Long post alert!!
A month ago I ran my first 10k, and on Saturday completed my first 10k race: 6 months on from completing C25k. I promised I’d write a post about my journey across the Bridge and how I used ju-ju’s Magic plan, so here it is!
In October I bit the bullet and started C25k, completing it in 10 weeks as I found week 9 tough so did it twice. I am very overweight but enjoyed the structure and progress of the programme, and although I didn’t lose any weight I felt fitter and proud of myself. I knew I needed something to spur me on and maintain the structure, so at New Year, as I graduated C25k, I signed myself up for a virtual ‘run the year’ challenge, committing to running 200miles across the year, raising money for charities along the way. I consolidated 5k and started varying my route, finding new places to run (including trails!) until I felt ready to start increasing my distance.
I came across here to the Bridge and lurked for a while, learning from you lovely people and about ju-ju’s plan, and started it in earnest in March. I didn’t start with a group but just followed it at my pace, initially starting with the timings but shifting to distance after a few weeks as I am very slow. I had entered a 5 mile race in April and a 10k in June, so these were my targets. I enjoyed the structure of the programme (there’s a theme developing!) and the varied distances across the week. I personally found work commitments hard to manage at this time and didn’t always get three runs per week in, and so sometimes skipped the short run, but I enjoyed mixing up the pace when I did do them. I found I progressed through the first half of the programme well, but hit a plateau and stayed steady at a long run if 7-8km for a few weeks. I hit 5miles (8k) two weeks before my April race and found it tough but ok and chuffed to have my first medal! Eventually, I progressed through the second half of the programme to complete it all in 3 months exactly. I have to confess to needing to take some walk breaks over around 7k, and this still continues at present. I ran 10k in training twice before this weekend’s race: the first time in 1hr 40, then 1hr 36 two weeks ago and on Saturday in 1hr 31. I am still aching!
As you see, I am still very overweight and slow: I still need walk breaks and I am currently struggling to pace myself properly to go slow enough not to need to walk, but I know I will get there in time. I have been really reluctant to post this race image of me from Saturday, but I do so to encourage others like me. My photos are usually head & shoulders only!! I am now focusing on eating better to tackle my weight, keeping running 2-3 times per week, clocking up the miles for charity and consolidating at 8-10k. I have a couple more 10k races booked in as I like to have targets to keep me focused, and at nearly 6 months I am proud to have run over 150miles and raised over £500 for Pancreatic Cancer UK in memory of my brother. Fundraising switches to Alzheimer’s Society from July onwards: I’ll need a new t-shirt!
Sorry for the long post, but I hope it can be helpful to others: the plan is flexible but still works amazingly, and although I am still not running every step of 10k, I’m covering the distance and I’m fine with that - for now! This forum, just as the C25k one was, is a fantastic source of support and advice: I’m sorry I’ve been quiet in recent weeks. I’ll try to be more active in my posts and support to others!
Happy running, folks x
My bridge to 10 K !!!
First 10k race!
First 10k ,yay.
My 10k journey (and beyond!)
