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Question about repeating w5r2

Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 7:16 pm
by rlchap
Hi there. First, I love this app and I am so appreciative this was created. I've always hated running but for the first time I'm really enjoying it. Also, I really enjoy readings everyone's story on here. It has made me feel a lot less nervous about the up-coming 20 minute run. But I've got a question:

I started running with a friend of mine at work. I had done weeks 1 - 3 a coupe of months ago and lost motivation. When I decided to pick it back up a work peer said he wanted to go with me. We started on week 4 because I had already done the first 3. We decided to do week four for the first three weeks because it was really tough and we were both beat by the time we finished. After three weeks, we weren't sure we were getting any better but decided it was time to attempt week 5. So, last week we jumped in on Monday with w5r1. It was tough for sure, but we knocked it out. We did that run (3 5's) one more time on Wednesday. On Thursday I was feelin really good and thought instead of a break we should see if we could knock out the double 8's w5r2. I did great. I've never been happier...but he had to stop almost immediately on the second run. Becuase I still felt great on Friday I told him if he wanted to try again I'd do the double 8s with him. Same thing happened, his calves cramped up but I was fine.

The question: I really want to try and move on to the 20 minute run because after reading some of the posts here I really think I can do it...or at leat get really close to finishing. But, if it was me that was having muscle problems and couldn't quite keep up, I'd hope he would continue doing the double 8s until I could finish it myselt. How much time should I give him before I move on myself? Has anyone stayed on the double 8's for a week or so and did you still feel like you were improving even though you weren't moving up to the next run? I don't want to slow my progress, but I don't want him to become disallusioned because I'm leaving him behind. Thoughts anyone? By the way, I'm still pumped from the completion of the double 8's. If anyone is on week four and thinks the 5 minute run is bad enough...don't be scared of the double 8s on week 5. I didn't think I'd have any chance of making it but I was amazed to find that my body just got in a rhythem and the 8 didn't feel any worse than the 5 does. My legs felt a little less stable, but I did find my breathing and heart rate were about the same after 8 as they were after 5 so you can do it.