W5R3 DONE!

[rubygloom]

Well, I am flabbergasted with myself! Yesterday I completed the dreaded one I struggled with the second 8 minute run on the previous session so really wasn't sure if I could do it. I had an awful stitch kick in at about the 16 minute mark but couldn't bear the thought of giving up at that point so managed to continue until the end. Had a face like a beetroot by the time I'd finished.

Those shin splints are still twinging away but I do an ice massage for 20 minutes on each leg when I get in which seems to be stopping them from getting any worse.

I started the 5:2 diet around the same time as C25K and have lost 19lbs so far (in 9 weeks though rather than 6, as I had to stop running for 3 weeks due to the shin splints) so feeling rather happy at the moment. The lower half of my legs are even starting to look like proper runners' legs! Not sure about the top half yet though

One thing I wondered about was Laura's suggestion of breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth. I'm breathing in and out of my mouth! Don't seem to be able to get enough air in if I keep it closed lol. Do other people breathe in through their nose?

[lucyconnuk Graduate]

Well done you! I usually run along with mouth wide open, puffing in and out! (watch out for flies though)

[rubygloom Graduate in reply to lucyconnuk]

Haha, no flies yet! Will have to watch out in the warmer weather though!

[motwoosotdot]

Well done! I'm on W4 so loved reading this. Congrats on the weight loss, that is phenomenal!! I haven't struggled with breathing since the first 2 weeks cos I've found that if I breathe in quite shallow through both my nose and mouth simultaneously and out through my mouth that it works for me. It must have been all that breathing practice for childbirth (x3) that helped!!

[rubygloom Graduate in reply to motwoosotdot]

Thanks! Hope W4 is going well for you x Not had any babies so am perhaps at a disadvantage in regards to breathing technique!

[Poppy2010 Graduate]

Yay! well done, it's so great to get the sense of achievement when you complete one of the 'biggies'... Not long to go now, hope the legs hold up! And fantastic job with your weight loss too... I'm with weight watchers, slow and steady loss of about 1lb a week...

[rubygloom Graduate in reply to Poppy2010]

Thanks Poppy2010 x The weeks seem to be going by quite quickly now - can't imagine I'll actually have reached the end of the programme in another few weeks when it seemed so far away at the start. Well done with the weight loss too

[wiggles Graduate]

Congrats on completing the third run, I just finished the second one today and will have to struggle through the big third run. I also breath through both nose and mouth, works the best for me. Well done on the weight loss too.

[rubygloom Graduate in reply to wiggles]

Thanks, and best of luck with the the big one wiggles! You can do it!