It seems a while since I posted so I thought I would just write a catch up about the last couple of months and how things are going as I try to work out how to run post c25k.
I graduated at the end of March on a total high. I ran for about a month by myself, just repeating the week nine runs and then decided to have a go at Ju Ju's magic plan, running to time not to distance as I am so slow that if I ran to distance I would never get home. The first couple of weeks of that were good and then I had a week off with a sore knee and then went away for a month or so. I tried to keep up the running while I was away and did manage a couple of runs a week in Spain, each around half an hour and at varying speeds depending on how hot it was. I loved running while I was abroad but I did find that I hate running when it is hot!! There wasn't any real structure or plan to it, I was just determined not to stop running because I thought that if I did I would never start again and I know I love the way it makes me feel. Sometimes I even love it while I am doing it!
When I got home I decided I would pick up the magic plan again at week 3 and did my second park run, improving my time from 46 to 45 minutes, still well within acceptable snail performance. I had another week off with a sore knee and decided that I needed to do more stretching when I run for a longer time. With stretching and yoga and pilates my knee has now been fine for about a month even though I have been running further.
My third parkrun was so hard! It was hot. Again I managed to run it all but it was such a slog. When I got to the finish I had to lie on the grass. All the way around I had kept pace with a mother and her son of about nine. He was whining and moaning all the way, very unlike most of the kids who participate who buzz about having a high old time. I couldn't run fast enough to get away from the moaning so I was trying not to listen and to run in my little bubble. About three minutes from the end I went past them as he whinged and moaned again and his mother said crossly "Look, that old lady is still running!" Cheek. Fortunately I thought this was funny! When I told my husband he was outraged on my behalf, which was rather lovely. The boy and his mum came past me so I am taking that as having inspired him
So I am back on the magic plan and finding the structure welcome even though it is sometimes hard. I had a terrible run on Tuesday which was 20 minutes of trying to run on the very steep hill where I live. The moral of the story is know your limits! But today I ran for 50 minutes and it felt ok and I look at the fact that next week the long run is 55 minutes and do you know what, I think I can do it! How amazing.
A couple of months ago I had a go at intervals and it was disastrous. I had some great advice from people on here and I have had one attempt since which was much better but none since I returned to the plan so I think that is my ambition for this week: in a slow, jog for a few minutes, run a bit faster for a minute, jog again kind of a way (sprinting is for next year!) can I do a proper interval session. Here is hoping!
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Gwenllian1
Graduate10
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Well done! Lots of great progress there. I would have been cross if someone had called me an old lady (I don't believe in old age 😂😂) so hats off to you for your sense of humour. I bet the lad won't be running at your age 🙄
Oh thank you! To be honest I followed being surprised (as in come on, I'm not that old!) with being amused. It was only when Ian was so outraged on my behalf that I thought of being annoyed! The boy was being such a pain I think his mother was desperate for anything to keep him moving forward!
To be honest anyone over about 25-30 seems old to a child so I wouldn't be annoyed.
My hair is white, it started going white when I was 16 and by the time I was 25 it was completely white, not even grey lol. I have been called old so many times lol.
Ah yes, totally with you. The funny thing about this was that it was the mum saying the thing about the old lady! Whatever. I was there and I was only there for me. If I was too busy comparing myself with others I would have gone for a little lie down!
Thank you. Just trying to find the balance between having fun, getting better and being so overwhelmed you just go away and open the bottle! Hope I will find it!
Hi Gwenllian, just read this post it did make me laugh what a blimmin cheek! I haven’t tried intervals myself, but would love to do faster parkruns now. I did read on here, of course, (what a great place for advice) that using Week 1 and jogging the walking bits and running the running bits could work and bonus you get your own favourite personal trainer telling you when to go and whoa, so I think I might take that advice and have a go. Go you for your 55 minutes! 👍
That's an interesting idea about intervals. I think I might need to start even smaller myself! Yes, isn't it great how much good advice and support you find on here. I'm sure I wouldn't be still going without it.
Great post, thank you for sharing!!! I love the long relaxed slow runs... losing all track of time....
A child I spoke to last week after I had finished a run.. thought I was 80 Like you, it made me laugh..her Dad was horrified... I keep trying to remember I am 69..it really is, just a number
Interesting reading about your intervals too... I did a speed challenge over 6 weeks on the marathon and HM forum.. just a personal challenge and very structured....., I did it to try to improve on my 1K speed...it worked... but... I then got an injury which may or may not have been a result of doing that...( Physio is not sure)...and I, from now on will be back to my slow and steady...and no more speed attempts at all ( Physio's orders)
You have had a brilliant time and I love how this post shows all that we feel and learn on the way...You running in Spain sounds perfect.. running just because you can and for pure joy !
I think any attempt at intervals will have to be very gentle. If I don't enjoy it I'll probably just keep trying to extend my time. Don't think I'm built for speed!
Old lady?! 😳 What a nerve! And poor kid, clearly being coerced into running when he clearly didn’t want to. Way to put your child off running for life lady - well done! 🙄
As for you Gwenllian, you’ve been doing brilliantly! You’re doing everything right and making fantastic progress. 👏👏🏃♀️
I’m with you on disliking sprinting, by the way! I do JogRunSprint once in a while (oh flip, I must be due to do one again soon 😩), and I’m at my happiest pootling along enjoying the scenery, often with my dog. 🐕
Keep up what you’re doing. You’re amazing - and not old! 😅
Oh thank you! I'm probably a pootler too. I couldn't possibly run on a treadmill because, like you, I enjoy looking at the world. I often run by a river and watching the water and listening to the birds is part of what I'm there for!
What a great post, I found myself in a similar situation after completing C25k, I had a go at the stepping stones podcasts but they were not for me. I went away on hols running very early in the morning to avoid the heat and wanting to keep the momentum going. Friend laying in bed thought I was mad ! Anyway when I came home I decided I would give the magic running a go, time same as yourself. I’m a slow nico nico runner ( big thanks to disco runner) and I too would be missing for hours if I did the distances. Imagine my pleasure when I managed to run 5.05 k in 44 minutes. I did the 50 minutes last Tuesday and I’ll be doing it again tomorrow. There’s a hill whichever way I run here, but it’s good to go slowly up it ! When I first started running I could not get up it without several stops along the way. Isn’t it great how we progress. I have had loads of encouragement from people on the forum. Good luck to you with your 55 minutes, I’ll be with you in a couple more weeks!
Sounds like we are at pretty much the same stage! I'm intending to do my 55 minutes at the end of this week. And your 5k time is exactly mine! So great that we are doing this!
Reading this on Sunday morning, what a cheering post, Gwen! So glad the extra strengthening exercises are helping (touch wood). Cheeky young madam, but you had the best revenge by not having to take the whining child home 😁 Good luck with the longer run, I'll be jumping back into the magic plan soon, I also had to take a break and I'm making myself stick to 5k for another week.
I like that! Yes I was pleased not to have to take said child home and pleased that my grandson who sometimes does park run with his mum does it cheerily.
Your post made me laugh and reminded me of me! I could be called old by younger people and often on Parkruns I’ve come across mums and dads trying to encourage their children to keep going. It always make me smile. One little girl was having nothing to do with it and I’d been behind them for a while. I’m a snail too. So I overtook them and said to her I’m all crinkly! So you can beat me I bet! That’s was it she was off!!! Her dad said thanks but actually I think you’re fitter than me as he tried to catch up with her! It made me laugh and kept me going to the end.
You are doing great. Ive been trying to do juju plan and got to 60 mins and a bit beyond but the heat really saps my energy so I’m just increasing the time gently until I get to 10k. I suspect it will take me 90 minutes but I don’t care. I’m running and who would have believed I’d do that?!! 🏃🏻♀️😊
Isn’t it great: little kids running to beat old ladies. I just love the parkrun community, chatting to dad’s pushing prams, patting dogs on the head and comparing stories at the end.
Edit: perhaps I should rephrase that to little kids trying to overtake old ladies!
Well I'm only just beginning to admit to myself that I would like to do 10k but if I do I think my time would be about the same, around an hour and a half. Wonder if I'll ever get there?!
Wow! Very best of luck! And I've decided that whenever I run its not a race, it's a run. That way I can't be last! Will look forward to hearing about your 10k. So inspiring to hear other people's running stories.
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Ran for 50 minutes! 😁
Oops, I ran...
I ran 10K 
I did it, I ran for a whole hour!!!! 🙌🏼🎄
Training Decisions and Knee Niggles
