Considering having a look at seeing if I can get on with a C25K type plan to build up to 16k or HM distance as I feel I’m molluscing around again and not progressing.
I’ve suddenly had a window open to fit a long run in on a Saturday morning….
Going to see if I can build up to 3x 5’s and 1x 10k a week, as i’ve slipped over summer then considering building up the distance as I’ve always struggled to pass 12k
The point of this waffle, is …. Is the NRC HM plan worth me investing in headphones to listen to it? I don’t currently run with my phone, and have no earphones for it. Concern is music blaring as I prefer to listen to the ambient noise especially traffic as the light is lessening in the mornings…
Oh, and I’ve noticed my graduate10 badge seems to have dropped off, haha need more glue. The app won’t work so using the browser version, it may never have been there…
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Nearest Parkrun is too far away (I’d be in the car for an hour) and on the only day I can realistically fit a long(er) run in.May have to have a look one day to see what the fuss is about, although running with other people doesn’t float my boat…
Linda9389 did a short review here healthunlocked.com/marathon... and I am thinking of incorporating the HM plan into my next self-devised plan, merging into the HM plan in week 5 or so.
It looks good, I have to say and as Linda suggests, although it suggests 5 runs per week, you can see these as a choice of runs to choose from, making sure the long run is included.
You can run without music, or with their suggested NRC Spotify list, or your own music. Coach Benett does like to chat a lot, so might not be as good for those who just want to listen to the music a lot. 🤣🤣
Good luck with choosing a plan forward. I also feel I’m cruising at the moment and want to start a more structured approach.
Ok, I think the plan (PDF chart) will be incorporated in the app at some point (hopefully) to make things easier as I found it difficult to find the guided runs laid out in the plan - I found the long list by accident and now I don’t know how I got to them.*
Anyway, I’m going to listen to the first one “14 Weeks To Go” and see. It looks like there’s other coaches involved - even Eluid Kipchoge ! - and I wonder if I can play something other than Spotify or Apple Music under it (I don’t want to pay to play).
I quite like the idea of mixing it up but I do need to be told, or challenged, as to how to mix it up on any given day.
There are other coaches but CBennett does the most runs. I was really looking forward to listening to Kipchoge but was really disappointed. He was so softly spoken and had such a strong accent that I struggled to hear and understand him. C Bennett tried to repeat some of the things he said but I ended up really frustrated.
I’m afraid he doesn’t do it for me. I thought it was like listening to a dad giving encouragement to his 8 year old who’s about to run the end of term egg and spoon race. He was talking a lot without saying much. Maybe he gets more informative as it gets going but he’s had his chance with me. 😑
I love the NRC HM plan. Sadly, my foot keeps giving me trouble so I haven't finished it yet but I've enjoyed this plan a lot more than my first attempt with one of the Garmin plans. It's very flexible too so you can do three or four runs instead of the 5. And I really enjoyed the guided runs for intervals and hill repeats but you don't need to listen to those, you can just set the intervals up on your phone or your watch. I'm just lazy so I find it easier to let NRC do the work for me 😃😉 but seriously it's a definite thumbs up from me 👍
Thanks, I tried the garmin 10k plan and didn’t get on with it, hence looking for something else. Looks like I’ll give NRC a chance. May just play a couple to see if it’s annoying or not. I’d program my watch, but keep missing the vibrate notifications.
I worked out my own plans to get to HM. (I achieved it today.)
I started with running every other day in various combinations with my long run at the weekend. I started about six months ago but had several setbacks on the way.
However, this was before parkrun came back.
Nowadays I'm up to running anything from four to six times per week, with parkrun on a Saturday and my long run on a Sunday.
I've never tried NRC. I looked at Garmin plans and decided they weren't for me at all.
Regarding headphones, I really dislike having anything in my ears and I like to hear what’s going on. I also like listening to stuff while I run. The answer (for me) was Aftershokz Trekz bone conducting headphones. The speakers press against your skull sinuses rather your ears so you can hear what’s happening eg another runner, a cyclist etc. Maybe they’d suit you too?
I used the NRC HM plan to reach 10 miles/ 16k. I enjoyed it but spread 1 week over 2 weeks as I can’t fit in 5 runs per week. I did 1 long run per week sometimes adding an intermediate week when the long run jumped up quite a bit from one ‘week’ to the next. Coach Bennett can be a bit annoying but I quite enjoyed having someone talk me through each run and I really enjoyed the interval runs.
If you go into settings and turn off the music, you can play music from any platform alongside each run eg apple, Spotify, Amazon, BBC Sounds. I often don’t have music and only wear 1 earphone so I can tune into the guided run and listen to things around me at the same time. Worth the earphones I’d say. I got a really cheap pair of wireless earphones from Amazon and they have been just fine.
I don’t do technology very well so I just downloaded Runner’s world HM plan. Recommended for runners who can complete 10k. It started with 3 runs a week building up to 4 with the long run at the weekend. I think it prepared me well as I did my first HM yesterday at GNR. Good luck with which plan you chose
3 months later….I took up the Garmin coach HM plan in early October with Jeff Galloway.
Made 10 miles (16k) last weekend, hoping to reach HM by the end of the month.
Quite enjoying the plan, although the mid week runs are just drill exercises which I’ve incorporated into my usual 5k route.
Saturday (usually) or Sunday (if I have to) is long run day, which is a ‘decide for yourself run,walk,run intervals’. I’ve sort of settled on 3’30” run and 30” walk, although I sometimes extend the run sections, usually when I forget to look at my watch for the timings or forget when the walk section should be. That’s the biggest down side, constantly looking at the watch and trying to remember when the run time is up 😂
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