Run schedule dilemma.

[kayface]

On Friday I successfully completed week 4 (yay! So proud!), but with a busy weekend and 2 more to come, I'm not going to be able to fit 3 runs in one week for the next couple of weeks.

Week 5 looks like a huge jump from what I've done so far, so I'm not entirely sure how to play this. I could either do another two week 4 runs again this coming week, or do the first two runs of week 5 and do the third the week after?

It's going to put me a couple of weeks behind if I repeat week 4, but I don't know if I'm likely to struggle after leaving so many rest days over the weekends!

I'm sorry if this is confusing or makes very little sense, but if anyone has any advice I'd be very grateful!

[happierswimming Graduate]

Yes, week 5 looks like a jump, but it really isn't. Last week I wasn't sure how I'd manage to do r2 and then 3, although I was happy enough to face r1. R1 and 2 are now done and r3 comes along tomorrow. R2 with its 8 minutes (twice) was a worry but I was really surprised and pleased to find that the 5 minute runs and the 3 minute rests of R1 really did the trick in terms of preparation, so I'm quietly confident that now those 8 minute runs are behind me, I will simply be able to add them together with the rests to make 20 mins tomorrow!

If I were you, I would do the first 2 runs during the coming week and I bet you find you'll be able to manage r3 when you do it, especially if you think of it as 8 minutes twice. You could think about doing it all more slowly if you are really worried but I bet you'll do it

[Greg_M Graduate]

I think you should just keep working through the podcasts, they dont need to all be done in weeks if it takes ten days to get through "week 5" then that's cool, no matter.

As "happierswimming" says it looks like a step up, and it is, but a manageable one you'll see!

[icandothis Graduate]

The program is so good i dont think it will matter if you have extra rest days due to a busy life! its all a mind game from week 5, you will be ready for the next run but you probably wont think so, my advice would be to keep going and only repeat if you are unable to complete the run successfully

[tantrumbean Graduate]

I've had the same problem - my week 4 and 5 have been considerably longer than a week, but I just keep doing the runs when I can. I found 3 or 4 restdays occasionally don't seem to affect my fitness, so I've stopped worrying about it. Bit annoying as I would like to get it done quicker, but hey, that's life....

[kayface Graduate]

Thank you all so much! You all keep me so motivated week 5 run 1 starts tonight then, I'm feeling quite excited now! I'm glad to hear rest days shouldn't affect fitness too much.

Best of luck