W5 Run 3 finally done

[Bugsorsnail]

I have not posted here before but did reply to someone who 2/3 weeks ago was at the same stage as me - week 5. Gosh it has taken me a while to finally get through it. What with procrastination and bad weather, I think that I have been on week 5 for 3 weeks! I went out last Thursday and tried it but ended up running 10, walking 2 and running 8. It was too big of a step for some reason. I think I was trying to 'jog' too fast (that's funny). I slowed it right down today, didn't use the app to take the pressure off and just used a simple interval timer. Thanks to all the advice on this site and encouraging comments I can now go forward into week 6! Watching out for the pitfalls of those intervals again - although I have actually been out a few times doing short interval runs during my 'week 5', so hopefully it will be OK......Happy running all.

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

Congratulations to you Bugsorsnail on completing run 3 of week 5, that is a milestone run with C25K, onwards and upwards to week 6 run 1 but as you say be careful about that run as it catches out some people with the interval walks and runs, take it especially slow and steady.

[Bugsorsnail Graduate in reply to AlMorr]

Thank you for your kind words of encouragement. I am so chuffed. Last week I just thought that maybe I can't do this. I have a knee brace for a meniscus issue that I have had for 5 years, I have asthma as well, but in reality that is under control so not really an issue. I haven't run outside since school apart from team sport in my 20s. Never did I think 2 months ago that I could get here. Run 1 Week 1 was a bit of a nightmare to be honest. May take a bit longer than 9 weeks but hey ho. Thank you!!

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate in reply to Bugsorsnail]

I remember the night before I ran, run 3 of week 5 I only slept for a few hours worrying about that run, however, once I ran it I was very pleased with myself, I now use that 20 minute run as a practice run when I don't go to a parkrun, no parkrun for me tomorrow, instead I am going to rerun, run 3 of week 5 of C25K. 😊 🏃🏾

[Bugsorsnail Graduate in reply to AlMorr]

So cool! I will say though the way I kind of did it was to switch the app off and just chill. I have an interval app on my phone. 2 sets of ten mins. Also I never planned to do it, so I just did as much as I could and kept going. You say you were worrying about that run..... me too big time. It's taken me a few weeks to get past week 5!! Good luck with the 20 min run, sounds like a walk in the park for you!

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate in reply to Bugsorsnail]

👍 🏃🏾 🚶 remember to take the first two runs of week 6 especially slow and steady, once you have completed them, from then on there are no walking breaks. 🏃🏾🏃🏾🏃🏾

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Well done.

Can you speak aloud, clear, ungasping sentences as you run?.........if not, you are going too fast.

Counterintuitively, it is an easy conversational pace running that builds your stamina and endurance, not fast running.

Say this sentence out loud to yourself "Am I going slow enough to enable me to speak this sentence in one out breath?" If you cannot, you are going too fast.

[Bugsorsnail Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

I was going too fast for my level of fitness. Thank you. Having said that, it's rubbishly slow!!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to Bugsorsnail]

We all have to accept that we are where we are and create a realistic plan to move us towards our targets. Telling ourselves we are rubbish is counterproductive. You are making progress which you should celebrate positively.

Have you read the guide to the plan? healthunlocked.com/couchto5... which is full of tips.

[John_W Graduate Ambassador]

Well done!

"It was too big of a step for some reason. I think I was trying to 'jog' too fast"

For some reason? You've answered that in the very next sentence! 😎

The key is nearly always your pace and going slowly enough.

Now you've discovered that, then nothing else in the program should faze you.

Crack on!

[Hidden]

Hi BugsorsnailI finish my W5R3 last week ready to move on next week. I was the same as you it took me weeks to complete. Watched the slow jog video and followed this slower pace and smaller steps.

Well done to you and I hope all goes well with week 6.

Digdeep

[Bugsorsnail Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Digdeep, you too. Think I was under the misguided illusion that I should be able to run as fast as I could when I was 17!! That 20 min run was quite an achievement given I could hardly run for 60 seconds 8 weeks ago! Let us know how week 6 goes for you.