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08-17-2008, 9:56 AM CPJulie Joined on 08-18-2008 Posts 4 Did I fail at W5D3? I was so nervous about the 20 min. run today. I was 15 min. into it and felt dizzy, so I took a 90 sec rest and ran for another 5 min. Did I fail today? Do I need to repeat this on the next run?    Report

08-18-2008, 9:17 AM Penguin Joined on 08-01-2008 Stirling, Scotland Posts 138 Re: Did I fail at W5D3? Hi Julie, The first thing to say is that you didn't fail. This programme isn't a competition, it's a training programme. Best of all, it's a flexible programme which allows people of all levels to finish in the same place: as 5k or 30minute runners, but it allows them to tailor the programme to their own needs. If they want to repeat certain days or weeks until they feel strong enough to continue then they are more than welcome to do so. Much of the decision that you are about to make is about semantics. In the strictest sense, if you don't manage to complete a day's run it may well be a good idea to repeat the week to make absolutely sure that you're strong enough to cope with 20 minutes before you try and push yourself that bit further in week 6. From another perspective, it could be argued that you did complete 20 minutes (in terms of time run), and you should be able to keep going. My personal opinion is that the guys at Cool Running have devised the programme in the way that they have for a very good reason: to enable you to complete it with minimal risk to your own health and safety. An integral part of that is ensuring that you can complete the day's work-out in relative comfort (that is to say, without pain or other impairment). In that way you are pushing yourself just far enough to get the maximum possible benefit on your rest days before moving on to the next session. I genuinely feel that if you moved on without completing the 20 minute run (and I don't think that is what you are suggesting), then it could put you at risk. You may just have been having a bad day, so I don't think it would be unwise to try Week 5 day 3 again. If you were to have any further problems, however, I would look at repeating Week 5. Sorry I prattled on there. Gary Next up - Graduated 14/09/2008 - first 5k on October 4th Read my blog at http://defiantc25krunner.blogspot.com/ - or click on the weblog link    Report

08-18-2008, 10:43 AM batman Joined on 07-31-2008 Toronto Posts 69 Re: Did I fail at W5D3? Julie, I agree with Gary that there is no reason to call it a failure. (I hate when we are so hard on ourselves!) Think of what you were doing 6 weeks ago. Anyway, whereas I'm not a fan of repeating a week in the program based upon an unsatisfactory training session, I see no harm in repeating a day if it makes you feel better. It might help and it won't hurt so why not. I'm a week away from your postition and who knows, I may be doing the same myself one of these days. Best of Luck! Keep Running! Cheers Batman view my C25K blog at http://batmans.blogspot.com/ or click the link below.    Report

08-18-2008, 2:18 PM dougnl Joined on 08-11-2008 Posts 6 Re: Did I fail at W5D3? You did the right thing by stopping. You should never continue if you feel dizzy. As for it being a failure, thats really up to you. Everyone has bad runs and a number of things can affect it. Just try it again....or continue on to wk 6.    Report

08-20-2008, 5:41 AM CPJulie Joined on 08-18-2008 Posts 4 Re: Did I fail at W5D3? Thanks everyone for the advice.  I attempted W5 D3 again last night and I'm very happy to announce that it was a success!  What really helped was draping a towel over the timer on the treadmill. I couldn't see how long I had gone or how much longer I needed to go and I just concentrated on my breathing and enjoying myself.  Proves to me that that 20 minute run is just as much about the mental block as it is about endurance.     Report

08-20-2008, 9:31 AM Penguin Joined on 08-01-2008 Stirling, Scotland Posts 138 Re: Did I fail at W5D3? Great effort Julie, Well done and keep it up. Gary Next up - Graduated 14/09/2008 - first 5k on October 4th Read my blog at http://defiantc25krunner.blogspot.com/ - or click on the weblog link    Report

08-20-2008, 4:20 PM CPJulie Joined on 08-18-2008 Posts 4 Re: Did I fail at W5D3? Thank you, Gary! Your support really helps, as do your blogs :)    Report

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