Hello 👋
My first post on this community. I’m catching the running bug and wanted to find out more about this community.
I’ve just completed week 5 run 2 today, and boy those 8 minutes were a big step. The next run is a bit daunting, 20 minutes solid! Every week has felt like a big step up, but I’ve been trusting the programme and sticking with it. I’m sure I can do 20 minutes but any tips or words of wisdom would be lovely.
I feel so incredible already, so I’m determined to complete it!
Congratulations to you Sarahhisaduck on completing weeks 1 to 4 and runs 1 and 2 of week 5, nothing to worry about run 3 of week 5, the program has prepared you for it, take that run slow and steady, once you have completed it you will be very proud of yourself, it is a milestone run with C25K, once runners have completed it they have only 4 weeks until they graduate, good luck and if you wish report back here how your run went.
Hello Sarahisaduck (interesting user name 😁)
Welcome to the forum and well done with your progress so far 👍
As this is your first post I wonder if you have seen our programme guide ?
healthunlocked.com/couchto5....
Definitely worth a read !
You are about to do one of the most satisfying runs in the program, and from what you have said you are going into it with exactly the right attitude!
As you have said 'Trust the programme'
It's got you this far and it will get you to the end if you continue to trust it .
Just make sure you are well hydrated and start the run off nice and slow .
Then come back here and tell us how you smashed it .
That's if you can stop smiling 😬
It tends to be more a mental step up for most people. Week 4 is the bigger step up in TOTAL running time but a lot of beginners don't realise that.
Last week and this you run:
- W4R1 - a total of 16 mins
- W4R2 - ditto
- W4R3 - ditto
- W5R1 - 15 mins
- W5R2 - 16 mins (again!)
Which means you have in total, since the start, 157 minutes of running in your legs and all the fitness gained from that .
Physically, you are more than ready - but that isn't obvious to the brain.
Go nice and easy - a gentle jog - and you'll be absolutely fine.
Enjoy!
PS that gentle, effortless jog, during which you can breath and chat quite easily, is the secret sauce, the cheat code, to a happy and successful C25K journey 
As someone who had never run for more than a couple of minutes before starting C25K, was so worried about stepping up to the first 20m run that the night before I twice dreamt I’d completed the run only to wake up and find out I still had it to do! BUT - it was absolutely fine! The endorphins kicked in when I got past 10 minutes and I was smiling through the last five minutes. The programme really does work - trust it!
i couldnt run for 60 seconds before i started this programme and thought the same as you that each of the early weeks seems a big jump up and i would never run the 5 minutes/ 8 minutes etc, now i am running for 25 minutes which i never thought i would do in a million years and going onto week 8 on Friday, so you can do this sometimes its tough, but its changing the gremlins in your mind, you will do this 😀
Thank you all so much ☺️
healthunlocked.com/couchto5... Just to add to Instructor57 's great advice You've got this
Hi Sarahisaduck
This and W9 R3 are the best runs of the program. The high you get of this one will stay with you all day.
Believing you can do this, (and you can 'coz you've followed the program), is what will get you through it.
Enjoy
Well, it was chucking it down here in sunny Somerset, so I got soaked and very wet feet, but, I DID IT!! It’s so true that it’s more whether you can mentally do it, as physically I wasn’t out of breath and felt I could’ve run for longer. Just slightly sore legs!
I’m absolutely buzzing!
Week 5 run 3 done
Week 5 Run 3...next
Week 5 run 3
Week 5 run 3
Week 5 run 3 - finally conquered!
