Week 3 is kicking my butt ;(

[jennstron]

Week 3 is seriously killing me. I cannot run for 3 minutes no matter how hard I try. Anyone else feel the same. Thought i might go back to week 2. Suggestions?

[Em_j22]

I am on run 3 of week 3, and the only tip i can give is to glow slow, don't bounce and just stare into space and the 3 minutes go quicker! You can do anything if you tell yourself you can!

[Anonymous36 Graduate]

When you think you're going slow enough, slow it down some more. Really it does work.

[tantrumbean Graduate]

I can't say I'm enjoying it particularly, but are you sure it's an actual physical problem? Mine is more of a mental block because the 3 minutes feel so endlessly long and boring and it's hard to keep going....

[KANdoit]

How far into the 3 min did you get? You have done week 2 so you know you can do 90s. You know you can do more than one lot of 90s. Do you remember going from 60 to 90? How good did it feel to do that first 90? Bet you thought you couldn't make that jump before you did it.

Try doing the w3 podcast but only to the end of the first 3 min run (plus cool down). Plan not to finish the podcast before you set out so it doesn't feel like a failure if you don't. Perhaps if the burden of having to run more after the first 3 min is lifted you'll be able to finish the 3 min and slay the beast that says you can't do it.

[icandothis Graduate]

I struggled big time with week 3, after 5 attempts i still could not manage the 3 minutes, i then attempted week 4 but ran much much slower and to my amazement completed run 1. My advice would be when you think you are running slow run slower, the feeling you get from completing it will be well worth it.

Ive gone on week by week run by run, running slower than slow and ran week 8 run 1 for 28 minutes yesterday so i know it can be done

[glendam52 Graduate]

I agree with all that is said go as slow as you can. I faied at week 3 twice almost being physically sick but this time I really slowed it down and got through, today I just finished week 5 and ran for 20 minutes.

[Nevertoolate Graduate]

When you all say go slower I agree but I'd like to know how much ground you cover at that pace? I'm going to Map My Run tomorrow for my last Week 3 run and see how far I went in all. Has anyone got anything I can compare it with? Slow to one person may feel fast to someone else.

[glendam52 Graduate]

As others keep saying its all about running for 30 minutes to start then you can work on your pace so I say atm dont worry.

[jennstron]

Well I'm going to try again on sunday and will keep at it. My breathing goes and I panic ;( I get about 2 min 20 seconds

[icandothis Graduate in reply to jennstron]

Thats exactly what happened to me in week 3, just try running a little bit faster than walking, when i run even now if i go too fast my breathing goes, the lady i run with can hear it, but i have learnt now not to panic and to keep going but slower. Dont worry about how far you are travelling as the runs get longer you will find a more comfortable pace that you can run to.

Good luck and let us know how you get on

[Nevertoolate Graduate in reply to jennstron]

I did my last run for week 3 this morning. The first two times my breathing was getting bad but somehow I got through. This morning I felt like I was going to expire at two minutes - really found it hard to breathe. I thought about how I'd feel if I didn't finish. I thought of counting down the seconds and gave up after about three. I thought about anything else and suddenly, wow, my breathing was fine and I ran on for an extra minute! I'm not bragging, but I just have to promise you that its mind over matter - I'm convinced. Really find out what else you can concentrate on apart from your agonising body. Week 4 may turn out to be really bad, but I'm sure we can do this!! Good luck.

[hollyO Graduate]

I have said on here before, Iam so slow that sometimes I have to check Iam still running

[zee11 Graduate]

i have the podcast on and the tv.i did wk 3 ok. just finished my last run on wk 3 .and its true what they say about not stopping till the end as the feeling is much greater than if you would just to stop. and be annoyed with your self for not doing the full run. if it makes you feel better do run 2 again til your feeling more better about it.

[jennstron]

Just an update to let you all know I completed the run for the first time on Sunday. Going slower and pacing myself was the key. Also my boyfriend gave me a great tip to help with breathing which was to chew gum. Worked awesome and my breathing was so much better x