I don’t know if anyone can help me. I completed C 5k and felt brilliant! Never been a runner and now 70! But since I’ve completed have found running much harder- frequently need to break run for a short walk. Not moving as fast and heart rate and zone not as high.
What’s gone wrong and how do I rectify it. Mermaid 5
How long a go did you graduate? I may be a newer graduate than you so others may be able to help you better. I have done 5 consultation runs and all of them have felt tough. I gave up on one and others I wanted to. I think it's a different mental battle now- before we had an end goal or something we were working towards and now it's just for "fun" or because we want to. I think I need a goal, so I'm going to start Ju-Jus magic plan. Do you think something like that would help?
Thanks for replying . I totally agree with your diagnosis just don’t know how to move forward
Could you mix up your runs? If you're still going out a few times a week could you make one shorter but do something different in it like speed training- you can use the earlier weeks C25K runs but jog and run faster instead of all jog you are used to or walk/jog you did back then. Im going to try some hill sprints too some weeks. On the other runs, I'm going to do one as a 5k and one as a slightly longer run increasing each week. I think I need the variety to keep me motivated.
Maybe think what you'd like from the runs? Do you enjoy getting out and the feeling of running? if so, you could forget about PBs and mix up your routes.
I hope others can add some more suggestions. I still feel like a newbie so hope some more experienced runners can give you extra advice.
Good luck.
Hi Mermaid5. There’s nothing wrong with having a walk break added into your run a lot of runners do jeffing Maybe take a look on YouTube to see what’s it’s all about. Also maybe the heat and humidity as a lot to do with how your feeling if you’re struggling to run if you’re drinking enough water you could possibly benefit from electrolyte tablets added to your water and if it’s motivation that’s slowing yourself down then you could set your self a target or challenge. Someone posted on here this week that they planned to run 1000km in 12months. There is a few online races at the minute either 5/10k or a few where they last the year. Good luck
Wooooaaaahhh! Put the brakes on! This is epic, awesome, brilliant 🏆
Did you know when you said, 'Not moving as fast and heart rate and zone not as high' this is EXACTLY what you need to be doing? So keep going but go further and for longer at a much slower pace. Heart rate zone training is fantastic and now you need to discover this. I did almost the whole month of July running every run slowly (100miles) and the benefits are fantastic. So well done you!!! Build up beyond 5k in increments at a much slower comfy pace. You can do shorter faster ones if you wish too. Just keep getting out there 😊
I found I liked running to 30 minute podcasts instead of music after I finished C25K. Desert Island Discs is a favourite. Also, there is a Consolidation Club thread on C25k that has lots of good ideas.
Another way to move on (which I used 😊) is the time version of JuJu’s Magic Plan. It gave a structure to the week without feeling pressured.
Don’t worry about trying things & then deciding they are not for you, or at least not now. It’s what lots of us have done as we searched for our own best way onwards. 👍 Good luck.
I think loads of us struggled at some point post graduation. Its almost an anti climax after the joy of finishing c25k. Have you tried the c25k+ podcasts? They are for intervals, cadence training and stamina. I did them for a while then went onto the time version of the Magic Plan. Its great!
I really struggled to get past 5k... felt tired and had to keep stopping to walk and didn’t enjoy it until a friend of mine who has ran a marathon just said.. slow down and go at a pace just before you get out of breath.. ever since then I have loved it and can now run 11k without stopping.. I do listen to my favourite songs to keep me going too x
Having completed the timed version of the magic plan I'm now trying to do the distance version. I use the short run to do some speed work or interval runs. I floundered a bit after graduating C25K too. I didn't particularly like the podcasts so I got the Nike run club app. The guided runs vary in length by time and distance and are just like a podcast with encouragement to keep you going.
Some days I still need to walk and despite running for 60 minutes some days 2 k seems unachievable. Just stick with it. Accepting that progress is much slower than C25K is half the battle👍🤞and key to keeping motivated
Well I can only tell you what worked for me. After graduating at 72 I was rudderless. Plans are great but found I wanted to walk. So I really slowed up like slow mo.
Snails were passing me and beeping there horns. So the Rule is.....Slow up so you don't need to stop. Set yourself a distance target and slow up enough so you can do it without stopping do not worry about time. Repeat this and you begin to do it without thinking. DO one distance that you can slay then move on. Hope this makes sense. 👍
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