Cardio, cardio, cardio!

[ange123]

I only went and ran for 20 minutes without stopping! Blimey, who'da thunk it? I have to say I was completely terrified of this run - I thought Laura was having a joke. From 8 minutes to 20?! But then I reminded myself that Laura is not out to get me - if she thinks I can do it, then I must be able to do it!

I was trying every possible excuse to get out of doing it on Thursday evening after work. The freezing cold rain (almost sleet IMHO) was enough of an excuse but then I started feeling like I actually WANTED to go out for a run. So I braved the elements and ran in the freeeeezing cold rain and pitch black darkness along the promenade (the flattest area I could find to give myself a fighting chance of completing the 20 minutes!).

I had a little panic after 5 minutes that I probably wasn't going to make it, especially as I started getting crampy pains in my calves. But I used the power of rational thought (!) and I just slowed down a little and stuck with it. I can't even explain how awesome I felt when I'd finished!! I don't think I even managed a 20 minute run when I was at school! I covered 2k in that time, so I'm quite a long way off doing 5k in 30 minutes, but as my husband keeps reminding me

And I had a nod from a 'real' runner - he had no idea that I'm a fake!! I felt like I'd joined a club lol.

So my journey is over half way complete now. I can't recommend this program enough. To get a games-dodging, ex-smoker who's been slightly overweight all her life, running voluntarily in the cold and dark for 20 whole minutes without stopping and/or crying...well it's nothing short of a miracle quite frankly!

I just keep thinking that at least now I have the cardio fitness to probably be able to outrun the zombies if there was an apocalypse (you need to have seen Zombieland to get that - I'm not just crackers I promise).

[Fraz73 Graduate]

Well done Ange123! I love reading W5R3 blogs - other than my first 5k and grad run, this was definitely my favourite of the whole programme. It's a wonderful sense of achievement and such a surprise as it is quite a jump!

Congratulations on your success and good luck with week 6 and onwards

[Gizelelezig Graduate]

Just completed W4/R3 tonight and a bit nervous about what's in store W5.

Great post, perfect timing! Looking forward to it now...

[Gizelelezig Graduate]

Oh yeah and, well done!!!

[Hidden]

Well done, I'm with Fraz, W5R3 blogs are great, because you don't believe it's possible and then feel amazing when you do it

[gdeann Graduate]

True about reading W5R3 blogs!!!!! Laura will never mislead us as this program proves over and over again! Well done you! I was never a runner before and my thoughts on exercise was retail shopping or surfing the net until I started C25K. I can now run 40 straight minutes!!!! Don't worry about distance, it will come eventually as you build stamina. A 5K takes me 37 minutes...I may be slow, but I'm a runner! You are well on your way to a lifetime of running success! Gayle