WK 3 - anxious!

[pemb17]

Just finished WK 2 which have really enjoyed but very anxious about wk 3 running for 3 minutes seems a big jump and then when I looked ahead the leaps get bigger. Just wondering how many people out there had to repeat weeks/runs to get there?

[greenlegs Graduate]

See the post above this - you are not alone in your worries! Yes, the leaps do get bigger (my next run is one whopping great leap, so much so I will not even mention it for fear of scaring you off for ever! But I'm confident I'm capable of doing it, because the programme is so well thought out.) Even though the jumps look huge, they are never actually impossible physically - the biggest problem we all seem to have is the mental side - actually believing we can do it.

Sometime people do add in extra weeks or runs - but does it matter? As long as you're being active for 30 minutes, it doesn't really matter too much what you are doing.

I took five sessions to do the first week, as I hadn't figured out how to run slowly enough to not keel over, but have managed all the other weeks first time through. But I do go very slowly, and have managed to avoid injuries so far (maybe the two are linked), and I had done a fair bit of walking before I started. It might make a difference if weight loss is part of the motivation, I don't know, as that might affect joints more?

[ange123 Graduate]

We all face this exact worry at times, but the program is so well planned that it's always achievable. Occasionally you might have an off day - I had one yesterday - but just try again. You can achieve anything you put your mind to. Good luck!

[slowtony]

Always remember that you can slow down, sometimes I`m almost walking with a bounce!!

And as above if it takes a couple of tries to complete then it isnt the end of the world as the health benefits are still there.

And you know what, it isnt so bad, once you have done it you`ll chuckle

[Norni Graduate]

Remember it's not a race and we can only fail if we stop trying. I am not gonna worry if I have to take a bit longer. That's the beauty of it...you can!

Good luck.

[Fingalo Graduate]

In a strange way, the fear at the end of a Week when you check what's expected of you next is a very important part of the whole thing. The sense of achievement, as you overcome what you had thought almost impossible, is what kept me going at it initially. Now I just love it that I'm running but that feeling is still there. I have the same biggie as Greeners coming up this week and while I'm getting that familiar dread, I know I'll be over the moon once I've done it.

[greenlegs Graduate in reply to Fingalo]

Woop woop! Done and dusted! You can do it tooooooo!

[pemb17]

Thanks for encouragement - i'm sure it will help me when i do my first run on Wednesday - I'll let you know how I go - I just hope it stays snow free!

[RainbowC Graduate]

I had (still have!) a very patient friend who encouraged me a lot in the early days before I'd admitted to Mr Rainbow that I was starting running. Each week she'd reassure me that I really would be able to run 2/3/5/however many minutes - and quite often I'd text her while doing my cool down walk to say 'YAY, I did it!'. On at least one occasion I texted after each run section, just cos I needed to share my excitement and achievement, and needed to be cheered on for the next bit! You're not alone in your worry - I think we've all been there.

[lola-rose]

Hi, I'm new on here and not left a comment before but felt now is the time. I have just done week 3, run 1 yesterday. I thought to myself, I'm not going to beable to do the 3 minutes, and I was pleasantly surprised. I found the 90 second run a bit harder at one point! I completed this and felt great and can't wait for tomorrow although I might feel different then. Good luck, you will feel great

[roisin55]

don't worry too much about it, I repeated week 3 runs a couple of times because I could finish the last 3 minutes but I did it in the end. I am on week 4 now, 3 minutes is a doddle, the first 5 minutes not too bad but I have struggled with the final 5. some 8 attempts before I completed run 1 of week 4 but again I did it in the end. My view is that this is something completely new for me - running is not something I ever wanted to do before, hated it at school and avoided it ever since - so I just have a go - if I don't complete, so be it, I will try again on the next run and eventually I know I will finish it.

Good luck to you on week 3 - it is possible.

[genevan Graduate]

Repeating is fine. I repeated runs if I did not feel that I could complete them comfortably first time ... and moved on when I felt confident to do so. Don't let fear of failure prevent you from moving on, though!

[gingernut49 Graduate]

I'm just trying to psych myself up for my second week three run now. Just hoping it's not too icy out there - I don't want to break anything whilst I'm trying to get fitter!

[pemb17]

I ran the first run yesterday and it was absolutely fine the first 90 second run was the hardest but after that it was good I enjoyed running for 3 minutes! Thank you very much for all your comments. Like ginger nuts I'm just hoping it warms up a bit.