I'm starting week 5 of c25k today. Day 1 looks reasonable. So does day 2. But the huge jump to day 3 is downright scary. Day 2 ends with an 8 minute jog, and then on day 3, I'm suddenly supposed to be able to jog 20 minutes? Seriously?? I can barely jog a mile.... barely.
If you've done this before, what was week 5 like for you?
Also, it says to "jog 1/2 mile, or 5 minutes". My jogging pace for a mile is still WAY above 12 min/mile. At what point does it magically go down to 10 min/mile?
Honestly, I don't know anyone who is doing C25K who didn't look at W5D3 and say, "Holy crap! Are you kidding me? 20 minutes!"
One of two things will happen. 1. You'll be shocked and delighted to discover that you've built up the endurance and are able to do it or 2. You won't be able to do it, you'll have to repeat it, and eventually you'll kick it in the @&#!
I switched to distance instead of time in W5, so I went for the whole 2 miles (instead of the 20 minutes). Not only did I do it but it was my best C25K run yet! My time for 2 miles was 25:12 with a pace of 12:34.
Don't let the mental stuff get in the way. Keep a positive attitude, make sure you're well rested and well hydrated, and just do it! You've made it this far...and you're gonna make it to W9D3!
For some people it happens fast, for some it takes a long time. Pace will happen when it is ready to.
Pick time OR distance and go from there. Try to eliminate the rest of it from your mind. If you are doing the online version, instead of just looking at it on your screen, print it out and BLACK OUT the other unit.
And go a little slower if you need to on day 3. If you can do 8 minutes at whatever pace, try going slower and see what happens.
Thank you so much. I did w5d1 last night and kicked a**. I'm going to give myself some extra time on d1 and d2 so I'll feel a bit more ready for d3.
Thanks for the reminder about pacing... I am just so darned slow. Seriously. I'm happy if I get a 14 minute mile. But complicating factors include some grueling hills on my run, so I have to slow down a lot to get up the hillls. I know it'll all fall into place eventually.
I know the goal is to run a 5k in 30 minutes but right now I'll be happy if I can finish in 45 minutes.
I think everyone freaks out when they get to week 5. I remember that it took me several weeks to pass that 20 min/2 mile hurdle, but the way that I did it was to focus on trying to run 2 miles even if it was super slow. Just keep slowly increasing the distance and you'll get there.
And I wouldn't pay any attention to the 10 min/mile pace even though that's the default pace on the c25k schedule. In my opinion, that's way too fast for someone who is new to running. It took me a long time after finishing the program and being able to run a 5k to get down to a 30min 5k time and then I fell off of the wagon and have spent the past 6 months, running 5ks several times per week, trying to get back to that time (almost there, but still not yet). It's hard! Definitely not a "beginner" pace, so don't kill yourself trying to do it. You'll get there eventually
Yeah, doooon't worry about pace. At all. Worry about getting the time done. Once you can run for a half an hour, you can run a 5K. Hands down, no doubt about it, TRUST me. Once you can do it, adding mileage and everything becomes easy. It will be like going an extra 5 mins on the elliptical, or walking an extra 5 mins.
And, YOU CAN RUN THE 20 MINS! TRUST ME! I said the exact same thing. Prepare to be amazed on W5D3 when you do it.
Last edited by oodlesofnoodles; 08-03-2010 at 01:26 AM.
Oh gosh, THANKS everyone!!! I KNOW I can do this. I'm going to spend a few extra days on D2 to get my stamina up... then I'll tackle DAY 3!!! I'm thinking it'll happen on Sunday. I'll let ya know what happens.
And thanks for all the help about pacing... actually RUNNING a 5k seems so far off right now, but I'm sure I'll be back on here saying something completely different in a few more weeks.
I'm running day 3 tonight and I'm a little terrified, but I read the C25K challenge thread.. all 28 pages of it... and the success those folks had with W5D3 has me feeling positive. If I don't make it, I'll live, but I'm planning to start the treadmill at my slow pace of 4.2, up the incline to 1.0, start some good tunes playing and cover the timer with my ipod.
I promised to report in on the other thread and I'll try to stop in here too, to let you know how I did.
Oh gosh, THANKS everyone!!! I KNOW I can do this. I'm going to spend a few extra days on D2 to get my stamina up... then I'll tackle DAY 3!!! I'm thinking it'll happen on Sunday. I'll let ya know what happens.
Yes, I'll be waiting to hear how it goes! I am only on week 2, but I'm on my way!
Concerned about week 5 of c25k
