20 mins in the bag.

I DID IT! The dreaded 20 mins done! Come on week 6 I'm ready for you!!

🏅

[MissUnderstanding Administrator On a break Graduate]

Fantastic! That’s the best run on the whole programme in my humble opinion. I bet you’ll grin for days.

Less of this “dreaded week 5 run 3” though. It’s just another run. The next one in the programme. For anybody coming up to it, there’s no need for dread. You’re ready.

Week 6 sometimes catches people out with intervals again. The high of week 5 can mean setting off too quickly and running out of puff. Keep it steady and you’ll be fine. Enjoy the well earned rest!

[Hidden in reply to MissUnderstanding]

I'm going very slow tbh!

[MissUnderstanding Administrator On a break Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Slow is good! We’re all about the conversational pace here. That’s how you grow best as a runner 🐌❤️🏃‍♀️.

[Hidden in reply to MissUnderstanding]

I was genuinely dreading it. I haven't run properly for 30 years.

[MissUnderstanding Administrator On a break Graduate in reply to Hidden]

I’d never run that far in 40 years! I’m sure you were dreading it.

My comment about not dreading week 5 was mainly for the people still going through the programme. Lots lf people read the posts here and we really want to encourage anyone who hasn’t run week 5 run 3 yet that it’s not to be feared. It’s just another run. The programme builds up in a tried and tested way. It’s just what’s next! We’d love it if people were able to start that run in a positive way which will help it to go well. That’s why we’re always keen to talk up how great week 5 is! There’s a great breakdown of week 5 here which might help with any nerves…

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

[nowster Graduate in reply to MissUnderstanding]

I'd never run that far in my 50+ years!

At school I always came last in short races and had no stamina even for a 2km cross country run, having to stop about 500m in with what I now know was a nasty case of exercise induced asthma, which the sadist PE teacher didn't have any sympathy for. I had to walk the rest of the way with him snapping at my heels. Nowadays I'd be able to run that in about 10 minutes.

[MissUnderstanding Administrator On a break Graduate in reply to nowster]

School PE running has so many bad memories for so many of us!

[Hidden in reply to MissUnderstanding]

I was actually quite good at it but nobody noticed so I gave up trying. I was one of those kids who needed a bit of encouragement.

[MissUnderstanding Administrator On a break Graduate in reply to Hidden]

That’s such a shame. It’s great you’ve come back to running now.

[Hidden in reply to nowster]

I did the 20 minute run end of week five, to be clear. I have no idea what the distance was. I'm just focussing on timing at the moment. I will start measuring distance when I finish c25k because I do aim to complete a 5k and then work my way up to longer runs from there.

[Hidden in reply to MissUnderstanding]

I tried to word it in a way that is encouraging, but the reality is that it is very daunting going from 8 minutes to 20 minutes. People do worry about it because it's duch a big jump.

[nowster Graduate in reply to Hidden]

But it isn't going from 8 minutes to 20 minutes. It's going from 16 minutes to 20 minutes.

[Hidden in reply to nowster]

That's what I told myself but the reality is that there is a 4 minute walk between the two halves on the 16 minute run. I don't think the instructors here and more confident runners appreciate how daunting it is to be honest. Having "said" that I do feel a real sense of achievement now.

[MissUnderstanding Administrator On a break Graduate in reply to Hidden]

I think the issue is you’re referring to the run a “the dreaded week 5 run 3” as if it’s something that is deserving of dread. Other posters do it too. We try and correct that misconception whenever it occurs. This isn’t anything personal.

It’s normal to be a bit daunted by runs. Sometimes it’s logical. Sometimes it isn’t. We’ve all been there. I only did c25k last January and I still remember what it’s like to worry about whether you can complete the next program run or not. As well as learning how to run, learning how to cope with that self doubt is a really important part of c25k. Every single runner has those feelings. One of the key ways they can be combatted is by reasoning with ourselves that we’re ready, the programme is well tested and there’s no logical reason for dread. That’s why we keep banging on about it.

We have encouraged you at every stage that you can complete these runs, and you have! That’s a massive reason for pride and celebration. Maybe next time you might feel better able to bat away those feelings of worry and self doubt. You’ll have this experience to draw upon. Really good luck for week 6. 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[HeavyFoot Graduate in reply to MissUnderstanding]

How about The Glorious Week 5 Run 3? (As the British named the coup d’état of 1688?)

[Hidden in reply to MissUnderstanding]

I have been posting here because I wanted some support but I'm not going to bother anymore. Dismissing people's fears is NOT supportive. For me, that was a really big thing, a huge achievement & yes I get you are a confident runner & it doesn't scare you now, but it scared me. Many people give up c25k because of that run, it's a HUGE jump. If you trainers and administrators "correct" everybody who feels intimidated by this run, you aren't helping at all. People feel how they feel & if you want to be supportive, providing people post within the rules you shouldn't be "correcting them". This has really upset me to be honest. My self doubt had gone now by the way but your "correction" bought it back. So much for support. I will find it elsewhere.

[MissUnderstanding Administrator On a break Graduate in reply to Hidden]

In the kindest possible way, I don’t think you’ve understood what we’ve said about week 5 and you’ve made some assumptions about how confident we all are and were as runners that aren’t correct (certainly in my case!). I’d just encourage you to go back and read again when you’re feeling less upset. This is the key paragraph of explanation.

As well as learning how to run, learning how to cope with that self doubt is a really important part of c25k. Every single runner has those feelings. One of the key ways they can be combatted is by reasoning with ourselves that we’re ready, the programme is well tested and there’s no logical reason for dread. 

Posters need to know that week 5 is not to be dreaded, and it isn’t a huge jump. They can use that information to help that tackle it. That is a supportive thing to tell them. If you look at this week’s catch up corner, that’s all about how to find confidence when you don’t have it.

I can see you’ve said you’re leaving us but you’re welcome to stay and update on your journey. Good luck with the rest of the programme. 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[MrBassmanjazz Graduate in reply to MissUnderstanding]

I'm with you, (best run). And don't waste energy dreading...

[Instructor57 Graduate]

Congratulations!

However, I would definitely not refer to it as dreaded.

Week 5 Run 3 is one of the most satisfying runs in the program.

Take your time with week 6 runs 1 and 2 as they often catch people out with going back to intervals

[Hidden in reply to Instructor57]

I was genuinely dreading it. I haven't run properly for 30 years.

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

I hadn't run for 63 years when I started 🤣

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

Congratulations on completing run 3 of week 5, that is a milestone run with C25K, onwards and upwards to week 6 run 1 but be careful about that run as it catches out some people with the interval walks and runs after the non stop 20 minutes of W5R3 which you have just ran 🏃🏾 😊 👍

[TheFoxes Graduate]

me too today!!! Go us! Well done 💪🏼

[Hidden in reply to TheFoxes]

Hood for you.

[XenaZelda Graduate]

well done, i am just nearly there to the 20 mins run (injured on 18 minutes of the 20 min run 6 weeks ago) but not afraid of week 6, 7, 8 or 9 i cant wait to get there 😃

[BlackCountryLee Graduate]

Well done on the 20 minutes! I remember how great that felt. I would also agree with some of the previous advice on not underestimating the first two W6 runs. I did and remember them being tough

[Mothmoss Graduate]

Yay for you 👍🌻

[JeremiahObadiah Graduate]

Enjoy the great achievement and lovely feeling of knowing you can. It certainly is a high point in the running campaign.

And although you are back to intervals for a week, the 30min goal is now firmly in your sight.

[Springler]

Yay! Well done you. I’m yet to achieve it. I keep trying but not got there yet.