the runs surprisingly quite easily so why should I not manage anything further. Although completing Couch25K before it was 5yrs ago and at 67 now I just had a little wobble this morning. I'll be fine.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

This post about mental approach may help healthunlocked.com/couchto5... in general terms.

If you feel brave and can face knowing what is coming in W5, then this breakdown may also help healthunlocked.com/couchto5... which many have found very reassuring.

If I told you that every W5 workout is overall shorter than each W4 workout, perhaps you would not be worrying.

It is a training plan.........not the Spanish Inquisition.