C25K really works

[athingthateveryoneneeds]

I finished week 7 day 1 today, and surprised myself by running for 25 minutes without stopping. I could have gone longer, too!

I'm not fast.

I haven't gone further than 3.6 km.

But my endurance has increased so much, even when I'm only managing to get out 1-2 times a week.

So for those of you just starting, or feeling like you've got that wall in week 5, keep going. You can do it!

I'm looking forward to managing a full 5 km one day, and I know I can do it because I've improved so much already.

Did you stretch right after running? I always forget.

athing - what was the gait analysis like? Did you go in running clothes or just your usual get up? I'm tempted, the next time I'm near a running shop. Not that I can afford to buy any more trainers just now, but I am curious about my gait. My feet tend to do strange things.

Congrats on the 7km btw! I've managed 10 once, but, unfortunately, on my usual route it includes a VERY steep him which has buggered up my knee. I think I'm going to have to be brave and run along the main road instead.

They used their own shoes, and I only ran for a minute or two. I popped in after work so was in ordinary clothes. Spent far too much on their cheapest trainers!!

I'm looking forward to cracking 10k. Ran this morning with the buggy and dog and couldn't quite manage 7 today, but I'm sure.i worked harder than if I'd been on my own.

I'll have to give it a shot.

Don't suppose you're in NE London? As I'm planning on a Parkrun this Saturday and it would be nice to have novice company.

No, sorry! But I hear they are a friendly lot. I haven't had the chance to attend a parkrun yet myself.

I have found the race for us, and the good news is the next one isn't for another two years which gives us all plenty of time to get up to a half-marathon: here.

I was reading about someone who did it this year on FB, and she said that, not only do you get wine in your race pack, but some of the water stations also hand out wine en route!!!!! How amazing is that?

Ffs I am getting slower each bloody run I do recently.... It’s really demotivating. I have just started Wk5 so done run 1 3 x 5 minutes and the last two runs I have been slower... why?!

No idea. :)

But I've accepted my turtle status. I'm not bothered about speed, it's the not-giving-up bit that counts!

I know that of course and I completed it and had no idea about the speed until I had got back home but it just grates to be getting slower!

I've just registered for my first park run!!! This will also be my W9R3 graduation run. I mucked my last one up as I knocked the programme off 🙄. Hopefully I can graduate on new territory. I don't even know what happens...do you clock in and is it all marked out in kms?

What app have people used?

Paperdolly I've never been, but the route is marked out on the website isn't it? I plan to go once I finish my Saturday job. (In May!)

I use an app called couch to 5k & 10k.

Paper - I’ll let you use know! I'm strangely nervous. Not about the run (5K on the flat has to be easier than 10K on Skye) but the route, getting there, travelling on the Underground in running gear, the heat, toilet location.... you name it I’m worried about it. More than that, though, it’s the memories of school PE lessons that it’s bringing up. Hopefully, once I’m there, it’ll not be similar at all. I shall see!

My shift this morning got cancelled, so I'm going to my local parkrun (unless someone calls in sick and they ask me to cover).

Let's do this Time!

YAY! I have virtual company. Thank you so much, athing!

Thanks all. I'm going this morning to give the parkrun a try.

Excellent! We're in it together this morning! I need to get out.of bed!

Yay! That’s 3 of us! Wecando this! (Paper - sorry, forgot you were on this thread too!)

Am here! There are lots of signs. Not many people so far.....

How'd you both get on?

We ran along the beach, glorious weather. I wasn't last!!

My last 5k time was 40 minutes, this time I was roughly 35 minutes. I look forward to the email in a few hours. :) Running alongside other people really spurred me on to push myself. I've also been running with a buggy and a dog lately so going on my own felt easy!

Well done, athing!

Mine was probably about 39 mins. The course was flat, but it was about 10 degrees hotter than I’m used to so that slowed me down. Plus, of course, I started off too quickly so had to slow down to get my breathing under control, but it was good fun and I’m really pleased I did it.

It did seem a little... strange having Marshalls clapping me on, but I’d be quite happy if they moved themselves to Skye and did the same along my usual course (so long as they don’t bring all the runners with them!)

It was nice having some cheering! Was slightly disappointed I didn't get claps at the end, I think people were bored by the time I'd arrived! :)

Oh and well done to you, Time.
It's awkward going somewhere on your own for the first time. People were friendly though! I might bring my dog next time.

I've done it!!! I've graduated!!! I went on my first Parkrun and after I'd done my 30 mins run I did the quick walk warm down and jog/walked the whole 5k!!!

Come on guys! We can do this!!!! 👍🏻🏃‍♀️😊

Well done, Paperdolly - that’s such an achievement! Well done!

And thanks, both of you, for keeping me company. I appreciated it. It really did help knowing you were both doing it with me! I did, fleetingly, think of turning around and leaving before the thing started, but I couldn’t do that knowing you two were also running.

athing - I’m sure your dog would love it. We didn’t have any dogs doing the ParkRun (plenty in the park, though) but there were quite a few children with their families, which was nice. I did get clapped at the end, but, whilst on the one hand it was nice, on the other it was really unnecessary. I think I’m so used to running alone, and for myself, it seemed slightly false. But at the same time I liked it!

Results just in. 35.04. Am pretty chuffed!