Still, a relatively recent graduate on the Couch to 5k program- and the lycra is doing its rounds in the washing machine, dry racks and overstuffed drawers. 🏃♀️ 🏃♀️
This month's plan was to gradually begin to build distance to eventually arrive at the 10k mark. I have been working on the JUJU plan- but the last two weeks means just being able to run is a treat in itself. So my runs range from 1k to 5k most of the time. Not bad, but that JUJU plan feels so far away.
I had grand dreams weight, pilate training on alternative days and runs on the other- It was a dream schedule, but as we all know, life sometimes takes over the show....and honestly. I feel stuck, though, and unsure how to get back on track- 😥 I think one reason is longer runs needs more time.
If you have time, I would love to learn about your experiences and how you managed your running and time please. I guess I want to get better at managing my runs since running really wants to be a big part of my life 👍 , but I have to admit I need some advice. Any tips would be really appreciated.😇
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limu_mu
Graduate10
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Thankyou nowster for sharing your routine and I enjoy reading your updates on here. Having different runs seems like a great way to mix things up-how did that happen for you? and yes, you did just say that 6.5km and 8km are medium lengths- well done!!🙌👌
Once I finished C25K for the second time (after having a month off from injury on my original graduation run), I decided to mix things up a bit, doing jog/run intervals runs, run/walk intervals runs and slow continuous jog runs. As I extended my distances I looked at the Magic Plan, spotted the short/medium/long pattern there and found it fitted well with my work week. Shorter runs on work days and a long run at the weekend.
During the week, I can fit an hour in at lunchtime (or soon, as it brightens and warms a bit, before work). On a Saturday or Sunday, I can usually set out in the late morning and do a long run before a late lunch.
When I get back to working in the office (many months from now), I'll have the possibility of doing a very early run before setting off for work, or changing in the basement of the office and doing a lunchtime run around the canals of central Manchester, having a quick shower then resuming work.
I’m definitely no expert but what really worked for me was forgetting about distance. It was a bit of a mind shift but really made sense once I started setting specific, varied times to run depending on time available eg. 20 mins, 40 mins etc. Some plain running and some intervals.I got too hung up on 5k, 7k must do, must do, why am I getting slower ? why can’t I speed up? Just beating myself up.
It can all become a mental battle instead of an enjoyable journey.
Try relaxing and enjoying running for whatever time you have or choose to have available ... you don’t have to go faster or further every time ... you’re doing just fine by simply “going”
Thanks for your post 61Lady it not so much about speed or distance but not being able to set concrete times to run at the moment, but I hear you about being ok with the variations and mixing runs up, and taking it one stride at a time!!🏃♀️🏃♂️👍
limu_mu you're doing just great, don't pressure yourself, I know on the past I've done just that. I tried to follow juju's magic plan for the 10k, but then veered off course and just ran. I stuck with 5k for a while, that voice in my head reminding me of the 10% rule 👍. I slipped a couple of times but soon pegged back the distance. I'm definitely better at running to time I'll see what time schedule I'm on, when I wake, grab breakfast, have I time for an hour, do I throw a short one, I really never know, such is my generally hectic routine ( I should be more organized 🤣).
Core exercises 😳 well yes but not religiously, I'll always stretch, I promise myself I'll do stuff on non run days, but errrrrr rarely.
Core sadly takes a back seat with me 😬, but I'm getting better even if it's only holding planks and mixing planks and pressups.
Thankyou Hidden for your lovely post, and honestly I have so much respect! Honestly, how you managed to do RED with crazy work schedules and homeschooling is incredible!
Good point on time- that could be a good way to do the weekdays, I can go for distance on the weekend.
Those extras- i actually dismantled my weights late last night after posting this so I can weight train during long and tedious zoom meetings, going to try to create floor space for planks- better make sure my camera and mic go off during these moments.... 😂😂😂
But I definitely couldn't manage a ZOOM meeting 😳 oh I'm thankful for a job with simplicity, I still come out in a rash thinking back to the days of owning a desk 🤣.
And you weight train seriously that's more applause 👏👏👏👏👏
What works for me is a fairly loose schedule. The bit I really try to keep to is three runs a week and seven when life gets in the way always two. With the three runs I have done ju jus plan twice, one running to time and then as I got stronger, one running the distances. I've just had a bit of a break so my idea now is something a bit like the magic plan: one short and maybe a bit mixed up fast and slow, one medium at an easy place, one longer one with some walking in if I need it. Normally when we are not locked down I also do one yoga and one pilates class a week. I'm rubbish at doing those without the structure of a class but I do try to do something like that at home. I think the secret is little and often and really doing the running first, before the dishes or the laundry out or whatever! Good luck with it. Sounds like you are doing loads already!
Thank you so much Gwenllian1 and well done for completing the JUJU plan before. You are right, am going to try to have more variety with my runs- and structure it around my unpredictable weekly meetings. Sounds like you had a great working schedule before the lockdown, and you are excited to start again! I also used to do Yoga before I started running- and can NOW see the benefits- so I cant wait for both of us to be at the studios again.
hello! I used to (lost my running mojo) do 3 runs a week, usually shortly after waking up as then i couldn’t talk myself out of it, with a longer run on the weekend.
i would strongly suggest trying to keep to a regular time as planning and faffing about take up precious running time too, so having a routine (but understanding life gets in the way) helps. think the regularity is more important than always having each run go to plan (e.g, if you plan for a 6k on a Tuesday but time-wise or energy wise only manage 3 k, then that’s okay, just adjust your distances in that week to get you were you trying to get to.
if you don’t like cross training, doing something gentle like Yoga with Adriene (who does short-medium length videos) more regularly can do wonders for your core and your running. a bunch of us starting in january when she did a new years challenge and i’ve kept up doing yoga every day since (it helps that you can pick between different lengths of routines, there is plenty on youtube!). it’s more of a full body workout than you’d think and it doesn’t feel like committing to a full on cross training sesh.
I love yoga, and spin cycling- so will definitely check out the Yoga with Adriene videos
😀👍😊 I need to do more core work too- well done for managing to do Yoga every day, that's amazing!
I had the Juju plan printed out- but doing the corp thought it would be a good idea to work transatlantic - so meetings at 7 am and sometimes 11 pm for work. 9 am-6 pm- my normal working hours and a few hours at the weekend to catch up. So sometimes I do manage to get a run inbetween-but not hitting the plan at all. (We are looking for a union.) Remote working is hard- its invasive. I miss being able to switch off and just having more time.
I applaud your grand dreams, and they are great long-term goals, but for the shorter term you need to set yourself up for success.
Make a plan that you can stick to, print it out and put it on your fridge! You can move your workouts and runs around as needed, but be sure to tick them all off.
You might find it much more doable just to plan to run twice a week, and you could even follow the Magic Plan in this way with a little tweaking. I have worked one out for you as an example - see below, I hope you can view the whole thing by tapping on the image! 😊 I have put all the long runs on Sundays, but you can pick a day that works best for you - with two runs a week you have more flexibility. And note that there is not a long run every week which should help you to fit them around your life more successfully.
NB I had to remove a couple of the short runs, and also move a couple more, to make it a 2 run per week plan - but you could easily add them back in if you have the time
The suggestion about Yoga with Adriene is a great one, and if you have a look over on our sister community, Strength & Flex, you can browse through a number of online workouts to do at home. Many of them are very short, so they are easy to fit into your day. But the most important thing is to find something that you really enjoy doing, because that gives you the best chance of building a solid workout habit.
@roseabi wow, this is incredible and your very kind to have created this for me😮❗🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️. I feel really special and this could work for me- never thought i could amend it so that is exciting!
I AM LOST FOR WORDS, BUT THIS IS AMAZING.🏃♀️🏃♂️🏃
I never thought of running twice a week but that is totally feasible- and a great way to meet the targets. I agree structure helps and ticking things off too- and this is a plan I can totally use. I have decided to surround my working desk with weights to make the most of those zoom calls. and will do the Yoga with Adrienne on the weekends. This will work!!!
Sounds like you are doing really well! I find it easier if I'm following a plan like Juju's but also allow myself flexibility for either weather or lack of time. I try and do 2 runs in the week and longer on Sunday. My work hours are weird and varied so I fit a run in where possible! I try and go early morning for week day runs so I know they're done, then I go Sunday morning after morning work so about 10ish. I'm struggling to fit core in as well but am trying to do a bit in evening of a no run day.
Thanks, Cowladyrunning for sharing, sounds like you have found a great way to schedule runs with weird working hours and also weekends. I understand your core workout dilemmas! Although I have a kneeling chair for my desk, it just doesn't hit the mark quite like planks or sit-ups.....We will get there, we will find a way! 💪
Actually your post made me come home from work last night and do a yoga with Adrienne session. Ok not so much work out but it really stretched me!! Was very relaxing too once I shut the cat out 😂
Hia @limu_mu , what a great question and so fascinating to read all the answers.
I currently work - as so many - from home, and I have the fortune to have a job that is flexible enough at times to schedule in my runs.
I do 2 shorter runs (5ks give or take 500m) on workdays, and a longer run on weekends (currently extending via Magic Plan to my goal of 10k, longest so far being 8k)
I am an ultra slow Japanese jogging type of runner, so all my runs take about double the time as most people here on the forum. So during winter, when I run midday rather than morning, I pencil into my schedule 2 or 3 runs in the week, and shift them around where and when I need that. I block out 2 hours that includes getting ready/warming up and showering afterwards.
That’s a big chunk from my workday, but I can find 2 days a week where that is possible and I just work into the evening on those days to manage my workload.
Weekends are easier.
Thinking back, after graduating from C25k last year, I got into the habit of cross-training with the help of the NHS 12-week fitness plan, and we adapted it to fit the consolidation period: healthunlocked.com/strength...
Not only did that plan get me into a regular 3-times-a-week strengths and flexibility workouts, it also got me to running up to 60min.
After that I had some brilliant fun exploring all sorts of things around running, including experimenting with all sorts of different apps: healthunlocked.com/couchto5...
That planning certainly got me motivated, and I loved exploring all free apps available to runners.
When I have an injury, I still tend to grab a (digital) pencil and plan how to get me to progress. Example here my 5-day knee plan healthunlocked.com/strength...
So planning certainly keeps me motivated.
Another thing that has kept me going, besides our various running forums on HU, is our sister forum Strength and Flexibility. From a year ago, where I wasn’t running or exercising regularly I am now doing yoga daily with a group of virtual workout buddies, and there is quite a variety of workouts on that forum. If I may say so, we do have fun over there. So if you haven’t seen the Strength and Flexibility forum yet, feel invited and it might also help with motivation. Here our latest YWA weekly post: healthunlocked.com/strength...
Hope you find your own personal way of keeping up your mojo and again, great post! So big thanks!
Thank you for all the info! Japanese running sounds amazing! It reminds me of Tai Chi- because every movement is purposeful- that's really hard. Agreed weekends are easier- and have found 2 runs per week is realistic at the moment. Have signed up for the Strength and Flexibility forum!!!🏃♀️💪🙌
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How far do you really run in a race? 
How do you fuel your runs vs. non-running days?
How do you listen when you run, please?
Do you feel like cheating if you do intervals?
Do you run to or with music?🕺🕺
