I say just go for it! The program wouldn't do that jump if they didn't think their runners would be ready for it.

It is intimidating, but you'll feel accomplished after doing it, especially outside!

It won't be as bad as you think and it'll make getting to 30 minutes in the coming weeks that much earlier.

You don't need to do anything specific- The program is written that way for a reason. Just go run! You'll surprise yourself. It may help to remember that you are more than likely able to run at least twice as long as you are currently running... 20 minutes really isn't that much :) You'll do fine.

It's only four more minutes! YOU CAN DO IT!

W5D3 is a big hurdle, but you can do it. Take it slowly, listen to your body (especially your breathing) and go for it!

it seems daunting, but you'll surprise yourself!
I was super scared and intimidated by it, but I was able to do it. I think I might have taken one or two 30 second walk breaks(pausing the podcast) and maybe slowed myself a bit, but its doable. Don't head indoors for it,you'll be cheating yourself out of the experience!

I found it daunting too. So I took an extra run day during week 5 to try out 10 minutes and then 12 minutes at a time before tackling day 3. :) It built my confidence for the 20 minute run! :)

It scared me too, but as others have said, was not impossible to do. the biggest struggle was my brain, not my body. And it's perfectly fine to slow down. in fact it might be easier if you try to go very slow for the first half so you'll feel more confident about having energy left for the second half.

W5D3 *is* daunting, but it's doable, and you feel amazing once you've done it! I was about ready to give up around W5D1 when I figured out that if I slowed down, even just a little bit, suddenly I could run longer and with less discomfort. Run outside, don't push yourself to run too fast, and enjoy it!

Try it! like everyone else has already said, you may be surprised that you can do it right now. And if not, just try again :) At least outside, you can slow down and speed up as you need. I always find that since I'm trying to keep the same speed on a treadmill that I wear out faster. Best of luck to you!

Don't mentally defeat yourself before you physically try. The program is written that way for a reason: you are ready to make that jump.

"Do. There is no try."

Or more commercially, "Just do it." :)

Try it. If you don't make it, you try it again. Perhaps take a little more effort on putting together a playlist that interests you - I tend to be faster if I listen to up beat music, but I can run longer (if slower) if I put on an interesting podcast.

OK - dominant theme is "just do it". I did 15 minutes on a treadmill this morning as a bit of a test, so think 20 minutes on a treadmill tomorrow is doable. I know next week's going to awful work wise, so may repeat week 5 next week and build up to 20 minutes outside. thanks for the support!

You can do it! I was nervous beforehand as well.

My method is "5 more minutes.. ok, 5 more minutes!..." and so one until I get to where I want. It's very much mental, not physical.

You'll feel amazing when you do it. I still remember it - I was watching Usain Bolt at the London Olympics at the gym and had painted my toes gold to psyche myself up. :P I still do that when I feel like I need a motivational boost. Heh.