Is week 4 really a lot more difficult????? - Couch to 5K

Couch to 5K

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Is week 4 really a lot more difficult?????

Mitts profile image
MittsGraduate
7 Replies

Just finished week 3 and todays run was sort of okay, my legs still felt like jelly at the end but they recovered quicker and my breathing was better today too,

BUT have just listened to the start of the week 4 podcast and there's Laura telling us it's getting more difficult now and if we haven't recently completed weeks 1-3 it might be too much...

How did you others find this??

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Mitts profile image
Mitts
Graduate
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7 Replies
Lane profile image
Lane

All I can say is the programme works, yes each new challenge is tough, but with this programme all challenges are possible. I am on week 7 having NEVER done any exercise in my life before. Good luck, don't be daunted.

peggy-jean profile image
peggy-jeanGraduate

It is a step up but if you have done week 1-3 you are ready, trust in Laura she will get you to 5k!!

Mitts profile image
MittsGraduate

Thank you both for the encouragement! It was just that up till now Laura's been so encouraging... you can do it, well done, on you go, - when I heard her say her piece at the start of W4 I just thought, waaaaahhhh!!!!!

I still can't believe I'm doing this, after nearly three years back trouble and hirpling around like a ninety year old. I've been doing a great back programme since April and now do it alternate days to C25K. I don't care if I don't get to 5K - my secret goal is the 20 min run in W5. I'd quite happily do W5R3 for the rest of my life - but I have to get there first... :-)

nicolaclaire profile image
nicolaclaire

Got to admit I have struggled with week 4, ended up doing 4 runs but this morning completed week 5 run 1 and it was no harder.... It is tough running for 5 minutes but if you've managed up til now you'll do it! Good luck!

Mitts profile image
MittsGraduate in reply to nicolaclaire

Thanks, I think it's quite good to do 4 runs a week, I did that in week 2. Especially if you're running alternate days and not 3 times a week.

Fingers crossed for both of us on Monday then!

karmasparkle profile image
karmasparkle

I just did W4R1 this morning and I have to be honest, I found it hard - but I did it! Perhaps one of the reasons I found it difficult is because part of the trail I was on led (slightly) uphill and I have never done inclines before so my poor legs were aching a bit by the end. The second reason may be that I found the first three minute run a breeze, which is something I would never have found myself saying before! Unfortunately this made me a little bit cocky and I perhaps ran a little bit faster than I should have done, so I tired out quicker. The last 5 minute run was definitely the hardest part. All I would say is take Laura's advice and pace yourself, and you should be fine.

Mitts profile image
MittsGraduate in reply to karmasparkle

Hi and thanks - I've done it now, puffed panted my way through 3 W4 runs and it was tough, I even thought about repeating one of the runs but eventually went on to W5R1 - and it was much easier - so don't worry! You're right, pacing is the most important thing!

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