Is this for me?: Struggled to do 5k in 30 mins... - Bridge to 10K

Bridge to 10K

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Is this for me?

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4 years ago•11 Replies

Struggled to do 5k in 30 mins so is it worth me trying this? Everything aches and full of arthritis! 🤣 thank you

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11 Replies

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RoxdogGraduate104 years ago

You don't say what stage in the programme you're at, but you absolutely do not need to run 5k in 30 minutes. The aim is to run for 30 minutes. Once you've finished the programme, that means you will be able to get to 5k, but not necessarily in 30 mins.I started a year ago, can run further than 5k, but have never managed 5k in 30 minutes.

Do carry on, but just slow down and don't worry at all about speed

Then you will enjoy it more and won't hurt yourself.

in reply to Roxdog4 years ago

Hi. Thank you. I’ve just graduated C25K. I intend to carry on with 30 minutes 3 times a week to keep my fitness and weight loss off.

RoxdogGraduate10 in reply to 4 years ago

I would just stick to doing a few more 30 minute runs at a steady pace for you, so you can say a sentence out loud without gasping. Over time, your body will get used to it and you can start extending your runs a bit, but not necessarily faster. Sounds like you're doing just fine - just listen to your body.

in reply to Roxdog4 years ago

Cool!

GrannyhugsGraduate104 years ago

I’ve never achieved 5k in 30mins and have no desire to do so. I have run 10k very very often, and 10miles a number of times. Over the last few months I’ve consciously slowed my running down so I can continue a normal day’s activities after however long my run is. These are your runs, do them at whatever speed and whatever distance you want. The main aim is to keep enjoying those runs and getting through the winter months defying the weather and whatever lockdown restrictions are placed on us. Happy running 🤗

in reply to Grannyhugs4 years ago

Thank you x

CatwiseGraduate1060minGraduate4 years ago

I’ve never gotten to 5k within 30 minutes so congrats to you! I never really wanted to do more than 5k initially, I just wanted a convenient and consistent way to keep fit, and running seemed the best way to me. I started the bridge to 10k just because I was done with c25k and needed a little structure and a goal. I’ve done 10k a few times and I know now that I can, but I don’t necessarily need or want to do 10k every time.

One of the other main reasons for me continuing on with B210k was that my 30 minute runs were still hard for me. I look at running further and further as similar to an elastic band...at first you pull it and it’s stiff and hard to pull, but over time it becomes easier to stretch it a bit and only becomes difficult if you stretch farther than you’ve done before. Stretch it that far repeatedly then that amount of stretch becomes easier, and it keeps going, the initial stretch is easy and it’s only difficult when you stretch to lengths that you haven’t done before or haven’t done often. My 30 minute runs were what I considered the starting stretch of my elastic band. I needed to stretch it further, to 35, 40, 45 min, so that I could easily fall back to 30 and it would seem easy by comparison. And it does! I can easily complete 30 minutes now, and I alternate my regular 30 minute runs with a long run once a week or so and a speed run once a week.

LizcanrunGraduate10 in reply to Catwise4 years ago

Love this analogy!

CouchphoenixGraduate104 years ago

Download the Nike Run Club App, they’ve got coached runs of all times and distances on there, you can listen to your own playlist and it’s free. It’s great for consolidation runs 👍

Alexi_SpainGraduate104 years ago

Vicky, I can only concur with the comments above. I started the C25k in September, graduated (was going out 5 times a week) and have just completed my 10k! Times though are not important. On the C25k programme it is more about being able to run for 30 mins more than distance. This week I have managed to do 2 sub 40 mins 5k, of which I am truly proud of. I can recommend the Nike Run Club app, and using the runs with Coach Bennett - inspirational and no run is a bad run. Good luck and happy running 🏃‍♀️