Scared about week 5!

[annie1970]

I completed week 4 yesterday so starting week 5 tomorrow and it looks pretty scary! Does anyone have any good calf exercises to do to prevent aching calves as I find thats my biggest challenge when running.

[Instructor57 Graduate]

Scary 🤔 ?

Why is it scary, they are just runs 😁

Week 5 is one of the most satisfying weeks in the program.

And YOU ARE READY FOR IT because you have completed week 4.

It's only scary in your head 😁

Take a look at this then go smash it !

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

As far as the calves are concerned, are you fully hydrated ?

Are you doing the after run stretches outlined in the program guide ?

healthunlocked.com/couchto5....

Happy running!

[nowster Graduate]

Why are you worried about Week 5 when you weren't worried about Week 4?

Week 5 has a lesser proportional increase in running duration over Week 4 than Week 4 had over Week 3.

Weeks 2 and 3 only had 9 minutes of running per session.

Week 4 had 16 minutes. Week 5 has a maximum of 20.

The only significant difference is that it's all in one chunk, but that's more a mental barrier than a physical one.

If you've been doing all the previous runs exactly as requested, you'll be ready for it when it comes up.

If it helps, think of it as two 10 minute runs back to back, or four 5 minute runs.

Personally I found week 4 a dreadful slog but week 5 was a breeze.

[Lambyuk Graduate]

Try wearing calf compression sleeves or socks. They can be worn during your run as well as afterwards for recovery. Try heel drop exercises on a step, put you tired and balls of your feet in the step and drop your heels down which stretched or your calves.