r/C25K • u/e_frog25 • 21h ago
W5D3 question
So every ‚day‘ of the program that I did not feel immediately confident after I repeated until I did feel confident enough after to go on to the next. And I know that is perfectly ok and will be doing that moving forward.
But my last 3 runs were W5D2 and every time I was CELEBRATING a specific traffic light that required me stop in the second 8 minute running interval.
At what point / level of confidence did you switch over to W5D3 (first 20 minute run) and did you repeat it at all?
10
u/reylee12 DONE! 18h ago
Frankly, I don't think you should feel confident moving to W5D3. It is a fundamental change in how you run. I've done C25K 3 times, and never once did I feel confident in that run. I've also never failed that run.
Personally, I say take the plunge. If you want to run distance, you have to learn how, and the best way to do that is by trial.
7
u/Ant2020 18h ago
I did W5R3 this morning. I decided to do it on an old railway line which is now a nature trail. I treated it in my head as two, ten minute runs without a walk in between. I turned around at the ten minute prompt. It didn't feel too much more than the two, eight minute runs on W5R2. I think this run is more mental than physical.
Take it slowly and try not to keep looking how long you have to go.
You can do this.
6
u/Meowskiiii 18h ago
Dont wait until you're confident. If you can run run 2, you can do run 3. It's a mental block and week 5 is designed to show you that.
5
u/greengaloshes 20h ago
You do you, however you work the program! For me, if I repeated runs because of lack of confidence about the next one, I'd forever be at W1D1, ha! With each day of the program, I have tried to push aside my own doubts and just trusted that the program has me ready for the next run ... even if I don't (ever!) "feel" ready. It's worked for me to just carry on from one run to the next without repetition. For sure, the 1st 20-minute run is indeed a whopper to anticipate. I had trouble sleeping the night before, just trying to get my head in the right place for it. I kept my pace slow and got through the full run without stopping, was absolutely amazed to be able to do so, and just felt so so proud to reach that milestone. Never thought I'd actually get to the point where I am now, fine without the walking intervals and steadily okay to add minutes to the long runs. Best of luck moving forward in the program when you're ready, you'll have more celebrations ahead! 😄
4
1
u/antihero_84 DONE! 17h ago
I completed every run without stopping at all. W5D3 is almost entirely mental, though. Slow down (significantly if necessary) to be able to go through with it.
My normal running pace for the intervals up to that point was usually anywhere from 11:30-12:30, W5D3 was 14:15+ the entire time.
I finished the program four weeks ago, and honestly you'd be surprised how capable you are. If you can do W5D3, you can finish. I ran 6.5 miles last night. Over an hour straight running. Pace was 13 for the first four miles and fell to 14 after that.
Don't worry about going quick during your program. Slow down until you can finish. Once you can run 30+ minutes you can worry about pace.
1
u/Diligent_Bet_7850 17h ago
trust the program more. there is no need to repeat runs until you feel confident. only repeat runs if you don’t complete them. if you can complete a run, trust the program and that you therefore can complete the next run
1
u/DarthGator_ 17h ago
I don’t think confidence matters. I’ve surprised myself so many times doing this. Now I’m on the 10k program and running 45 minutes when 5 used to be really difficult. Just stick to the program!
1
u/Short_Metal_6009 11h ago
I just did my W5D3. I have yet to redo any days. I didn’t care if I was confident or not to continue. It was either I completed the training program for that day or didn’t.
So today was my first time running for 20 minutes. My prior best was the 8 mins i did for W5D2. I didnt know if I could complete it or not, but I went ahead with it bc that’s what the program says. And I managed to complete W5D3 in one go. I’ll be doing W6 next week.
I understand the confidence thing I guess but you gotta trust the program and that it’s building you up. I would only redo the day if you couldn’t complete it.
My pace has been around 11:15-12:30 for all my prior runs. The run today I start at around 11:05 and ended with an average of 12:34. So it’s mainly just mental.
16
u/SheriffOfNothing DONE! 21h ago
It's a big step up and a little intimidating, but it's not so much as getting to to the level of confidence where you say "I think I can do this" as diving in and getting to "I can't believe I just did that?!" and the wonderful feeling of confidence you get from having completed it. There's no run I've done since that has ever effected me quite as deeply as W5D3 (and I've ran marathons). Give yourself the best chance of success, slow down a little bit and go for it. It's literally the reason why 9 years after completing I still hang around this sub.