Uh oh….W5 R3 next!

[njd967]

Tonight went well but like many others it seems, the jump from 8 mins to 20 mins in 48 hours seems beyond me…

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Well done on preparing yourself.......

There is no jump from 8 minutes to 20 and W5R3 is the shortest session since W3.

Relax and read this breakdown of W5 healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

It is yours for the taking.

[Hidden in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Very glad to hear it!

[njd967 Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thanks for the support. I guess that my body is ready for it and I just need to get my mind to the same place.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to njd967]

If you need more persuasion, this FAQ post about mental approach may help healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

[njd967 Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

…wise words and absolutely love the anecdote around the 4 minute mile. Whilst I appreciate that it is not all in the mind, certainly it has a great deal of influence on failure……. and success. Telling myself that whatever the outcome of my session on Saturday, it will still have been a great run and another step forward towards regular Parkrun participation in the future which is my ultimate goal.

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

Congratulations on completing run 2 of week 5, run 3 isn't beyond you, the program has prepared you for it, take it slow and steady, once you have completed it you will be very proud of yourself, good luck.

[njd967 Graduate in reply to AlMorr]

I am starting to realise that nothing bad can happen by giving it a go. Given progress over the past 5 weeks, even if I need a 2nd crack at it, I will have still had a decent workout!

[Instructor57 Graduate]

Week 5 is a great week ! And yes so is run 3

Have a look at the timings, run 3 is actually 1 minute less training time then run 2 was !

And if you completed that you ARE ready for run 3 .

Don't let it get into your head !

[njd967 Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

Will spend the next couple of days convincing myself that I CAN do it. Cheers.

[Gwenllian1 Graduate]

I felt just the same but it was fine! Sure you will be fine too! Best of luck

[njd967 Graduate in reply to Gwenllian1]

Thanks Gwenllian1 for your good wishes. Well done you for getting graduating!

[Hidden]

Sounds like the ego, producing sabotage thoughts, to me...

[njd967 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Quite possibly. The competitive streak coming out in me…..

[nowster Graduate]

What you probably didn't realise is that you ran for 8 minutes each day in week 1.

You did 9 in week 2, another 9 in week 3 but in longer chunks.

Then 16 minutes in week 4. Yes, you did double the amount of total running in week 4 compared with what you'd done in week 1.

The two sessions you've just done in week 5 had 15 and 16 minutes of running in them.

The only difference now is that you'll be running 20 minutes in one block. Think of it as extending each of tonight's 8 minute runs by a couple of minutes, then not having a walk between them.

Or rather don't think about it. Just go out there and put one foot ahead of the other. Keep it slow. It's not a race. Going faster won't make the minutes go quicker.

You can do it: you've already done five longer sessions.

[njd967 Graduate in reply to nowster]

Following the logic makes the challenge less daunting, that’s for sure. I am actually now starting to look forward to giving it a good go. Thanks for the support.

[Dale70]

You've got this... I done this run yesterday morning and really didnt find it too bad, certainly physically. From my experience this is very much a mentally challenging run but all I'd say is dont over think it. It's just another day, you've just run 2 x 8 mins, and you will feel fantastic.For me, I just put the ears in, put the tunes on and focused on the music rather than time and didnt go off too fast. I was surprised how quick it went, and this is coming from a large 50 something lol.

Good luck, you can do it! 👌

[njd967 Graduate in reply to Dale70]

Thanks for the reassurance...sounds like we are on similar journeys....will update my playlist and enjoy! Cheers.

[Sh53202 Graduate]

Beat the gremlins! You will be fine. Just tell the gremlins you are going to give it a go, and tell yourself you can stop if it’s too much. I’m confident you won’t need to. Good luck.

[njd967 Graduate in reply to Sh53202]

I am learning that I have nothing to lose and everything to gain....with everyone's support I am starting to look forward to it. Thanks and congratulations on graduating C25k

[Headspace1st]

You can do this, like the moderator says, it’s not as big a jump as it sounds, you’ve been doing constant walking/running, and your cardio system is used to the length of time, it’s just your legs need to do the endurance, (which, to be honest, they’ve been doing too). I did mine this morning, it wasn’t too bad really, a bit tiring, but achievable, good luck!

[njd967 Graduate in reply to Headspace1st]

Interesting that you mention you ran it in the morning. I have been running after work in the evening and am wondering whether I would find it easier going if I ran earlier in the day? Do you have any experience of whether this is the case? Thanks.

[Headspace1st in reply to njd967]

Sorry I don’t, I’m a newbie runner and I exercise or go for the run as soon as I get out of bed in the morning, no breakfast until afterwards. It’s peaceful and hardly anyone around so it works perfectly for me. I think I’d be far too tired to do it in the evening after work. Doing it in the morning gives me a real energy boost for the day too 😊

[Pinkfairy1 in reply to njd967]

I think it’s personal preference. I have tried going out in morning with no breakfast and I felt I might die. I normally have breakfast, do the school run then go and that works ok for me. I’ve also tried running afternoon time, just before tea and that always works ok for me too. Although that’s more of a mental effort, as in having it still to do all day rather than completed, if that makes sense.

You’ll manage run 3. I thought the same as you but it was actually ok. I broke it down into 5 minute chunks and once I was at 10mins it was already halfway! Then at 15 only a little bit more to go then done!

[MrBassmanjazz Graduate]

You've got this. You've done all the Prep. It's a head thing. (Please don't waste any more energy worrying about this. I lost 2 weeks!) - Go out and enjoy it. Wait 'til you see how pleased you are with yourself after

[njd967 Graduate in reply to MrBassmanjazz]

Thanks for the support. I now feel in a far better place mentally and am actually looking forward to the challenge, both physical and mental. Just out of interest, do you enjoy running more at the start or end of the day? I have been running at the end and am wondering whether I would find it easier/ more enjoyable if I started my day off with a run.

[MrBassmanjazz Graduate in reply to njd967]

I finish work at 16:15 Mon, Wed, Fri so I head out immediately after. I am trying to get up around the end of the road before it gets dark. (Quite rural - no street lights). Not sure how long that's going to work. I have another route, through the town, but I don't like it as much. Beanie with LED light ordered.

[Hidden]

Just remember...... it is not a race.Slower is much, much better.

If you get tired, slow down some more.

Many times I have tried to run for 60 minutes ....... and couldn't get there. Why? I was going too fast even though I thought I was going slowly.

So, earlier this week I deliberately went much slower and guess what .... I did it.

You can do it too. Nice and slowly will get you there.

[njd967 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Great advice.....also good to hear it from someone who has actually benefited from the advice themselves... Thanks.

[Poppdog Graduate]

its not beyond you you can do this you've done the preparation and you'll absolutely smash it

[njd967 Graduate in reply to Poppdog]

Tomorrow is runday and I am now sure I can do it thanks to all the reassurance. I will post the good news! Thanks for your support.

[Poppdog Graduate in reply to njd967]

Thanks look forward to the update not only is the running doing me good I just love seeing people post there fantastic achievements

[Newb_runner in reply to njd967]

I am a couple of weeks behind you but it seems to me that you have done everything right so far. I am sure you will smash it! Good luck.

[njd967 Graduate in reply to Newb_runner]

🤞🤞🤞