As the subject says I can do the 8 min runs (just) but I'm completely done by the end not out of breath just my system hasn't got any more energy to push on.
right now I gave 2 options do a 20 min fast walk or try 2 X 9 min walks then 1 0 each time reducing the rest till they are joined
any advice please
I am sure that you can work around this one with a bit ot imagination.
As you run, can you speak aloud, clear and ungasping sentences as you run? If not, you are going too fast for your current physical strength.
How is your diet?
You need to be fuelled up, but not overfull.
Everything going on in our lives can impact on our performance as a runner. Restedness, hydration and nutrition are at the top of my list of variables that need to be optimised to enable enjoyable running.
This FAQ post expands on the theme. healthunlocked.com/couchto5...
Ardenk well done for getting to 5:2 even if it was difficult. That heaviness you feel is your body adjusting to the program, hence the rest days.. trust the program & don’t go off on a tangent.. give 5:3 a go make sure you are drinking plenty of fluids on both rest & run days.. warm up at home before you start the 5min walk & do stretches at the end. If you don’t complete a run .. rest a day & then repeat it but don’t give up!! You are doing so well.. the first 10mins of any run can feel heavy in those early weeks & then it feels easier.. keep it slow & steady & you will definitely do it!!! Keep us posted!
Thanks I'm breathing deeper but not gasping for air it's like my trainers are made of lead at the 8 min mark
I'll give day 3 a go Friday see what happens
What's your hydration like ?
i notice you say your trainers feel like lead!
This is often a symptom of dehydration.
are you drinking around 2.5 to 3 litres a day , even on non running days?
thanks tbh don't think I'm anywhere near that. I'll track it in the Fitbit app next few days to see
I was like this last week with the 3 minute/5 minute runs, and I kept repeating them until I felt better after the run 
It took about three extra goes before I felt confident enough to continue. There's no rule though so you can repeat it a million times if you want to
My advice when I ran and graduated first time round was to run slow. My runs/jogs felt slower than my walk’s especially on the longer runs. Go for it go ultra slow and good luck.
I'll second the suggestions to drink more water, all the time not just on run days. By all means track the quantity on your Fitbit if you like, but essentially the aim is to drink sufficient to have pale straw coloured pee.
Running at a sufficiently slow pace is also crucial. Again, the numbers don't matter, it just needs to be a pace at which you can talk comfortably.
Good luck for your next run!
Some runs can be a slog, it's probably a little flat spot on the improvement curve. It's still 8 times more than week 1/1. Do you keep any data for your runs. You may have just set off a smidgeon faster than normal, imperceptible without data, and that will mean slower and therefore slogging at the end. It has taken me 6 months to find my pace and even now I get it wrong on the odd run. 5 seconds quicker pace in the first minute may impact 10 seconds on the last minute!
Morning. You’ve done brilliantly so far and Week 5 is where it steps up a bit. My mind played tricks on me around this time in 2017 and made me believe I couldn’t do it. I just kept repeating the previous runs until I could do them more comfortably (I also think I wasn’t fit enough!) and then I added a minute until I could run it all. Hope that helps. Keep going - you totally can do it!
Week 5 run 2
Week 2-Does it get easier
Week 5 run 2
Repeated week 5 run 2
Can't believe I'm on Week 5 day 2
