Week 3 - Snail's Pace!: Just finished week 3 run... - Couch to 5K

Couch to 5K

134,112 members159,473 posts

Week 3 - Snail's Pace!

BecToots profile image
13 Replies

Just finished week 3 run 2 but am wondering if I am the world's slowest runner! Doing the same route that I did in week 1 and 2 but the lovely Laura tells me I have finished with about an extra 5 minute walk to go. Did anyone else find they they travelled less far in week 3?

Written by
BecToots profile image
BecToots
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
13 Replies
runcanada profile image
runcanadaGraduate

I am in Week 5 now, and I have to say I initially felt disappointed in myself as each week I went slower and slower... I run on a treadmill so I know how fast I am going.. I significantly slowed up until week 4. This is the only time that I have kept the same pace. I just have learned to accept it and as Laura would keep saying it's a light jog... I realize it must be normal :) At this point it is about increasing the length of the runs and once you complete Week 9, I believe it's about improving your time and endurance.

:)

BecToots profile image
BecToots in reply toruncanada

Thanks for that. I shall continue to plod along and keep the faith!

happierswimming profile image
happierswimmingGraduate

For the first few weeks you don't cover any more distance because there's quite a lot of walking, but you will begin to do more as the weeks go by. Try to make sure you are keeping up a good walking pace because that's a great help with running. It's easier to judge if you're using a treadmill and it's also a good idea to keep up a good walking pace when you're walking around on the other days- fetching the kids, doing the shopping, exercising the dogs etc. Aim for shorter, faster steps and impove your stamina on "rest" days too! :)

BecToots profile image
BecToots in reply tohappierswimming

Good advice thanks!

GoogleMe profile image
GoogleMeGraduate

Have you ever tried snail racing? (One of the National Trust's 50 Things to Do Before You Are 11 and Three Quarters... I did it before I was 50) Some of those snails go really fast!

BecToots profile image
BecToots in reply toGoogleMe

I have never snail raced but I had done quite a few of the other things. Am also working on the list of things to do before you are 11 and 3/4 with my children!

Alaiyo profile image
AlaiyoGraduate

No, you aren't the slowest runner around (I may unofficially have that dubious honor). I found that I hardly went any farther on the runs until middle weeks, when the time spent running became substantially longer. Don't worry about it though, it's totally normal. Because I am a big nerd, I actually figured out how long I was running in each podcast and it is 8 or 9 minutes until week 4 or 5. So don't expect your total pace to speed up much then. Slowing down is even common, because you have to sustain your running pace for longer periods. Later in the program, you will see your mileage increase a lot more.

BecToots profile image
BecToots in reply toAlaiyo

I too must also be a nerd. Spent week 3 run 3 working out that if I can count to 210 running for 3 mins then I will need to count to 350 to manage 5 mins! Passed the time!!

WANTTORUN profile image
WANTTORUN in reply toBecToots

I can’t stop counting my steps, I know ten is more than ten seconds, so it’s a nice overestimate of the time left ! Anything to fool the brain!

sheppy profile image
sheppyGraduate

good question, I did W3R1 this morning and noticed the same thing..and thought it was just me...good to know I'm not alone, I'm having difficulty imagining being able to run for more than a few mins at a time at the mo..but I'm trying not to think about it and place my trust in the lovely Laura ;)

BecToots profile image
BecToots in reply tosheppy

Thank you thank you! I was wondering if I was blacking out half way round and just standing still for a while somewhere! Managed to keep going for 5 minutes yesterday in the rain with a bit of a cough! Honestly if I can do it you will be able to too!

Heartboy profile image
HeartboyGraduate

Don't worry about it. We've all been there. Trust in Laura. At this stage its about keeping going and not speed. Once you can regularly run for longer periods you can start thinking about speeding up. Also as someone who pushed myself early on and got injuries at week 7 I recommend snail pace which is what I kept to after injury and graduated injury free last week.

BecToots profile image
BecToots in reply toHeartboy

Thank you! Just call me Brian! (I hope you are old enough to remember Magic Roundabout!)

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Another 5k at snail's pace

ok... It was faster than last week but I am still running really slowly. However if I ran at the...

Week 3 less distance than week 2

Hi everyone . Started week 3 today and did the run . Felt great . When the run was finished I...

Week 3

Run 2 of week 3 finished, very enjoyable running along Ullswater, so much nicer than the A6 in...
Martin_Rose profile image
Graduate

Week 2 done dreading week 3!!

So I've just finished week 2 and so far I've felt ok running all the running bits but I'm already...
Katielh profile image
Graduate

Week 3 completed!

I have just finished week three and it was so hard especially that last 3 minutes you have to run...
Katie24601 profile image
Graduate

Moderation team

See all
MissUnderstanding profile image
MissUnderstandingAdministrator
Yesletsgo profile image
YesletsgoAdministrator
Mummycav profile image
MummycavAdministrator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.