I need a new running goal

[BrassicaBabe]

I need a new running goal.

Dec '17 to February was "complete
C25K and not die". I was a total beginner. After that my goal was to run 5k as C25k doesn't actually get you that far.

Then I worked on getting my time down. I wanted to get 5k done under 30 mins. This has been a long hard slog since March. I've been working with a PT once a week since June to achieve that. Done! My fastest time so far is 29.31. I'm very pleased. It's not easy but I've managed sub 30 three times. So far I've knocked off about 10 seconds on each outing.

But I can't afford to keep working with a PT. I'm not sure I've got enough oomph in me to get my time much faster without the PT training. (What do you think? I'm 45 btw)

Currently I run 5k on Monday, train with PT on a Wednesday then do a long run on a Friday. I'm managing 8-10K for my long run and my goal is simply to get it done and preferably keeping each km below 7km/min.

(I row on a Sunday and Tuesday)

I need a new goal I think. I need something to motivate me. Or do I just stick to heading out 3 times a week? What do you guys do or aim for?

Enter a race? There's usually a 5k or 10k happening somewhere

That's brilliant progress, well done! I think maybe look towards 10k too. You can find lots of races online - if you're in the south west, I can recommend you the race diary of a local running club, it's very comprehensive

Maybe you could look at joining a club too? That'll help get your time down further as you run with others and work on drills etc too (and it'd be cheaper than a PT and you'll meet loads of lovely people )

Also have you had a look for Parkruns near you? It's a free way to get a 5k time you can work on improving each week and they always have a lovely, friendly atmosphere

Enter a race and use the training program function on the ASICS app. I’ve gone from running for 2 mins to approaching a half marathon in about 9 months. Its excellent; keeps it varied and works up in small increments. Good luck.

Agree with Christmas, park runs are good, timed, friendly, and there are lots of them so you could vary the amount of flat/hills.

I agree with a pp that joining a club would help, and it’s far, far cheaper than a PT. As you can run 10k you should be fine! Parkrun can also be good for getting a feel for which local clubs there are (check the results page). I was worried that clubs would be full of super fast sporty people, but instead found that most clubs have a wide range of runners. A 10k race might also be a good goal to aim for- there are usually a few around Christmas.

...oh and 45 means nothing in running. I’ve just run a quite fast half marathon...and was overtaken by a few OAPs of both sexes!

Hi. Thank you for your lovely helpful responses.

I already do parkrun with my 7yo. Hoping she catches the bug a little. But it takes us 45-50 mins so not much exercise there.

I'm going to google races in my area. And I love the idea of a running club. Wonder if I can get away with that one with DH .

I've got the ASICs app on download 😄

Who'd have thought a year ago...I'm a runner!! 😄😄

Entering a 10k would seem like the obvious next step. Then work towards getting faster at that. Good luck!

A 10k race, possibly aim for sub 1hr which is attainable based on your 5k speed.

10k should be easily attainable for you. Especially if you do something like 2 mins walk every 30 mins.

Maybe your new focus could be distance instead of speed?

Instead of chasing a sub-60 10K time, you could try for 30 minute intervals and try for a 90 minutes run, then a 2h run (with 2min walks every 30 mins). A 2h run should get you to 10 miles (16k), which us your training distance for a half marathon.

Is 5k considered a beginners distance?

I did 8k in 52 mins. My recent and only 10k took 1 hour 8.

Is 5k considered a beginners distance?

I did 8k in 52 mins. My recent and only 10k took 1 hour 8.

I would say that 5K is the first distance a new runner aims for, yes. I don't think the jump from 5k to 10k is that difficult either. It sounds like you're not far off a sub-60 10k, which is also something of a milestone.

You could do interval training to increase your pace. Or do some hill work, good for strength. Or work on increasing your distance.

I suggest you join a running group, if there is one nearby that meets at a time that's good for you. I thought it would be terribly intimidating, and ey's all think I was a slow imposter, but tha couldn't be further from the truth.

Entering events would be a good motivator. There are usually loads of 10k events- sites like this one:

www.runningdiary.co.uk

have listings.

Also, enter a charity Santa Dash - usually 5 or 10k, or just fun run, high entrance fee but they're for charity and you get to keep the costume.

Or try virtual races, run by various organisations such as this one:

www.virtualrunneruk.com

where you can pick the type of event and when you send proof that you've completed it on time (eg photo of Garmin, screen shot of Stava or other tracker) they send you a medal - each 'race' supports a different charity, There was a big one recently (might still be going?) for NHS70 - run any distance or time with a 7 in it.

I did quite a few virtual races before braving an actual real event. My favourite medal has a on it!

I started with couch to 5k for depression, got happier but also discovered I love running. I found I loved it more the longer the distance, so got up to 10k and raced and loved it(do race! So unexpectedly brilliant fun!), then trained for a half marathon and felt like “oh this is my distance! This feels great!” - I think girls who are not speed demons are often a machine over distance (and it feels great passing all the worn out sprinters along the way ) and you don’t find out until you try it.

I’d also say trail and fell running is way more fun than road running for me - stops my hip getting cranky and keeps my brain awake, so you could explore that.

V v v jealous. I’m currently trying to rehab my knackered pelvic floor to the point where I can run again after massive back-to-back baby. About to start c25k this week after 11 months of physio and being fitted with a pessary to keep my prolapsed bits inside my body, so be a doll and go and enjoy a nice steady 10k on my behalf?