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!
