W5R3 - DONE! 🥳

[ChannelRunner2]

I am so excited to have completed 20 minutes of jogging without any walking breaks (heck, even with a little running at the end...). 🥳

The first couple minutes were a bit tough and I remembered reading about that here, so I just settled into my pace. Then I spent some time figuring out how I'd know when I'd completed half, not knowing if Laura (the podcast gal) would tell me: I figured 5 minutes would be about two songs. That seemed to have helped with the psychology because (most) two songs are longer than 5 minutes! After each 5 minute announcement I had a little inner celebration as I was there sooner than I expected...

And then, yes, after Laura told me I had 2 minutes left, I picked up my pace a bit. That was fun! I don't think I would've managed the whole 20 minutes of that yet...

When the fitness studio closed during the first "lock-down" in spring 2020, I started speed walking outside and gradually increased my pace (here we never really had lock-downs... folks were just calling them that...). This year I started adding running parts and really enjoyed them, though never managed more than a song (so less than 5 minutes 😉). That's when I decided to check out this program! And learned to go slower... 😂 I had already thought that I'd never be a runner - well, I was proved wrong today 😎

[Instructor57 Graduate]

Excellent!Very well done , I bet you can't stop smiling now 😁

Take your time with the week 6 interval runs as they can sometimes catch people out after the 20 minute run !

Enjoy the rest of the program 👍

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Welcome to the forum and well done on your progress.

This guide to the plan is essential reading healthunlocked.com/couchto5....

and includes advice on minimising impact, stretching after every run, hydration and strengthening exercises, all of which will help.

Enjoy your journey.

[Dendev75 Graduate]

Well done! This is great to read - keep running 👍🏻

[Frenc Graduate]

Well done ChannelRunner2 , that’s fab. Running for 20 minutes feels so good doesn’t it! Best of luck with week 6 😁.

[Brixcos Graduate]

Brilliant progress, and you are so obviously enjoying it!!

[-Alchemist-]

Encouraging to hear. I’m starting week 5 next week and am apprehensive but people seem to pleasantly surprise themselves so I’m hopeful.

[ChannelRunner2 Graduate in reply to -Alchemist-]

Yes! You can totally do it if you've been following the program 😊. It helps to not think of it as a Big Deal, I found. I think that's the other reason it helped to break my 20 minute run down into 5 minute/2 song chunks... Of course, now I am nervous about week 6 🤣 I guess I'll have to apply my own advice 😉