Just ran my first 5K😊

[aberlady]

Hi all,

I graduated end of March and consolidated 30 mins runs. Finally managed to reach 5k this morning. Took me 43 mins but I do run in a quite hilly, rough terrain in parts.

My intention is to consolidate my 5K runs for a few weeks and try and reduce the time. I will then very slowly build up length of runs.

I am absolutely loving my new regime. I’m a morning person so go out at 6 every second day.

I’m a 52 year old very inexperienced runner so any advice very welcome 🙏

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

That’s perfect 👌 you are doing exactly what will keep you running, our first 5k took 52 minutes and that was ok because we then knew we could run 5k,

[aberlady in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thank you 😊 That makes me feel better. Just now I couldn’t go much faster 🤣. Will just keep going .....

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to aberlady]

And one day you will be surprised to find it’s a little faster, we are 65 and never will break any records but sure we enjoy ourselves and just might be a bit saggier and baggier if we didn’t run

[aberlady in reply to SueAppleRun]

That’s brilliant 😊. Just wish I had started 20 years ago but didn’t have time, motivation, desire , patience or inclination . I’m still a bit saggy and baggy though 🤣🤣🤣

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to aberlady]

ah lol we all are, but i did lose 3 inches off my waist during the first 6 months of running

[Hidden]

I'd be losing the term "inexperienced" you're doing kinda brilliantly there aberlady keep going

[aberlady in reply to Hidden]

Thank you ! I’m just loving it. Becoming a real running bore 🤣

[Chesterlove Graduate10 in reply to aberlady]

I’m a 53 year old, inexperienced, recently graduated running bore 😀 I know how you feel. I’m now doing 5k runs and have chipped some time off. Now thinking of bridge to 10k and have done the first 5.5km but mentally back at C25k thinking can I do this?

[sparky66 Graduate10]

Congratulations on your first 5K 👏👏👏Doesn't sound like you need much advice.. just take your time, don't push to hard to fast.. pace will come with time..

Just keep doing what you are doing 🌟

[aberlady in reply to sparky66]

Thank you 😊 I’m enjoying it so much just don’t want to do the wrong thing.

[Comfortnotspeed Graduate10]

Well done! Great stuff running your 5k! Sounds like you’ve got a good plan moving forwards 😀

[aberlady in reply to Comfortnotspeed]

Thank you - I hope so 😊

[Week7 Graduate10]

Sounds like you've got a plan to keep you going. Well impressed that you have been able to deal with rough terrain when running. I spent at least the first 6 months avoiding all but the most gentle of hills!

[aberlady in reply to Week7]

Hi - I’m lucky to live in a lovely area beside the coast so I run there cos I love the view 🤣

[Beachcomber66 Graduate10]

You are doing brilliantly. Hills do slow you down, but they help to build up strength and stamina, and there is nothing like a run with a view. What I think you will find is that your average heart rate on like for like runs drops; a visible measure of the increasing fitness which you will be feeling anyway. Great work 👍

[aberlady in reply to Beachcomber66]

Hi Beachcomber, many thanks for replying. I have no idea what my rate is like- should maybe invest in some device. Just did another 5K this morning and a teeny bit faster 😁

[Beachcomber66 Graduate10 in reply to aberlady]

Excellent work. I am 69 and only started running at 66, so another late starter! I built up distance running slowly on a mixed diet of a short faster run, a normal 5k and then a longer run each week. Basically Ju-ju's 10k plan which you can find on Bridge to 10k as a pinned post. It took 18 months for more speed to kick in, partly because it wasn't a priority. I bought the cheapest running watch I could find with its own GPS and ended up with a Garmin 35. There are loads to choose from. I found it really helpful in three respects; it told me how fast I was running as I ran, so that I could adjust, it enabled me to see trends run on run and finally I could set it for the distance I wanted to run. I ignored heart rate for the first two years (I really daren't look!) but now it is part of my post run data check. But this can be as simple or as complicated as you want; you are doing fantastically well. 👍👍👍👍👍👍

[aberlady in reply to Beachcomber66]

Many thanks Beachcomber. I will take a look at ju - jus plan - might give me more direction. Think I will also invest in a garmin 👍I love to hear how other “latecomers” to running are doing - you are really inspiring 😁

[Healthrunner1]

Well done ! Am in similar consolidation boat.......and have been doing my 30 minutes of 5.6k thrice weekly for over a year...but it takes me 38 minutes....but I just press on.....I'm 70 years old....so feel that I'm heading in the right direction!Consolidate, consolidate, consolidate!....just never give up!

[aberlady in reply to Healthrunner1]

38 minutes is brilliant 😁. My Dad ran well into his early eighties and is now back at the gym every morning. My Mum moans about him coming back and dozing for an hour 🤣. Wish it hadn’t taken 52 years and a pandemic to take it up!!

Your story is very inspiring to me - I really appreciate you replying 😊

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

Congratulations to you aberlady on running your first 5K.

[aberlady in reply to AlMorr]

Al - I did another one this morning just slightly faster 😁

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10 in reply to aberlady]

👍 🏃🏾

[Frenc Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Well done aberlady! That’s brilliant, and it sounds as though you’re doing everything right. I’m 52 as well and had the exact same thought the other day, wish I’d done this years ago - but the important thing is we’ve done it! Keep up the great work 👍🦶🏃‍♀️👏🏼😊.

[aberlady in reply to Frenc]

Thank you Frenc- We are there now 😁