Help!

[Jbk1981]

So (hopefully) I graduate c25k on Tuesday and need a plan after that! Any ideas? Thoughts? Tips? Pitfalls? Help greatly appreciated!!! 😀

[Hidden]

After c25k the aim for many graduates is to aim for the 5k distance. If you are there already then I would consolidate this for a some weeks, cementing running into your life routines. Look to join parkrun too. Some runners seem to like the stepping stones podcasts. Try to look at your running sessions and incorporate a longer slower run, a shorter faster or interval run and perhaps some hill work to vary things up a bit. After this you may wish to increase distance for an event in the future for which there are many training plans on offer for free.

[Irishprincess Graduate10]

Why do you need a plan? Just asking because lots of people run for fun, on a whim, as the mood takes them, to see what's around a corner, to explore, to experiment, for pure unadulterated pleasure......... just asking 😕

[Oldfloss Administrator 60minGraduate]

Get to Graduation and then as her majesty Irishprincess suggests..just take some time to bask in the glory and enjoy some runs just for fun.

I called them runs for joy....running just because I knew I could... no distance or time constraints, just as she suggests, seeing how the runs evolved. So much to try and experiment with too before embarking on another structured path...

[Millsie-J]

Consolidate your 30 minute runs by just running free for a while. Then make a decision if you want to concentrate on speed or distance. Never build both at the same time🏃🏻‍♀️

[IannodaTruffe Graduate10]

Enjoy not being constrained by a plan for a few weeks. Look into parkrun in your area (and put your club down as NHS C25k if you do it) It is a great, supportive and gently self competitive celebration of running. I am a confirmed solo runner, but I still love parkrun.

Pitfall No 1 is believing, now you have graduated, that you are a fully fledged, go anywhere, do anything runner............not quite yet, so don't overdo it. Many of us who passed through the plan uninjured, went on to get our first injuries fairly soon after graduation. The received wisdom is that you will go on improving at running, so long as you run regularly, for seven years, so there is no need to rush.

I love running away from home in places I am not familiar with......clifftops, beaches, moors and forests. Especially as you get your distance up, it is a great way to explore and so much more fun than walking. It is said that it takes about twelve weeks of doing something regularly for it to become a habit, so enjoy getting running ingrained in your life. It is a real gift.

keep running, keep smiling.