Unsure about 10 K

[nurseljh]

I'm just about to finish C25K and I am looking to see what is next. I'm not sure I even WANT to do a 10K so I thought I'd read what you guys are doing and see if it is for me. I'm 46, slow runner, but have lost 45lb since April and will do my first 5K race on Dec. 16th (Jingle Bell Run). So thanks for the welcome, and I appreciate all the advice you can give me.

[Millsie-J]

I would suggest you consolidate your 30 mins runs, three times a week for a while before moving on. Whilst you do that you can think about what you want your next goals to be. Also ensure you are doing some core strengthening exercise on rest days . Enjoy!

[Tomas Graduate10]

As you have found during c25k, it takes commitment to train, and getting to 10 km is going to take even more time per week than it did to get to 30 minutes. By far the best motivator for getting out of the door is to WANT to.

So I would say that if you're "not sure you even want to do a 10 km", then you shouldn't start it. Not yet. Start by simply enjoying that you're able to run for half an hour and carry on doing that for a while. When (if!) you start to really want to increase the distance, THEN is the time to scratch that particular itch.

[misswobble Graduate10 in reply to Tomas]

It doesn’t matter at all 🙂. You do what you’re happy with post graduate wise 👍. As you keep running regularly though you will gradually get stronger and getting to 10k will probably happen

Good luck and have fun🏃‍♀️🙂👍

[AndyD Graduate10]

I agree with what's been written... you don't need to push yourself to any distance if that doesn't float your boat!! Do what you need to do and as often as you like to maintain your running.

[Realfoodieclub Graduate10]

C25k is a great diving board. It can take you to many different places. It never ceases to amaze me the different places people go on after graduation. This is your time to have some fun and find what fits for you. Try different things, shake up your training and see what excites you. This is the best time as you get to experiment and just enjoy running and all the different things it can bring.

[GoogleMe Graduate10]

10k's quite abstract really for you at the moment. You've got a goal ready for post graduation with your 5K event so you'll be fine for now.

For me it was a particular run I wanted to do that got me working my way up.

[Hidden]

I've done 10k a few times now including a 10k race, but 5k is still my 'happy distance'! However, I find the longer runs help my 5k times. It's a very individual thing; the main thing is, do what you feel comfortable with and don't feel pressured to keep extending the distance. Mo Farah doesn't score brownie points over Usain Bolt because he runs for longer. Just 'do what you do do, well' is the motto, I think! Good luck

[IannodaTruffe Graduate10]

10k is a goal for many, but it is not compulsory and it doesn't have to be for now.

Finding some short, medium and long term targets for your running career is useful though, like your race. Others might be performance, duration or distance based or maybe running somewhere special (everywhere is special when you have your running shoes on) or maybe with certain people. There are all sorts of events of different types that become possible now you are a runner and so long as you train appropriately for them, there is no limit.

I am not an event runner........ I am an antisocial old curmudgeon, who is never happier than running footpaths in beautiful surroundings, hills, moors, cliff paths, beaches, forests and fields. The further I can run, the more delight I can experience, which is why I pushed to 10k and beyond.

Don't ever feel pressured, just run for fun, however it is you achieve that.

Keep running, keep smiling.

[Langley-Loper Graduate10 in reply to IannodaTruffe]

I'm an anti social runner too. Let's hope we never bump into each other!

[IannodaTruffe Graduate10 in reply to Langley-Loper]

I am sure there is plenty of room for both of us and I always give a cheery wave to runners going in the opposite direction.

[C25KKate Graduate10]

Hi, I’m reasonably new to this site, not very experienced and I’ve not made 10k yet. This time last year I could barely run 5m let alone 5k and when I completed C25k I thought that’s it, that’s my limit! But as the weeks and months have passed and I found this great forum I decided to try for 10k. It wasn’t a lightning moment, the desire just crept up on me. Why not just run 5k for now and see how you feel in the new year say?

[nurseljh in reply to C25KKate]

i like that! thank you for all the perspectives! Tue is graduation run for me! i completed my race today meeting and surpassing my goals! im hooked!

[Midriff_Crisis]

You say you're a slow runner, so one thing you've got on your side is some basic endurance ... you're going to be running for more than thirty mins for your 5k (I guess), so maybe you could focus on that aspect increasing your running time rather than concerning yourself about the distance. So, you could steadily start building up one of your runs to be a longer run and by doing so you'll be building on your existing strengths. As the C25K programme shows time and time again, we're all pretty adaptable and can achieve much more than we give ourselves credit for.

[nurseljh in reply to Midriff_Crisis]

thank you! I run abouy 13 min miles right now. I like the focus on just adding time!

[hilsry]

I graduated recently and have just finished week 3 of 5km to 10km. It's certainly a good focus for me but I'll be happy to be running for 60 minutes by the end of it, even if I don't cover the full 10km distance. I've got my eye on a 10km race at the end of May so plenty of time for me to get there. I've just started doing Parkrun's which I find are great ways to get a 5km run in each week and it's lovely and social too. Slow and steady is the way forward.

[Fiona_B]

Very well done for C25K AND the 45 lbs!