Just finished week 8. I felt I was struggling with the first two runs of this week and MissUnderstanding suggested taking an extra rest day or two, and Instructor57 suggested starting slower.
I'm here to say that advice worked splendidly, thank you 
I took three days rest, started slowly, and it made all the difference. Felt I had plenty in the tank at the end, which bodes well for week 9!
I will be starting week 8 on Friday so not long to go until the fabulous graduation day!, how was the 28 minute runs for you? the 25 minutes are tough but that is a mental thing, i now tell myself mentally to get through the first half of the run, then I tell myself to count down its only XX minutes to go to finish, instead of oh god i got another XX minutes to go i wont make it.....but then i always do make it lol
I know, I can't wait to get stuck into week 9!
The first two 28 minute runs were much more challenging than the 25s, even from early in the runs. I was feeling fatigued from about 10 minutes in and wondering if I could do 25, let alone 28. Fortunately, I found the feeling didn't get a lot worse, or I may not have completed them. After a 3 day rest between runs 2 and 3, I did not get that feeling in run 3.
I've been using the podcast version so getting the music as well and find that distracts just enough from the constant stream of mind-chatter, which is often a lot less encouraging than Laura's guidance! Once I've graduated I'm looking forward to my runs being a time for some serious podcast listening!
Best of luck with your week 8 runs!
I don't need to wish you good luck with Week 9, as you will smash it 😀 and oh dear i feel the 28 min runs will be a challenge, but i will push through it, i can do 25 mins so can do 28 mins mentally its only another 3 minutes which is easy for us! i too listen to the C25k podcast with the music (but cant wait to sort my own music out as some of the music in the podcast is dreadful and i feel if i had my own that i love to sing to then that will be much better) and i am also looking forward to after graduation where i can also get some serious podcast listening
That’s such a great update. Seriously well done to you! You’re in a brilliant position to nail week 9. Just enjoy every run! 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️
Excellent...well done you!
An important quote from an Australian nutritionist:
"The only training you're benefiting from is the training you're recovering from."
Recovery (rest) is as important a part of your training as the workouts are.
That's a great quote to remember, thank you!
In addition, your readiness to perform at any point in time (eg a run, a swim, a bike ride), i.e. your current 'form', is determined by your fitness but also the amount of fatigue your are carrying. So your 'Form' = 'Fitness' minus 'Fatigue'.
An easy example: Eliud Kipchoge runs a world record marathon by being very very fit but also well rested and recovered from the training required. The day after he breaks the record, his fitness will have increased a lot (a fast 26.2 miles in his legs) - but he will be extremely fatigued , so his 'form' the day after will be quite poor. He would need to rest for several days, maybe a week or so, until his he'd be able to run well again.
Have fun with the rest of the plan
Rest day excercise
How important are the rest days?
Rest days
Missing a Rest Day 
Rest Days 
